纽约州克利夫顿泉市的公共供水系统的硝酸盐水平高于州规定的最高污染物水平10 mg/L。自1978年以来，客户已通过邮件收到该问题的通知，1981年成立了一个公民咨询委员会，以确保公众合作解决该问题。开展了一项调查，包括邮寄问卷和对10%的农村家庭进行深入访谈，以评估:通知在影响公众对水问题的认识方面的有效性； 公众对水质的担忧；以及公众愿意为纠正问题而付费的程度。调查结果表明，公众参与决策是教育社区和确保社区合作的有效方法。包括3个参考文献、表格。

The public water supply in Clifton Springs, New York, has nitrate levels greater than the state-mandated maximum contaminant level of 10 mg/L. The customers have been notified of the problem by mail since 1978, and a citizens' advisory committee was established in 1981 to secure public cooperation in solving the problem. A survey, which included a mailed questionnaire and in-depth interviews in ten percent of the village households, was instituted to assess: the effectiveness of notification in influencing public knowledge of the water problem; the public's concerns about water quality; and the extent of the public's willingness to pay to correct the problem. The results of the survey indicate that public participation in decision-making is an effective method of educating the community and of securing its cooperation. Includes 3 references, tables.