Are well owners unique environmentalists? An exploration of rural water supply infrastructure, conservation routines, and moderation

Abstract

Enormous demands for irrigation water have depleted groundwater reserves in Kansas, where portions of the High Plains aquifer are in jeopardy. This study examines how private water wells influence conservation routines by comparing the watering practices of well owners to those of non-well owners across the state. My guiding research question is: Does water supply infrastructure moderate the relationship between demographic predictors and pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs)? To answer this, I surveyed well owners and non-well owners throughout Kansas (n = 864). The results indicate that controlling for water supplies uncovers differences across many associations between water conservation efforts and other PEBs with commonly studied demographics (sex, income, political affiliation, education, age, and geography). Researching well owners' acts of environmental stewardship will be key to aquifer preservation.