Researcher(s):
Katy Yeh
ENVS course(s): 400 Initiated: September 2013 Completed: May 2014 Go to project site
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Water is becoming increasingly scarce across the globe. Organizations are working to increase access to water as a proxy for increasing human health. However, not all water is safe, and if left untreated many water sources are hazardous to human wellbeing. These organizations often provide educational support to teach consumers about the importance of water treatment; however, this advisement can go unnoticed if the facts are not persuasively presented to the individual responsible for treatment. Research on water quality and risk indicated that in individual treatment schemes, people have a relatively high risk tolerance. This comes in contrast to municipal schemes, which have relatively low risk although consumer opinions are less cohesive. When it comes to decision making about treatment options, municipal schemes again remain divided, while individual treatment schemes often choose not to treat despite understanding that treatment could protect from disease. Ultimately, choices about water treatment are based on a variety of variables including not only the perception of risk, but also cultural expectations, trust in information providers, and the cost of avoiding the risk.