Diverse Water Perspectives

The region's residents highly value water

The region’s residents recreate in and use water, participate in cultural practices that are centered around water, and pay for water utility services. However, resident voices, particularly those from poor and disadvantaged communities, are often underrepresented in water decision-making processes. Environmental and participatory justice are essential aspects of equitable water policy, planning, and management. Residents depend on the Council and its planning partners to ensure that the region’s waters and water services are protected, support public health and the environment, and that the benefits of accessible clean water are experienced equitably and sustained for future generations.

Council staff have worked with experts at the University of Minnesota to identify resident values that can inform equitable water policy, planning, and management, and provide approaches for fair and just decision-making. In 2020 due to pandemic restrictions, a mail survey asking residents about their perspectives and experiences was sent to zip codes throughout the region. Researchers received a strong response rate and valuable understanding was gained. However, the demographics of the respondents didn’t reflect the diverse perspectives of the region’s residents. After the lifting of pandemic restrictions and modifying the survey, researchers were able to attend 14 community cultural events, receiving over 1000 responses from the region’s residents, with respondents self-identifying as 55% female, 67% non-white, and 47% renter. Resident responses show that water is highly valued in the region, with safe and clean drinking water, equitable access to clean drinking water, and water for future generations being of the highest importance. Responses also revealed cultural differences regarding drinking water quality, the use of bottled water, trusted sources of and access to water information, concerns about climate change and flooding, and priority water uses. These differences reflect the need to understand and incorporate diverse perspectives into policies, work approaches, resource allocation, and communications.

In 2024, a series of forums brought together community leaders and water professionals to reflect on the survey results, co-identify challenges, and develop policy actions and implementation strategies. 12 actions (or strategies) were prioritized, providing the Council and our partners with sound, community-driven direction for equitable water policy and planning work. Top priorities include:

1. Authentically engage with BIPOC communities
2. Promote understanding of the cultural values and benefits of clean water
3. Create and implement Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice trainings
4. Provide equitable and transparent access to water knowledge.

This research provides guidance that can help the Council and its planning and water management partners to make just and equitable water decisions. The region’s residents generously shared their perspectives, offering an opportunity to incorporate those perspectives into regional policies, guide regional operations and engagement approaches, and provide support for local planning partners and utility customers. Perhaps most importantly, this study offers a framework for achieving equitable outcomes that include transparency, trust building, and culturally appropriate community-driven decisions.

DELIVERABLES

Phase 1: Resident Water Values Mail Survey Report
Phase 2: Resident Water Values In-Person Survey, Policy Forums, and Community Survey Data Report (PDF, 5.83 MB)