Orange County Voter Perceptions: Water and
DesalinationSurvey Analysis
October 14, 2008
Poll Methodology
• Conducted September 23-25
• 500 Person sample of registered voters
• Orange County residents only
• Random Digit Dialing (RDD) from voter rolls – land line and cell phone numbers
• Margin of Error is +/- 4.4% at the 95% confidence interval. MOE for cross tabs is higher
Right Track/Wrong DirectionGenerally speaking, would you say things in Orange County are on the right track, or gone off in the wrong direction?
48.8% 38.8%*Right Track Wrong Direction
18.4% 70.8%**Right Track Wrong Direction
* 12.4% undecided **10.9% undecided
Comparison: CA voters on the country
Orange County Taxpayers AssociationFav/Unfav
7.2 4.4
16.2
4.6
41.4
24.6
05
1015202530354045
Not Heard Favorable Unfavorable Heard/NoOpinion
Very Somewhat Not heard/no opinion
Orange County Business CouncilFav/Unfav
5.6 4
10.25.6
51.6
21.6
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Not Heard Favorable Unfavorable Heard/NoOpinion
Very Somewhat not heard/ no opinion
Water Supply Awareness
80.4% 19.0%*
In the past 6 to 8 months, have you read or heard anything about California’s water supply?
Yes No
* 0.6% don’t know/refused
0102030405060708090
100
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Yes
No
The media is keeping the
public aware of the water situation
There is clear correlation
between age and awareness of
California’s water supply
Water Supply PerceptionsHow would you best characterize Orange County’s water supply?
We have plenty of water for all of Orange County
6.8%
We have enough water, but will need to find new sources for the future
46.0%
Orange County is facing a water shortage and we need to find new sources as soon as possible
41.2%
Voters recognize Orange County’s water is in short supply, with slightly more than 40% characterizing the county’s situation as a “water shortage” that needs new sources “as soon as possible.”
Water Supply PerceptionsHow would you best characterize Orange County’s water supply?
We have plenty of water for all of Orange County
6.1% 8.2% 6.0%
We have enough water, but will need to find new sources for the future
50.9% 43.4% 38.0%
Orange County is facing a water shortage and we need to find new sources as soon as possible
36.2% 43.8% 47.0%
DEM REP DTS
Decline to States (DTS/independents) and Republicans are much more likely to characterize the situation as a “water shortage.”
Ensuring Adequate Water Supplies
90.2
6.8 1.2 1010
2030
4050
6070
8090
100
Very Important SomewhatImportant
Not tooimportant
Not importantat all
Approximately half of the water used by Orange County residents is imported from the Colorado River. This means the water available to Orange County is impacted by droughts and by competing demands from other water users. Knowing this, how important is it for public officials to ensure Orange County has adequate and affordable supplies of water for the future?
Voters expect officials to maintain an adequate
water supply
Ensuring Adequate Water Supplies
63.4
20.8
3.8 2.20
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Much morelikley
Somewhat morelikely
Somewhat lesslikely
Much less likely
Within the past few years, Orange County’s share of water from the Colorado River has been cut by 50 percent, and its share of water from Northern California has been cut by 30 percent. Knowing this, are you more or less likely to support the development of new water sources?
Voters also support the development of new water sources
Seawater Desalination: Good or Bad Idea?
50.4
22
9.8 5.812
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Very goodidea
Somewhatgood idea
Somewhatbad idea
Very Badidea
Don't Know/Refused
One idea for increasing our water supply is to use seawater desalination – the process of transforming salt water into fresh drinking water. When thinking about increasing California’s water supply, do you think seawater desalination is a good idea or a bad idea?
Seawater Desalination: Good or Bad idea
01020304050607080
Very Good Idea SomewhatGood Idea
Somewhat BadIdea
Very Bad Idea
Total OC Register LA Times Cmty Paper
Local TV news Local Radio Internet Blogs
Ensuring Adequate Water SuppliesPublic officials are considering a number of ideas to expand Orange County’s drinking water supply. Which of the following approaches would you most support as a means of ensuring a reliable source of quality drinking water?
31
12
33.2
19.8
2
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Conservation
Recycled or treated"waste water"
Seawater Desalination
All of the Above
None of the Above
HB Desal Plant Opinions
48.6
27.8
6.8 5.611.2
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
StronglySupport
SomewhatSupport
SomewhatOppose
StronglyOppose
Don't Know
There is a proposal by a private company to build and operate a seawater desalination facility in Huntington Beach. There would be no financial risk for taxpayers and the produced drinking water would serve Orange County residents. The facility also would take advantage of existing ocean pipeline infrastructure to create quality drinking water. Generally speaking, would you support or oppose this proposal?
76.4% Strongly/Somewhat Support vs.
12.4% Strongly/Somewhat Oppose
HB Facility Support/Oppose Statements
Oppose Series: I am going to read to you some of the arguments being made by those who are opposed to the construction of a desalination facility in Huntington Beach. After each statement, please tell me if that makes you more or less likely to support the project.
1. Opponents of the Huntington Beach desalination facility believe the plant’s seawater intake and outtake operation will have a negative impact on local sea life.
2. Opponents of the Huntington Beach desalination facility argue the facility will require a large amount of energy to operate
3. Surfrider Foundation opposes the Huntington Beach desalination facility.
4. The Sierra Club opposes the Huntington Beach desalination facility.
HB Facility Support/Oppose Statements
4044
3941.643.2
37.8
2932.6
16.6 18.2
32
25.8
05
101520253035404550
Sea life impact EnergyConsumption
Surfride oppose Sierra Cluboppose
More Likely Less Likely Does not matter/Don't know
HB Facility Support/Oppose StatementsNow I am going to read to you some of the arguments being made by
those who support the construction of a desalination facility in Huntington Beach.
1. Supporters of the Huntington Beach desalination facility argue that in addition to providing higher quality drinking water, the facility will also provide a dependable source of water in the event of droughts or major disasters.
2. Seawater desalination technology is not new. In fact, the drinking water for many dry-climate countries is almost entirely supplied by seawater desalination.
3. After a careful review of independent reports concerning the environmental and economic impact, the Huntington Beach City Council voted to support the construction of the desalination facility.
4. After reviewing environmental impact reports, the California Coastal Commission, the organization that oversees California’s coastlines, has already approved the construction of a similar desalination facility in San Diego County
HB Facility Support/Oppose Statements
Now I am going to read to you some of the arguments being made by those who support the construction of a desalination facility in Huntington Beach.
5. The builders of the Huntington Beach desalination facility have made an unprecedented commitment to minimize the plant’s energy consumption and to offset the facility’s greenhouse gas emissions.
6. The Huntington Beach desalination facility is supported by more than 25 elected Orange County state and federal representatives, including Democrats and Republicans.
7. In addition to elected Democrat and Republican representatives, the Huntington Beach desalination facility is supported by a broad-based coalition that includes The Orange County Business Council, Orange County Taxpayers Association, and the Los Angeles/Orange County Building Trades Council.
HB Facility Support/Oppose Statements
0
1020
3040
5060
7080
90
Dependablewater source
Desal not new HB Councilapproved
CCCapproved
similar plant
GreenConstruction
25 officialsendorsed
Broad basedsupport
More likely Less likely Does not matter/Don't know
HB Desal Plant Support/Oppose
48.8
23.411.8 8.4 7.6
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Much morelikely
Somewhatmore likely
Somewhatless likely
Much lesslikely
Don't Know
Based on everything you have heard today, are you more likely to support or oppose the construction of a desalination facility in Huntington Beach?
72.2% More likely to Support vs.
20.2% Less likely to Support
Paying for Desal WaterSeawater purified by the Huntington Beach desalination facility would initially cost more than other drinking water sources. Listen to both statements and tell me which one you most agree with:
I would pay a few dollars more on my monthly water bill for high quality water that is drought-proof and reliable.
61.4%
We cannot afford higher water bills
20.4%
Neither 7.2%
Don’t know 11.0%
Diversifying Water Supplies
42.6
28.8
7.6 10.6 10.4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Very goodidea
Somewhatgood idea
Somewhatbad idea
Very badidea
Don't Know
Do you think it is a good idea or a bad idea for local water agencies to add desalination to their existing water supply sources, such as water from the Colorado River?
Impacting Costa Mesa
45.6
24.2
7.8 9.4 13
05
1015
2025
3035
4045
50
StronglySupport
SomewhatSupport
SomewhatOppose
StronglyOppose
Don't Know
And based on everything you have heard, would you support the construction of a pipeline in the City of Costa Mesa to ensure drinking water from the desalination plant can be delivered throughout the county?
Conclusion
• 7/10 voters support the project
• Facility’s ability to provide drought-proof, quality drinking water strongly appeals to voters
• Messages supporting construction of HB desal facility strongly resonate with voters
• Voters think it is a good idea for water agencies to a desalination to their existing water supply sources (even at a few dollars more)