PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS REGARDING WATER-QUALITY AND ATTITUDES TOWARD WATERCONSERVATION IN THE LOWER FRASER BASIN

This paper concerns public judgments regarding water quality, public a ttitudes about water conservation, and related issues in the Lower Fra ser Basin of southwest British Columbia, Canada. A written survey was administered to 183 lay subjects in four communities within the Lower Fraser Basin. The results show that subjects generally perceive water quality in specific water bodies as worse than indicated in technical studies of those water bodies. Respondents also indicated a high willi ngness to engage in water conservation activities. Discussion and conc lusions complete the paper.