College
College of Arts & Sciences
Mentor Information
Dr. Blake Simmons
Description
Stalling on sewer inspections is costing homeowners more money and potential health issues down the road. Homeowners play a critical role in the health of local water infrastructure. While it is the local government’s job to oversee that water infrastructure is being maintained, it is the homeowners’ responsibility to ensure the functionality of the private sewer lateral (PSL); the pipe that runs beneath their home and connects to a public sewer main. Immense damage to the home, the homeowner’s wallet, and the environment can result from the impairment of this private line. Previous studies by Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) collected data from homeowners in Pinellas County, Florida who communicated that if a rebate program existed to help them with the costly expense of repairs to the pipe, they get an inspection. Despite the enaction of a current rebate program, inspection rates have not increased. Current homeowners who participated in focus group interviews conducted by TBEP were analyzed and thematically coded to identify the main barriers perceived within the rebate program. We found that it is the program structure that is closely tied to the most important barriers — homeowner distrust in the government and economy—while program advertising was not connected to either. This means that updates to advertising will not address homeowners’ primary concerns and will not change their willingness to participate in the program. If future government-funded programs contain clear, concise instructions and provide security for their promises, they will see further participation, and life-threatening public health and infrastructure issues can be resolved before they even occur.
Beyond Financial Incentives: Barriers that Deter Homeowners from Conserving Imperative Water Infrastructure
Stalling on sewer inspections is costing homeowners more money and potential health issues down the road. Homeowners play a critical role in the health of local water infrastructure. While it is the local government’s job to oversee that water infrastructure is being maintained, it is the homeowners’ responsibility to ensure the functionality of the private sewer lateral (PSL); the pipe that runs beneath their home and connects to a public sewer main. Immense damage to the home, the homeowner’s wallet, and the environment can result from the impairment of this private line. Previous studies by Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) collected data from homeowners in Pinellas County, Florida who communicated that if a rebate program existed to help them with the costly expense of repairs to the pipe, they get an inspection. Despite the enaction of a current rebate program, inspection rates have not increased. Current homeowners who participated in focus group interviews conducted by TBEP were analyzed and thematically coded to identify the main barriers perceived within the rebate program. We found that it is the program structure that is closely tied to the most important barriers — homeowner distrust in the government and economy—while program advertising was not connected to either. This means that updates to advertising will not address homeowners’ primary concerns and will not change their willingness to participate in the program. If future government-funded programs contain clear, concise instructions and provide security for their promises, they will see further participation, and life-threatening public health and infrastructure issues can be resolved before they even occur.
