Readability of Water Reports in the U.S.: Disclosing Information Biases Through Flesch Readability Ease Scores
Publication Date: Spring 2023
Abstract
The average reader has an 8th-grade reading ability, and all papers written for the public are at or below this level. Unfortunately, water quality reports, which reflect the water toxicity levels of counties across the U.S., can be unreadable by the public; sometimes, they reflect scores at the university level. Every individual in the U.S. has the right to know their water quality and the health risks of dangerous heavy metal levels.
This paper analyzes more than 1,000 water reports in the U.S. using readability metrics. With Python, each PDF was parsed and text-extracted using optical character recognition. A dataframe displayed each water report’s readability through multiple readability indices. All processes disclosed a grave information bias that needs resolution.
Why the Public Should Care
- Arsenic can cause various types of cancer within the body
- Hydraulic fracturing chemicals can injure the immune and reproductive systems
- Pesticides can generate neurological damage and Parkinson’s disease
Why Water Utilities Should Care
- The health of their consumers should be a top priority
- Reports should help consumers know the health risks
- Can prevent water contamination lawsuits by clearly informing the public
Why State Governments Should Care
- The health of their citizens should be a top priority
- Should implement policies to encourage more readable reports
- Can send out PSAs to raise awareness about water contamination
Why Nonprofits Should Care
- Should rally and encourage utilities to use literacy writers
- Can raise money for campaigns for more readable water reports
- Find a way for the public to have their voices heard regarding water contamination