Story Highlights
- 61% of Gen Zers say they’ve experienced a climate-related water problem
- Unsafe tap water is more commonly reported in lower-income households
- Two-thirds of Gen Zers expect the effects of climate change to worsen
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Water problems are a common way that Gen Zers are experiencing climate change-related issues, according to a new study by the Walton Family Foundation and Gallup. Sixty-one percent of Gen Zers say their community has been affected by at least one water-related problem in the past two years, such as flooding, drought or unsafe tap water. Drought is the most commonly reported of these three, with 36% of Gen Zers saying their town has experienced a drought within the past two years.
These results come from the Walton Family Foundation and Gallup’s latest report, The Next Wave: Gen Z's Perspective on Water and Climate. Generation Z encompasses young people aged 12 to 27.
Some of the effects reported by Gen Zers may be indirect, as the poll does not address the severity of water-related problems nor their proximity to the individual (other than that they have occurred in the person’s town and/or home). Technical definitions of environmental crises may also differ from the survey wording.
Yet, federal statistics corroborate the widespread nature of water-related events. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 49% of counties in the U.S. have experienced a flood in the past five years. While drought conditions vary greatly over time, the portion of the continental U.S. experiencing at least moderate drought conditions ranged from 12% to 54% during 2024 (the prevalence of severe drought conditions or worse ranged from 3% to 28%), according to the National Drought Mitigation Center.
Self-reported findings from Gen Zers in the present study provide insight into their generation’s perceptions of these widespread events.
Unsafe Tap Water More Common in Lower-Income Households
Among the three water-related problems asked about, experiencing unsafe tap water varies most by demographic characteristics. Gen Zers in lower-income households, as well as Black and Hispanic Gen Zers, are more likely than their peers to report a recent encounter with unsafe tap water.
Multiple factors may contribute to lessened water quality in lower-income households. Research conducted by the University of Rhode Island has shown that smaller drinking water systems have higher levels of contaminants, and these smaller systems are more likely to be present in lower-income communities. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has also highlighted the difficulties that some households face in affording rising utility bills, which can force households to rely on unsafe water sources.
Thirty-four percent of Black Gen Zers and 36% of Hispanic Gen Zers have been told their tap water is unsafe to drink, compared with 27% of their White peers. This finding is consistent with prior Gallup research showing that Black and Hispanic Americans worry more than White Americans about water quality, a trend that has persisted since the early 2000s.
Negative Water-Related Experiences Linked to Pessimistic Outlook
Overall, two-thirds of Gen Zers expect the effects of climate change to definitely (26%) or probably (41%) get worse during their lifetime. These expectations may be related to personal experiences: Gen Zers who have experienced flooding, drought or unsafe tap water in the past two years are more likely than those who have not to expect climate change to worsen.
The relationship between negative water-related experiences and pessimism about future climate change effects varies by political affiliation. Roughly 80% of Gen Zers in Democratic households expect the effects of climate change to worsen, regardless of their experiences with flooding, drought or unsafe tap water. Gen Zers in Republican and politically independent households are less likely overall to expect climate change to worsen -- but within these two party groups, those who have experienced a water-related problem are more likely than those who have not to expect climate change to worsen.
The relationship between recent experiences and future expectations for climate change persists even when accounting for self-reported knowledge about climate change, suggesting that personal experience with a water-related problem may influence pessimism about future climate change, regardless of how knowledgeable someone feels about the topic.
Bottom Line
Despite a generational trend toward higher concern about climate change, Gen Zers’ perspectives on water and climate are still informed by diverse experiences and beliefs, much like the generations before them. A majority of Gen Zers (61%) say they have experienced the effects of flooding, drought or unsafe tap water in their town or home within the past two years. In particular, Black, Hispanic and lower-income Gen Zers are more likely than their peers to have experienced unsafe drinking water.
Two-thirds of Gen Zers expect the effects of climate change to worsen during their lifetime. For some, these pessimistic expectations may be linked to personal experiences with water-related problems. Overall, young people who have experienced water-related climate issues are more likely than those who have not to say the effects of climate change will worsen during their lifetime. This relationship, however, varies by political affiliation: For Gen Zers in Republican and independent households, negative experiences are linked to negative expectations for the future of climate change.
Myriad experiences and beliefs throughout their lifetime are likely to shape Generation Z’s approach to solving climate-related problems.
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Learn more about the Walton Family Foundation’s research with Gen Z and the environment.
Learn more about how the Gallup Panel works.
