Human Dimensions of Water Quality Research

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Water is one of our most precious resources. We depend upon it for our livelihoods, healthy ecosystems and people, and a robust economy. To better protect this important resource, EPA scientists are conducting research on how people use and value clean water. This research includes a suite of approaches and studies that capture different aspects of the human dimensions of water quality. These address research questions focused on humans’ behaviors, knowledge, perceptions, and social and economic values related to water quality.

Research Publications

Recreation in Coastal Waters

People recreating on a beach

Perceptions of water quality influence people’s recreational experiences and choices. Understanding these perceptions helps EPA connect environmental measures with what people care about most. Water quality can enhance or adversely affect recreation, and in some cases, can impact human health. However, little is known about the economic value of recreation in coastal areas, especially in estuaries.

EPA scientists are conducting research to estimate the value of coastal recreation in New England using literature reviews, surveys and modeling. This research is providing practical and transferable methods to quantify the social and economic value of changes in water quality for recreation, including understanding how many people use coastal areas for recreation and the value people place on coastal recreation and protecting or improving water quality.

Research Publications

Additional Research Resources

Related Information

Coastal Nutrient Pollution

Chesapeake Bay-Aerial view-nutrients

Although nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) are a natural part of aquatic ecosystems, excess amounts can cause water systems to become polluted. Nutrient pollution is among the most prevalent causes of water quality impairment in the United States and can adversely affect environmental and human health and the economy. Nonpoint sources of coastal nutrient pollution—excess nutrients that end up in coastal waters from multiple different natural and human-made sources—can be addressed using a wide variety of nutrient reduction approaches. However, understanding when and where to use a type of approach is a challenge for local decision makers tasked with reducing nutrient pollution. Some approaches have been more thoroughly tested, while others may be less expensive to implement but not as thoroughly tested.

EPA scientists are investigating several of the leading approaches being considered for nutrient pollution reduction in coastal areas, and the impacts of selecting and implementing different technologies on communities. Scientists at EPA are also investigating what factors drive household-level willingness to implement, and their experience with, novel approaches to nutrient management using focus groups and interviews. These studies will provide information that can inform difficult choices among technologies for local decision makers.

Research Publications

Related Information

Property Values and Water Quality

Harbor surrounded by homes with city in the background

Real estate markets are an ideal setting for researchers to observe and quantify people’s preferences and values for the environment and water quality. For example, home buyers might be attracted to open space and other environmental amenities but will try to avoid homes near polluted or contaminated sites.

Using data from select markets across the country, EPA researchers are investigating how water quality affects home values. This research explores whether water quality affects property values differently across regions of the U.S. and across types of waterbodies. It also provides information that can be used to support benefit analyses of public and environmental policies.

Research Publications

Additional Resources

Source Water Protection

Source water intake for drinking water treatment, Potomac River Fredrick City County

Drinking water treatment plants often face declines in source water quality due to long-term changes in watershed conditions, such as increased agriculture runoff or wildfire frequency. These changes may occasionally result in temporary plant shutdowns and drinking water advisories that can significantly affect day-to-day human social and economic activities. In response, treatment plants may modify or augment existing treatment processes, but this could lead to higher water rates for consumers. Therefore, reduced source water quality can lead to a decrease in consumer welfare and an increase in treatment costs.

Drinking water treatment plants can take actions to protect source water from contamination before reaching their plants’ intake, including land acquisition, incentives for best management practices, and public education. Understanding the costs and benefits of protecting source waters versus augmenting treatment can help water managers select the most cost-effective ways to protect human health while minimizing water costs for consumers. 

EPA scientists are conducting research to evaluate how changes in source water quality affect drinking water treatment costs and whether source water protection is a cost-effective solution.

Research Publications

Related Information

Public Engagement with the Science of Water Resources

Researchers conduct water quality study at a pond in Rhode Island

People can engage in science in a range of ways related to water quality and recreation. This can range from building literacy regarding environmental challenges, to collaboration with scientists in defining challenges and conducting experiments, to sharing experiential knowledge in both research and planning decisions. People engaged in science on water quality can help improve local preparedness for environmental challenges and improve equitable decision-making. Researchers studying public engagement with science can address needs like identifying key environmental communication challenges and barriers, determining best approaches to communicate risks and hazards, and applying how to most effectively engage varied audiences in scientific research to address environmental challenges. 

EPA researchers have conducted research on public engagement with water resources largely related to nutrient challenges, using interview and content review methods. This work has focused on capturing the perspectives of EPA researchers, key stakeholders, and recreators at various waterbodies to understand their experiences with solutions-driven research processes and their concerns with specific waterbody changes. Additional work has included developing plans and reports to ensure strategic communication with stakeholders throughout a solutions-driven project. This applied research aims to inform public engagement efforts at the state and town-level to more accurately meet community needs, and will inform future solutions-driven research projects at EPA. 

Research Publications

Additional Resources

Harmful Algal Blooms

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a rising concern to many communities throughout the United States. They have a slate of impacts on the environment and human, pet, and domestic animal health effect. Managing for and communicating these impacts is challenging for water managers as there is low public awareness about potential threats from HABs. EPA researchers conducted work to better understand management needs and concerns of water managers and researchers. This work used semi-structured interviews to gather insights from the managers and researchers about needs related to the prevention, forecasting, monitoring, treatment, and communication of HABs.

Research Publications

Additional Resources

Marsh Migration

As sea levels rise, coastal marshes are being lost as they become inundated with sea water and drown. The rising seas also create new potential areas for marshes to migrate, “marsh pathways,” which are often in use by communities for a slate of other purposes. This work uses spatial analysis to investigate human dimensions of marsh migration: overlap with coastal contamination and parcel prioritization.

Research Publications

The publications linked below highlight case studies focusing on lessons learned from the projects for engagement and partnerships.

Related Information

Water Research

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Last updated on April 3, 2025