Public Perceptions and Support of Environmental
Management in the Source Area of Drinking Water for
Beijing, China

Wang, Xiaoyan; Feng, Qing; Zhang, Yafan; Duan, Shuhuai; Novotny, Vladimir

doi:2010.15.1.49

Environmental Engineering Research 2010;15(1): 49-56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2010.15.1.049

Public Perceptions and Support of Environmental Management in the Source Area of Drinking Water for Beijing, China

Xiaoyan Wang¹^†, Qing Feng¹, Yafan Zhang¹, Shuhuai Duan², and Vladimir Novotny³

¹College of Resources, Environment & Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
²Beijing Soil Conservation Station, Beijing 100036, China
³Center for Urban Environmental Studies, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA

Corresponding Author: Xiaoyan Wang ,Tel: +86-10-68903968, Fax: +86-10-68902339, Email: wangxy@pku.edu.cn

Received: March 1, 2010; Accepted: March 15, 2010.

ABSTRACT

Based on a survey of citizens and data analysis on the environmental status of the Miyun Reservoir watershed, China, the environmental awareness of citizens residing in the watershed and the impacting factors are discussed. The contingent valuation method was used to evaluate the willingness of villagers to pay (WTP) for abatement of the rural domestic pollution and to assess the intensity level of the villagers' desire for improving environmental conditions in the Miyun Reservoir watershed. It was found that rural watershed residents had a fundamental cognitive understanding of the pollution status and protection measures of the Miyun Reservoir. However, based on the survey, local residents had only a small interest in their participation to improve the environmental status of the reservoir, despite their general attitude to protect the reservoir being very positive. Gender and family income were closely associated with the overall attitudes of the population. Public media are the most preferable means for conveying knowledge of environmental protection to people living in the watershed. Increasing the educational level, along with income, are the best ways to enhance the desire of the villagers to improve the environmental quality and management.

Keywords: Public perception | Willingness to pay | Environmental awareness | Drinking water source area | Watershed management