WASHINGTON, DC -- A new poll by the Value of Water Campaign shows that American voters’ support for increasing federal water infrastructure investment (78 percent) remains high, is bipartisan, and is on par with eliminating COVID-19 and strengthening the American economy as a top priority. The poll results found that while 83 percent of American voters support ensuring a reliable supply of water, there is a growing concern about the state of national water infrastructure, with only 47 percent of Americans rating the nation’s water infrastructure as good. For the sixth year in a row, the Value of Water Campaign poll surveyed over 1,000 American voters for the annual Value of Water Index. The poll asked voters to rate their support on water issues, including the state of local and national water infrastructure, support for water infrastructure investment, and trust and support for water systems. Support for investing in water infrastructure cuts across age, gender, party, geography, and ideology. Key poll findings include:
- Americans’ support for rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure (72 percent), ensuring a reliable supply of water (83 percent), and addressing drinking water contamination (77 percent) is on par with strengthening the economy (81 percent) and eliminating COVID-19 (73 percent).
- Support for increasing federal investment remains high (78 percent).
- 71 percent of respondents support ensuring that the water and wastewater sector receive federal COVID-19 relief in proportion to that of other infrastructure sectors.
- Nearly four in five Americans say they trust that the water delivered to their home is safe (78 percent).
- Similarly, four in five Americans trust that the water pipes in their homes are safe (80 percent).
- Voters feel very positively about their local water infrastructure, with 79 percent of all respondents rating their local water infrastructure as somewhat or very good.
- 62 percent of voters support a $1.2 trillion upgrade to water and wastewater systems. That percentage climbs to 69 percent when voters are given more information about the state of the nation’s water infrastructure and the need for investment.
- Voters are highly satisfied with their water and wastewater service (85 percent). As in the past, voters are highly satisfied with their water, wastewater and stormwater service, view it as affordable, and trust that the water delivered to their home is safe.
The team fielded the poll from March 15-21, 2021.