While elected officials tend to dismiss concerns about the quality of our air and water, a recent InWeekly/Political Matrix poll of 537 likely Escambia County voters found the public thinks more oversight and local control are needed to monitor how corporations are treating the environment throughout our county. The majority believe the county is more polluted than 20 years ago.
With the history of pollution in Escambia County, do you think Escambia has more pollution or less pollution than they did 20 years ago?
| Responses: 571 | Total | % |
| More Pollution | 306 | 57.0% |
| Less Pollution | 158 | 29.4% |
| About the same | 73 | 13.6% |
An even larger percentage believe local officials put the needs of corporations above those of the public. Few think there is enough transparency with how local businesses are regulated on environmental matters. Over 60% of the respondents believe more regulation is needed for landfills.
Do you think the local officials put the needs of corporations above the needs and the environmental concerns of the citizens?
| Responses: 571 | Total | % |
| Needs of Corporations | 343 | 63.9% |
| Needs of Citizens | 194 | 36.1% |
Do you think there is enough transparency with how local businesses are regulated, with regards to their operating, and disposing of waste, and debris in our community?
| Responses: 571 | Total | % |
| Yes | 213 | 39.7% |
| No | 324 | 60.3% |
Do you think there is enough regulations and restrictions being places on the local landfills and their operating procedures throughout Escambia County?
| Responses: 571 | Total | % |
| Yes | 201 | 37.4% |
| No | 336 | 62.6% |
When asked out of water, air or soil pollution, which type of pollution is most noticeable to them, Â 44.9% said water pollution was the most noticeable followed distantly by air pollution with 21.9%. Â The vast majority said they were hesitant to swim in local waters, afraid to let children play in certain playgrounds or drink from certain local water sources.
| Responses: 571 | Total | % |
| Air Pollution | 114 | 21.2% |
| Soil Pollution | 76 | 14.2% |
| Water Pollution | 241 | 44.9% |
| Undecided | 106 | 19.7% |
Does the fear of water pollution make you hesitant to swim in the water on the beach, or in any one of our local waterways?
| Responses: 571 | Total | % |
| Yes | 333 | 62.0% |
| No | 204 | 38.0% |
Are you afraid for the children in our community to play in certain playgrounds, or drink from certain water sources, because of the possibility of soil and water pollution?
| Responses: 571 | Total | % |
| Yes | 367 | 68.3% |
| No | 170 | 31.7% |
METHODOLOGY
The people sampled were Escambia voters with a voting score of 100% for the general election cycles. The voters called were those only with landlines and were called using an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system during the hours of 3-5 p.m. between Nov. 29 and Dec. 2. The Margin of Error for this study is +/- 4.5% with a confidence level of 95%.