Presented on December 18, 2018, the 22nd edition of the French barometer of the Water Information Center (TNS / Sofres / CI.E) reveals the awareness of the imperatives related to the management and the preservation of water resources. Created for more than 20 years, the CIE barometer is a French witness to the certain evolution of environmental concerns.
WHAT IS THE BAROMETER?
The barometer was produced on the basis of a sample of 1,006 individuals surveyed on a national and regional basis in France. "The variation through regional barometers that we are offering in the thirteen metropolitan regions makes it possible to challenge regions specificities compared to the average of national perceptions and opinions" said Marillys Macé, director general of the Center for Information on water.
MAJORITY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEGRADATION OF WATER RESOURCES AND WATER SCARCITY
Among the lessons learned by the ICE, the vast majority of respondents expressed persistent concern about the future of the quality of water resources. 64% of the polled people believe that the water bodies are polluted and that this degradation will continue in the years to come. Respondents also admit, for 58%, to be responsible for this water pollution.
Concerned about the quality of water resources, 59% of the French population fear a shortage of water in the future and in their region. The need to adopt water-saving behaviors is a consensus and is confirmed for 88% of the respondents.
WATER REUSE : AN APPEALING AND UNANIMOUS SOLUTION
For the last years Ecofilae has seen a general change in the mentality of stakeholders in the water sector with regard to water reuse. Nevertheless there is still a long way to go to answer to all questions arisen by stakeholders, and also to reassure and to support the project leaders in their way of developing sustainable and profitable projects.
The idea of water reuse does not worry the general public, as we can see from the few surveys carried out in France over the past 5 years. Today, we can see that this trend is confirmed among the general public in the CIE barometer : 86% of respondents would agree to use reclaimed water instead of tap water for some cleaning uses (sanitation, cleaning, hygiene). Better still : consumers seem willing to consume vegetables sprayed with reclaimed water (75%).
As for the financial contribution, the evolution of the barometer shows that "the possibility of a financial contribution to improve the preservation of the resource is better accepted this year"