Environment Agency: Rethinking Water: 2023

To aid development of a ‘Water Strategy’ (seeking to deliver a sustainable and resilient water environment for the future) the Environment Agency (EA) commissioned research to inform this work. The study aimed to understand how the public interacts with the water environment and to gather views, opinions, preferences and current concerns relating to all things water related (including flooding).

The research utilised a range of data collection methods, with an online access panel used to collect c. 1,500 surveys amongst a representative sample of adults in England. Additionally, using the same methodology, a boost survey was undertaken with adults who frequently take part in activities that involve contact with the water, to ensure the views of this important group were suitably represented in the sample. To supplement the online surveys, a face-to-face on-street sample of residents classified as digitally disengaged was also interviewed at locations around.  Finally, 12 telephone depth interviews add further depth to our understanding.

The research and outputs enabled the EA team to understand the views of the public on a wide range of issues related to the water environment to aid the development of their Water Strategy.