Salem Survey Issues and Survey Results

The City of Salem, in association with Virginia Tech, developed and administered a survey on storm water drainage. The survey was used as an indicator of resident knowledge on the issue of storm water pollution. The survey was conducted in a few different locations so that the survey sample would be representative of Salem. The surveys were given out at a local Kroger Store, the Salem Farmer’s Market, the Salem Library, Salem’s Children Festival, and through the Salem City School System (students brought the surveys home and parents filled them out).

Below is a few of the answers to the survey that will give a good indication of Salem’s current knowledge of storm water.

Where do you wash your car?	Total		% Responding
Home		24	17.14%
Commercial		57	40.71%
Both		51	36.43%
Not Applicable		11	7.86%
How many times a month do you wash your car?
0		24	17.14%
1		82	58.57%
2		26	18.57%
3		6	4.29%
More		3	2.14%
When you notice fluid or petroleum products leaking
from your automobile, how long do you wait, before taking it to a garage or fixing it?
< 1 week		75	53.57%
1 week		22	15.71%
2 weeks		8	5.71%
longer		21	15.00%
N/A		13	9.29%
How many times a year do you fertilize your lawn?
1		34	24.29%
2		29	20.71%
3		6	4.29%
4 or more		15	10.71%
N/A		57	40.71%
How do you dispose of yard waste (grass clippings, leaves, and brush)?
Trash		34	24.29%
Compost		45	32.14%
Side of road pick up		68	48.57%
How do you dispose of unused paint?
Trash		36	25.71%
Haz. Waste Drop off		38	27.14%
N/A		64	45.71%
How do you dispose of unused pesticides?
Trash		29	20.71%
Haz. Waste Drop off		30	21.43%
N/A		81	57.86%
Do you pick up your dog's feces?
Yes		39	27.86%
No		27	19.29%
N/A		73	52.14%

N=139