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Our Water - Genesee County Community Water Quality Consortium

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Rating of Water Quality
Overall, how would you rate the quality of the water in your area?
Poor Okay Good Don't Know
1. For canoeing / kayaking / other boating
2. For eating locally caught fish
3. For swimming
4. For picnicking and family activities
5. For fish habitat
6. For scenic beauty
Your Water Resources
1. Do you know where the rain water goes when it runs off of your property?
No
Yes
2. If you answered 'Yes' above, where does your rain water drain to?
3. Of these activities, which is the most important to you? {check all that apply}
Canoeing - kayaking - other boating
Eating locally caught fish
Swimming
Hiking-walking-cycling along the shoreline
Fish habitat
Scenic beauty
4. Have you spent leisure time on a water body-river in Genesee County in the past 12 months?
No
Yes
Do not Know
5. If yes, What water bodies-river?
6. Regarding the quality of the water in the lakes, rivers, and streams in your community... is it... {please select_ one}
Getting much worse
Getting somewhat worse
Staying the same
Getting somewhat better
Getting much better
Do not Know
Your Opinions
Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the statements below.
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither Agree nor Disagree Agree Strongly Agree
1. The way that I care for my lawn and yard can influence water quality in local streams and lakes.
2. It is my personal responsibility to help protect water quality.
3. It is important to protect water quality even if it slows economic development.
4. My actions have an impact on water quality.
5. I would be willing to pay more to improve water quality (for example: though local taxes or fees)
6. I would be willing to change the way I care for my lawn and yard to improve water quality.
7. The quality of life in my community depends on good water quality in local streams, rivers and lakes.
8. If you discovered that your current methods of disposal of House hold hazardous wastes, such as paints, cleaning products, pesticides and automotive oil, was different than what is recommended, which of the following is most accurate? {Check One} I would comply with the recommendations,
regardless of the cost. { greater than $10}
if there were little or no cost associated. { less than $10}
only if there was no cost associated.
I would not comply with the recommendations.
9. If you discovered that your current methods of disposal of House hold hazardous wastes, such as paints, cleaning products, pesticides and automotive oil, was different than what is recommended, which of the following is most accurate? {Check One} I would comply with the recommendations,
regardless of the inconvenience.
as long as there is little inconvenience.
only if it is convenient.
I would not comply.
Water Impairments
Below is a list of water pollutants and conditions that are generally present in water bodies to some extent. The pollutants and conditions become a problem when present in excessive amounts. In your opinion, how much of a problem are the following water impairments in your area?
Not a Problem Slight Problem Moderate Problem Severe Problem Don't Know
1. Sedimentation (dirt and soil) in the water
2. Bacteria and viruses in the water (such as E.coli / coliform)
3. Oil and grease.
4. Arsenic
5. High water temperature
6. Pesticides
Sources of Water Pollution
The items listed below are sources of water quality pollution across the country. In your opinion, how much of a problem are the following sources in your area?
Not a Problem Slight Problem Moderate Problem Severe Problem Don't Know
1. Discharges from industry into streams and lakes
2. Discharges from sewage treatment plants
3. Soil erosion from construction sites
4. Soil erosion from shorelines and/or streambanks
5. Excessive use of lawn fertilizers and/or pesticides
6. Grass clippings and leaves entering storm drains
7. Improper disposal of household wastes (chemicals, batteries, florescent light bulbs, etc.)
8. Improper disposal of used motor oil and/or antifreeze
9. Improperly maintained septic systems
10. Waste material from pets
11. Urban stormwater runoff
Consequences of Poor Water Quality
Poor water quality can lead to a variety of consequences for communities. In your opinion, how much of a problem are the following issues in your area?
Not a Problem Slight Problem Moderate Problem Severe Problem Don't Know
1. Beach closures
2. Contaminated fish
3. Reduced beauty of lakes or streams
4. Reduced quality of water recreation activities
5. Excessive aquatic plants or algae
6. Odor
7. Lower property values
Practices to Improve Water Quality
Please indicate which statement most accurately describes your level of experience with each practice listed below.
Not relevant for my property Never heard of it Somewhat familiar with it Know how to use it; not using it Currently use it
1. Following the manufacturer's instructions when fertilizing lawn or garden
2. Keep grass clippings and leaves out of the roads, ditches, and gutters
3. Follow pesticide application instructions for lawn and garden
4. Recycle automotive oil
5. Properly dispose of pet waste
6. Properly dispose of household waste (chemicals, batteries, florescent light bulbs, etc.)
7. Plant trees/shrubs
8. Construct pond
9. Protect streambanks and/or shorelines with vegetation
10. Improve stream habitat
11. Use vegetated filter strips
12. Use grass swales
13. Manage runoff from roofs
Specific Constraints of Practices
Rain Garden : A garden that uses native plants to absorb and filter stormwater collected off a roof, parking lot, sidewalk, or driveway.
1. How familiar are you with this practice?
Not relevant
Never heard of it
Somewhat familiar with it
Know how to use it; not using it
Currently use it
2. If the practice is not relevant, please explain why.
3. Are you willing to try this practice?
Yes or already do
Maybe
No
How much do the following factors limit your ability to implement this practice?
Not at all A little Some A lot Don't Know
4. Don't know how to do it
5. Time required
6. Cost
7. The features of my property make it difficult
8. Insufficient proof of water quality benefit
9. Desire to keep things the way they are
10. Physical or health limitations
11. Hard to use with my farming system
12. Lack of equipment
Rain Barrels : Devices designed to collect stormwater from roofs and gutters that can later be used to water a garden, lawn, or house plants.
13. How familiar are you with this practice?
Not relevant
Never heard of it
Somewhat familiar with it
Know how to use it; not using it
Currently use it
14. If the practice is not relevant, please explain why.
15. Are you willing to try this practice?
Yes or already do
Maybe
No
How much do the following factors limit your ability to implement this practice?
Not at all A little Some A lot Don't Know
16. Don't know how to do it
17. Time required
18. Cost
19. The features of my property make it difficult
20. Insufficient proof of water quality benefit
21. Desire to keep things the way they are
22. Physical or health limitations
23. Hard to use with my farming system
24. Lack of equipment
Making Decisions for my Property
In general, how much does each issue limit your ability to change your management practices?
Not at all A little Some A lot Don't Know
1. Personal out-of-pocket expense
2. My own physical abilities
3. Not having access to the equipment that I need
4. No one else I know is implementing the practice
5. Approval of my neighbors
6. Don't know where to get information and/or assistance about those practices
7. Legal restrictions on my property
8. Concerns about resale value
9. The need to learn new skills or techniques
What is the most appropriate disposal method for the following -
Curb side pickup Throw away in regular garbage that goes to a landfill Take to Household Hazardous Waste events in your community Recycle Center Compost {yard waste-food} Dump in commercial bin or on vacant land Do not know
1. Unused pesticides-fertilizers
2. Antifreeze
3. Used-unused engine oil
4. Pet waste
5. Dry latex paint
6. Oil paint
7. Unused cleaning products-chemicals
8. Leaves-grass clippings-year waste
About You
1. Do you make the home and lawn care decisions in your household?
Yes
No
2. What is your gender?
Male
Female
3. What is your age?
4. What is the highest grade in school you have completed?
Some formal schooling
High school diploma/GED
Some college
2 year college degree
4 year college degree
Post-graduate degree
5. What was your total household income last year?
Less than $24,999
$25,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $74,999
$75,000 to $99,999
$100,000 or more
6. What is your occupation?
7. What is the approximate size of your residential lot?
1/4 acre or less
More than 1/4 acre but less than 1 acre
1 acre to less than 5 acres
5 acres or more
8. Do you own or rent your home?
Own
Rent
9. How long have you lived at your current residence (years)?
10. Which of the following best describes where you live?
In a town, village, or city
In an isolated, rural, non-farm residence
Rural subdivision or development
On a farm
11. Do you use a professional lawn care service?
Yes, just for mowing
Yes, for mowing and fertilizing
Yes, just for fertilizing and pest control
Yes, for mowing, fertilizing, and pest control
No
12. Where are you likely to seek information about water quality issues?
Newsletters/brochure/fact sheet
Internet
Radio
Newspapers/magazines
Workshops/demonstrations/meetings
Conversations with others
None of the above
Information Sources
People get information about water quality from a number of different sources. To what extent do you trust those listed below as a source of information about soil and water?
Not at all Slightly Moderately Very much Am not familiar
1. Local government
2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
3. University Extension
4. State environmental agency
5. Environmental groups
6. County Health department
Septic Systems
1. Do you have a septic system?
No
Don't Know
Yes
2. If you answered 'yes' to the previous question, in what year was it installed?
3. Within the last five years, have you had any of the following problems? (Check all that apply)-
Slow drains
Sewage backup in house
Bad smells near tank or drain field
Sewage on the surface
Sewage flowing to ditch
Frozen septic
Other
None
Don't know
Thank You
1. Please use the space below for any additional comments about this survey or water resources in your community.




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