Circle of Blue/GlobeScan Survey

In 2009, a survey of 1,000 people in each of 15 countries found that people around the globe see water as the planet’s biggest environmental problem, outranking air pollution, depletion of natural resources, loss of habitat, and climate change. The survey, which asked additional questions in Canada, China, India, Mexico, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, found that people generally see the government and water companies as most responsible for ensuring clean water.