Homeowner Decision Making in Public Water Supply

Homeowner decisions regarding the connection to a public water supply in urban fringe areas suggest that too few connections and low initial consumption per capita are very real possibilities. Therefore, public officials, engineers, and public administrators must realistically evaluate revenues and initial design requirements in light of these decisions. Findings indicate that quality of the private well and the cost of public water are significant variables affecting the homeowner connection decision. Investigations of homeowner decision making behavior are made utilizing a homeowner interview technique which addresses decisions made, factors underlying these decisions, perceived reasonable connection and usage charges, and the role of a private well after connection is made to a public water supply. Two geographic areas are studied: one in which public water is availalbe with emphasis on past decisions, and one in which public water is an impending possibility with an emphasis on future decisions.