Californians know they have a problem.
96% of Californians surveyed are aware of the drought that has been plaguing the state for the last three years. And they don’t think it will be short lived. More than a third (34%) think this drought is going to last another two years or more.
They are pragmatic about the causes; 37% attribute it to nothing more than natural weather patterns, 32% think it is due to global warming.
Californians are also clear about the culprits 75% think that agriculture is the in the top three highest water users, followed by industry (56%) and residential use (49%). However, the majority still support the use of water for agriculture. 54% think agricultural users should have priority over residential users.
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Most Californians (65%) think that the top three worst aspects of the drought include increased food prices and the economic impact on farm owners (56%). Only 9% think ruined lawns are the worst aspect of drought devastation.
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Californians don’t hate almonds.
The much-vilified almond gets a pass from the locals. Only 9% would consider closing down almond groves in response to the drought. The most popular response to the drought is investment in desalination (63%) and mandatory drip irrigation for more efficient water usage (46%).
Around a third of Californians (31%) would also ban the building of new swimming pools while around a quarter would ban filling private pools (26%) and private lawn watering (24%). Lower earners are more likely to support swimming pool and lawn bans than higher income Californians.
66% of state residents feel that they have been affected by the mandatory water restrictions.
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Less water in the bathroom
Individual efforts to beat the drought are mainly focused around the bathroom. 68% of Californians claim to be taking shorter showers, while 65% are turning off the water while they brush their teeth. More than a quarter (28%) is using a half flush toilet.
Gardens are in for another tough year. Half (51%) of Californians are watering their lawns and gardens less frequently and 23% are giving in to the inevitable and planting drought tolerant landscaping.
Jerry Brown gets support
Jerry Brown, the Governor of California, mostly has the support of his state; 60% think that he is doing enough to address the drought situation - the federal government, however, much less so, at only 23%.
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Find the full results here.
Image courtesy of Press Association