Radioactivity in Drinking Water: Expert Opinion and Policy Choices

Results are given of a survey of some 120 experts, who were asked about their preferences in selected economic and policy options in groundwater protection. The experts were sent an analysis of the problem of radium in drinking water supplies in Iowa and asked to answer formal scientific questions; 97 answered. Preferences in response to some aspects of the problem appeared, but other responses differed vastly. When the presence of excessive Ra is identified, for example, the respondents preferred immediate action over extensive research and were ready to take action rather than wait for official approval to begin. Most favored local rather than federal government involvement. Findings of such an exploratory survey can be used to define research hypotheses.