Key Findings from a National Voter Survey Conducted March 11-15, 2018
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Key Findings from a National Voter Survey Conducted
March 11-15, 2018
320-796
Methodology
✓ 1001 telephone interviews with voters
nationwide
✓ Interviews conducted March 11-15, 2018
✓ Interviews on landlines and cell phones
✓ Margin of sampling error of +/- 3.1% at the
95% confidence level
✓ Some percentages may not sum to 100% due to
rounding
✓ Select tracks from 2016 and 2017 national
research
1
Bipartisan Research Team
Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3) – a national Democratic
opinion research firm with offices in Oakland, Los Angeles and Madison, Wisconsin
– has specialized in public policy oriented opinion research since 1981. The firm has
assisted hundreds of political campaigns at every level of the ballot – from
President to City Council – with opinion research and strategic guidance. FM3 also
provides research and strategic consulting to public agencies, businesses and public
Dave Metz – FM3 interest organizations nationwide.
Public Opinion Strategies (POS) is the largest Republican polling firm in the
country. Since the firm’s founding in 1991, they have completed more than 10,000
research projects, interviewing more than five million Americans across the United
States. Media outlets, such as The Wall Street Journal, NBC News, CNBC, and
National Public Radio, rely on Public Opinion Strategies to conduct their polling.
The firm conducts polling on behalf of hundreds of political campaigns, as well as
trade associations, not-for-profit organizations, government entities and industry
Lori Weigel - POS coalitions throughout the nation.
As a bipartisan team, FM3 and Public Opinion Strategies have researched a wide range of issues for
nearly a decade, in particular on conservation-related initiatives and policies. Together, the two firms
have jointly conducted research on behalf of political campaigns, businesses, not-for-profit
organizations and public agencies in 44 states and nationally.
2
FM3 and POS have partnered to complete
environmental research in 44 states.
3
4
Rebuilding America’s infrastructure is seen as
a top priority, and is gaining urgency.
Here are some issues that President Trump and leaders in Congress have said they may address
this year. Please tell me how important you think it is for them to focus on each issue.
Ext./Very
Ext. Impt. Very Impt. Smwt. Impt. Not Too Impt. DK/NA/Refused Impt.
Rebuilding America’s 2018 31% 49% 16% 80%
infrastructure 2017 27% 40% 25% 6% 67%
Providing permanent legal status for
Dreamers, undocumented immigrants 21% 34% 23% 19% 55%
who were brought here as children
Increasing funding for defense 2018 24% 30% 25% 20% 54%
and anti-terrorism programs 2017 22% 27% 29% 21% 49%
Repealing and replacing 2018 20% 18% 16% 44% 38%
Obamacare 2017 21% 21% 16% 38% 5% 42%
Building a wall on the 2018 15% 16% 12% 57% 30%
Mexican border 2017 12% 14% 17% 56% 25%
Q2. 5
Nearly four in five see it as “very important”
that we rebuild our water infrastructure.
We mentioned America’s infrastructure in the last question. Specifically, how
important do you think it is (Half Sample: for the President and Congress to develop
a plan this year) to rebuild our water infrastructure that brings clean drinking water
to your home and removes and treats wastewater?
Extremely important Extremely/Very
40%
Important
Very important
38% 78%
Somewhat important
16% Somewhat/Not
Not important Important
5%
21%
Don’t know/NA Numbers were essentially identical with
1%
and without reference to Presidential and
Congressional action “this year.”
Q3. 6Democrats, independents, voters under 50,
and women are more likely to see this as
“extremely” important.
Extremely/Very Extremely Very Somewhat/Not
Demographic Groups
Important Important Important Important
Party
Democrats 88% 48% 40% 12%
Independents 80% 45% 35% 18%
Republicans 66% 29% 37% 32%
Age
18-49 79% 45% 34% 20%
50+ 78% 36% 42% 21%
Gender
Men 74% 38% 36% 24%
Women 81% 42% 39% 17%
Q3 (Total). We mentioned America’s infrastructure in the last question. Specifically, how important do you think it is (SPLIT SAMPLE
A ONLY: for the President and Congress to develop a plan this year) to rebuild our water infrastructure that brings clean drinking
water to your home and removes and treats wastewater? 7Voters of color and those in the Northeast are
most likely to place importance on rebuilding
infrastructure.
Extremely/Very Extremely Very Somewhat/Not
Demographic Groups
Important Important Important Important
Ethnicity
Latinos 92% 47% 45% 8%
African-Americans 94% 57% 37% 4%
Whites 74% 36% 38% 25%
Voters of Color 90% 50% 40% 8%
Region
Northeast 81% 51% 30% 17%
Midwest 73% 38% 35% 26%
South 83% 37% 46% 16%
South Central 77% 35% 42% 23%
Central Plains 73% 31% 42% 27%
Mountain 79% 38% 41% 18%
West 75% 39% 36% 24%
Q3 (Total). We mentioned America’s infrastructure in the last question. Specifically, how important do you think it is (SPLIT SAMPLE
A ONLY: for the President and Congress to develop a plan this year) to rebuild our water infrastructure that brings clean drinking
water to your home and removes and treats wastewater? 89
Nearly nine in ten support increasing federal
investments in water infrastructure.
Some people have proposed increasing the federal investment in rebuilding
our water infrastructure ‐ including pipes, pumps, reservoirs, treatment plants,
and other facilities ‐ to ensure safe, reliable water service for all communities.
Does this sound like something you would support or oppose?
Strongly support 53%
Total
Support
Somewhat support 35% 88%
Somewhat oppose 4%
Total
Oppose
Strongly oppose 4% 8%
Don't know/NA 3%
Q6. 10Support cuts across gender, age, party and
ideology.
Total Strong Smwht. Total
Demographic Groups DK/NA
Support Support Support Oppose
Gender
Men 86% 52% 34% 10% 4%
Women 91% 55% 36% 6% 3%
Age
18-49 92% 54% 38% 6% 3%
50+ 86% 53% 33% 11% 4%
Party
Democrats 95% 66% 29% 4% 1%
Independents 89% 56% 33% 7% 5%
Republicans 81% 38% 43% 14% 5%
Ideology
Liberal 97% 66% 30% 2% 1%
Moderate 89% 53% 36% 7% 3%
Conservative 82% 42% 40% 13% 5%
Q6. Some people have proposed increasing the federal investment in rebuilding our water infrastructure ‐ including pipes, pumps,
reservoirs, treatment plants, and other facilities ‐ to ensure safe, reliable water service for all communities. Does this sound like
something you would support or oppose? 11Support also cuts across
geographic lines.
Total Strong Smwht. Total
Demographic Groups DK/NA
Support Support Support Oppose
Region
Northeast 90% 61% 29% 6% 5%
Midwest 88% 48% 40% 9% 3%
South 88% 55% 32% 9% 3%
South Central 89% 59% 31% 8% 2%
Central Plains 91% 42% 49% 7% 2%
Mountain 87% 54% 33% 8% 5%
West 87% 47% 40% 10% 3%
Q6. Some people have proposed increasing the federal investment in rebuilding our water infrastructure ‐ including pipes, pumps,
reservoirs, treatment plants, and other facilities ‐ to ensure safe, reliable water service for all communities. Does this sound like
something you would support or oppose? 12Three quarters favor investing in water
infrastructure today, regardless of cost impacts.
Water systems in many communities across the United States are aging and in need of repair. The
American Society of Civil Engineers gives our water and wastewater infrastructure a D grade. They
estimate the price tag for repairing and improving America’s drinking water and wastewater
infrastructure will be $1.27 trillion dollars over the next 25 years. Having heard this, which of
these approaches do you think we should pursue as it relates to water infrastructure?
With Costs Without Costs Total
We should invest today in comprehensive
replacement, improvements, and upgrades to our
water infrastructure, in order to prevent problems 79% 75% 75%
from arising (Half Sample: at a total cost of roughly
$1.27 trillion dollars over 25 years)
We should largely leave our water infrastructure in
place, and simply fix problems and breakdowns as
they occur (Half Sample: at a total cost greater 19% 20% 19%
than $1.27 trillion dollars over 25 years)
Both/Neither/Don't Know 4% 5% 5%
Q7. 13Support for making the investment today cuts
across partisan lines.
Demographic Groups Invest Today Fix Problems Both/Neither/DK/NA
Party
Democrats 88% 10% 3%
Independents 79% 18% 4%
Republicans 60% 31% 9%
Age
18-49 79% 17% 4%
50+ 72% 22% 6%
Ethnicity
Latinos 86% 12% 2%
African-Americans 83% 17% 1%
Whites 72% 21% 6%
Voters of Color 85% 14% 1%
Region
Northeast 81% 15% 4%
Midwest 75% 15% 10%
South 73% 25% 2%
South Central 69% 25% 6%
Central Plains 72% 22% 6%
Mountain 78% 12% 10%
West 75% 22% 3%
Q7 (Total). Having heard this, which of these approaches do you think we should pursue as it relates to water infrastructure? 14More than three-quarters support the
$1.2 trillion investment.
To withstand threats from storms, wildfires, and more extreme and unpredictable weather and
meet growing demand, some people have proposed we begin a decades-long project to ensure
our drinking water and wastewater systems are resilient. The cost would be approximately
$1.2 trillion dollars over 25 years. (Half Sample: For context, Americans spend approximately
half that amount each year on Christmas presents alone.) Funding would come from a mix of
federal, state, and local sources – some of which would ultimately be paid by ratepayers. Do
you think you would support or oppose such a proposal?
Spending Context No Spending Context Total
Strongly support 39% Total 39% Total 39% Total
Support Support Support
Somewhat support 40% 79% 38% 77% 39% 78%
Somewhat oppose 8% Total 10% Total 9% Total
Oppose Oppose Oppose
Strongly oppose 7% 15% 8% 18% 7% 17%
Don't know/NA 5% 5% 5%
Q8. 15Reducing water pollution is most likely to be
rated a high priority for local water agencies.
I am going to read you a list of services that your local water agency either provides
today or may provide in the future. Please tell me if you think it should be a high
priority; a moderate priority; a low priority, or not a priority.
High/
High Moderate Low Not DK/NA
Mod.
Reducing water pollution 83% 11% 95%
Meeting increased state and federal health
and safety regulations 64% 23% 6% 5% 87%
Maintaining, enhancing, or replacing aging
equipment, pipes, facilities, and buildings 62% 30% 92%
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions 52% 25% 11% 10% 76%
Generating energy in the process of treating
wastewater 50% 34% 9% 5% 84%
Preparing for the impact of climate change 48% 23% 14% 13% 72%
Increasing the use of recycled water 47% 36% 9% 6% 82%
Capturing nutrients from wastewater to be
used as fertilizer and other industrial uses 31% 44% 14% 8% 76%
Q13. 16Four in five say that what they currently pay
for water and wastewater is affordable.
Do you think what you pay currently for water and wastewater
service is affordable or unaffordable?
Very affordable 42% Total
Affordable
Somewhat affordable 39% 80%
Somewhat unaffordable 8% Total
Unaffordable
Very unaffordable 5% 13%
Don't know/NA 6%
Q15. 17Regardless of income, majorities of voters say that
what they pay for their water and wastewater
service is affordable.
Total Total
Demographic Groups DK/NA
Affordable Unaffordable
Household IncomeThree-quarters say they would be
willing to pay a modest rate increase
for service improvements.
Suppose your water and wastewater service provider increased rates by a modest amount to
pay for infrastructure and water quality improvements. Would you be willing or unwilling to
pay a modest rate increase in order to improve your water and wastewater service?
Very willing 37% Total
Willing
Somewhat willing 38% 75%
Somewhat unwilling 9% Total
Unwilling
Very unwilling 9% 18%
Don't know/NA 7%
Q16. 1920
Conclusions
✓ Rebuilding America’s infrastructure continues to be a top priority for
American voters and is gaining intensity.
✓ Even though a majority think the nation’s water infrastructure is in good
condition and 84% say the same for their local infrastructure, nearly four
in five say that rebuilding water infrastructure as “very important.”
✓ Voters strongly support a proposal to invest as much as $1.2 trillion in
the nation’s water infrastructure system.
▪ Overall, support for this idea cuts across demographic and partisan lines.
▪ Democrats, voters of color, and those living in urban areas are most likely to
consistently support the proposal.
▪ Republican women and those living in the Central Plains and Midwest are
most likely to be persuadable on this issue.
✓ Voters express a distinct preference for making the investment now,
rather than fixing problems in the system as they arise.
✓ Three-quarters of voters say they would be willing to pay a modest
amount more to improve their local water and wastewater system.
21For more information, contact:
Dave@FM3research.com
Lucia@FM3research.com
Lori@pos.orgYou can also read
