| The motivation for this work is that groundwater is currently the most widely used water source in the St. Johns River Water Management District. Current expectations are that there are not sustainable groundwater sources to meet increases in regional water demand beyond 2013, so the St. Johns River Water Management District needs to consider alternative water supplies, such as surface water, seawater, reclaimed water, and conservation. The goal of this research project is to understand stakeholder beliefs about alternative water supplies in the St. Johns River Basin, and collect baseline water quality data from the St. Johns River. The research project is divided into three phases. Phase I: What are the salient beliefs of stakeholders about surface water withdrawals from the St. Johns River? How do stakeholder salient beliefs about alternative water supply sources cluster? What cultural identities do stakeholders hold? To what extent are attitudes toward alternative water supply sources driven by cultural identities? Phase II: How do cultural identities guide the interpretation of unbiased information on the risks and benefits of various alternative water supply issues? Phase III: What is the temporal variability of water quality in the St. Johns River? What water quality parameters relevant to the St. Johns River are important to consider for future drinking water treatment? What is the treatability of the St. Johns River? Phase I will be accomplished by conducting an elicitation study for a subset of stakeholders. Phase II will be accomplished by using an online survey for a large group of stakeholders. Phase III will be accomplished by collecting water samples from the St. Johns River and conducting laboratory analyses and experiments. The expected outcomes from this project will include: better understanding of stakeholder worldviews and belief conflicts, clarify stakeholder priorities, understand how stakeholders respond to unbiased scientific information, water quality parameters relevant to future drinking water treatment, and treatment processes necessary to transform the St. Johns River into potable water. |
