UCI

The Environment

Major concerns about environmental problems have dropped 25 points since the beginning of the decade. Today, 35 percent think environmental problems are a "very serious" threat to their health and well-being, compared to 60 percent in 1990. Four in 10 now consider the threat to be "somewhat serious," and one in four say it is "not too serious." Four years ago, 31 percent said environmental problems were somewhat serious and only 8 percent said they were not too serious a threat.

Environmental concern continued to decline in the past year. The number who now say environmental problems are a very serious threat is down 8 points since 1993, while the number who say the threat is somewhat serious is up 6 points.

As in the past, younger people are more worried about the environment. Among those under 35, 41 percent call the threat very serious, compared to 34 percent of 35- to 54-year-olds and 25 percent of older people.

Environmental fears are also more prevalent among less affluent residents. Of those earning less than $36,000, 45 percent say the environmental threat is very serious, while in the middle income groups, three in 10 hold that perception. And among thoseearning more than $80,000, only 29 percent say the environmental threat is very serious.

There are no differences by region, gender, education or the presence of children at home.

This year, we also examined residents' concerns about flood threats and awareness of ocean pollution caused by storm drain runoff. Some of these findings can be compared to a survey of 500 Los Angeles residents conducted in June, 1993.

Orange Countyresidents are somewhat less knowledgeable than Los Angeles residents about the specifics of stormwater pollution, but are more likely to say it is illegal to dump anything other than water into the storm drain system. Nearly half of Orange County adults believe that the storm drain system and the sewer system are the same (44%), compared to 36 percent of Los Angeles residents. Forty-eight percent in Orange County believe the water in storm drains is filtered and tested before it leaves the system, compared to 44 percent in Los Angeles. Still, 86 percent of Orange County residents say it is illegal to throw waste materials into the storm drains, compared to 76 percent in Los Angeles.

Older, South County and more educated and affluent Orange County residents tend to know more than others about stormwater pollution.

One in three residents are aware that the Santa Ana River is an existing flood threat (32%), and one in four believe they are currently living in a flood plain (24%).

Older, better-educated and upper-income residents are more likely to know that the Santa Ana River is an existing flood threat.

Of those living in cities in the Santa Ana River flood plain (Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Orange, and Westminster), 37 percent are aware that the Santa Ana River is an existing flood threat and 35 percent know they live in a flood plain.

Chart: Perceived seriousness of environmental problems (13K)