A qualitative exploration of the public perception of municipal drinking water

Water Policy ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andria Q. Jones ◽  
Catherine E. Dewey ◽  
Kathryn Doré ◽  
Shannon E. Majowicz ◽  
Scott A. McEwen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
The Public ◽  
Municipal Water ◽  
Alternative Water

Surveys of water consumption patterns in Canada and the USA show a high frequency of alternative water use, including bottled water and water treatment devices. An in-depth understanding of the public perception of municipal water would enable public health and water utility professionals better to address the needs of residents in their jurisdictions. We explored these perceptions and the self-described behaviour and needs of participants served by municipal water systems in the City of Hamilton, Ontario (Canada). We conducted three focus groups; two with men and women aged between 36 and 65 years, and one with men and women aged between 20 and 35 years. In general, participants expressed negative views of the municipal water supplied to their homes. Concerns included unpleasant sensory qualities of the water, perceived poor source-water protection, a perceived insufficiency in water treatment and testing and potential contamination along the distribution system. Reasons for alternative water use included perceived improvements in quality and safety over regular tap water, although convenience also contributed to bottled water use. Participants wanted more information on water testing and suggested a variety of dissemination approaches. This study suggested important lines of inquiry and action regarding the perception of municipal drinking water in this population.

scholarly journals Risk Perception and Bottled Drinking Water Consumption in Istanbul City

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 521-532
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Drinking Water Treatment ◽  
Income Group ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Network Water ◽  
Tap Water Quality

Parallel to the increase in public concern about the safety of drinking water globally, the demand for bottled water has increased in almost every country. Although tap water is significantly cheaper than bottled water, consumers concerned about the safety of tap water. They still prefer the bottled water despite several checks implemented in tap water networks. The present paper aims to discuss network water quality in the city of Istanbul, Turkey and to present the findings on a related survey conducted by the authors. The survey was conducted with the participation of 980 individuals living in different districts in Istanbul and the findings were assessed to determine the public perception about tap water quality and bottled water consumption especially after the experienced years of drought and water quality concerns. Findings demonstrated that several individuals never drink tap water and certain individuals do not utilize tap water at all. It was found that only 4% in the surveyed group drink tap water without hesitation. Based on survey findings, the abovementioned group was mainly among the lowest income group in the sample. When purchasing bottled water, several individuals preferred the well-known brands. It was found that the most significant reasons for preferring bottled water were the nice taste of the bottled spring water, which was perceived not to exist in tap water. It was concluded that drinking water treatment facilities and regulations are required to cater the future quality demands. Furthermore, it was determined that adequate inspections and controls on network water are necessary.

scholarly journals Estimating the number of cases of acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) associated with Canadian municipal drinking water systems

2015 ◽  
Vol 144 (7) ◽  
pp. 1371-1385 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. M. MURPHY ◽  
M. K. THOMAS ◽  
D. T. MEDEIROS ◽  
S. McFADYEN ◽  
K. D. M. PINTAR
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Gastrointestinal Illness ◽  
Water Type ◽  
Source Water ◽  
Acute Gastrointestinal Illness ◽  
Municipal Water ◽  
Intervention Trials ◽  
Water Plants

SUMMARYThe estimated burden of endemic acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) annually in Canada is 20·5 million cases. Approximately 4 million of these cases are domestically acquired and foodborne, yet the proportion of waterborne cases is unknown. A number of randomized controlled trials have been completed to estimate the influence of tap water from municipal drinking water plants on the burden of AGI. In Canada, 83% of the population (28 521 761 people) consumes tap water from municipal drinking water plants serving >1000 people. The drinking water-related AGI burden associated with the consumption of water from these systems in Canada is unknown. The objective of this research was to estimate the number of AGI cases attributable to consumption of drinking water from large municipal water supplies in Canada, using data from four household drinking water intervention trials. Canadian municipal water treatment systems were ranked into four categories based on source water type and quality, population size served, and treatment capability and barriers. The water treatment plants studied in the four household drinking water intervention trials were also ranked according to the aforementioned criteria, and the Canadian treatment plants were then scored against these criteria to develop four AGI risk groups. The proportion of illnesses attributed to distribution system events vs. source water quality/treatment failures was also estimated, to inform the focus of future intervention efforts. It is estimated that 334 966 cases (90% probability interval 183 006-501 026) of AGI per year are associated with the consumption of tap water from municipal systems that serve >1000 people in Canada. This study provides a framework for estimating the burden of waterborne illness at a national level and identifying existing knowledge gaps for future research and surveillance efforts, in Canada and abroad.

scholarly journals Drinking water consumption patterns of residents in a Canadian community

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Q. Jones ◽  
C. E. Dewey ◽  
K. Doré ◽  
S. E. Majowicz ◽  
S. A. McEwen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Consumption Patterns ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional

A cross-sectional survey using computer-assisted telephone interviewing was performed to assess the drinking water consumption patterns in a Canadian community, and to examine the associations between these patterns and various demographic characteristics. The median amount of water consumed daily was four 250 ml servings (1.0 l), although responses were highly variable (0 to 8.0 l). Bottled water consumption was common, and represented the primary source of drinking water for approximately 27% of respondents. Approximately 49% of households used water treatment devices to treat their tap water. The observed associations between some demographic characteristics and drinking water consumption patterns indicated potential differences in risk of exposure to waterborne hazards in the population. Our results lend support to the federal review of the bottled water regulations currently in progress in Canada. Additionally, they may lend support to a provincial/territorial government review of bottled water regulations, and both federal and provincial/territorial level reviews of the water treatment device industry. Further investigation of the use of alternative water sources and the perceptions of drinking water in Canada is also needed to better understand, and subsequently address, concerns among Canadians.

scholarly journals Perceptions of bottled water consumers in three Brazilian municipalities

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 520-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josiane T. Matos de Queiroz ◽  
Miguel de França Doria ◽  
Mark W. Rosenberg ◽  
Léo Heller ◽  
Andréa Zhouri
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Water Quality Standards ◽  
The Public ◽  
Water Education ◽  
Water Issues ◽  
Gender Specific

This study presents perceptions of consumers of bottled water in their households in three Brazilian municipalities. Data from interviews were analyzed using the Discourse Collective Subject method. Interviewees spent, on average, the equivalent of 40% of their water bill for the public water supply on the purchase of bottled water. The decision about water consumption in the household was predominantly made by women. Interviewees were particularly concerned with health risks and expressed a strong preference for the safety and organoleptic qualities of bottled water, particularly in cases where the tap water supply did not fully meet the regulated water quality standards. Interviewees were largely unaware of the origin, type, storage, and social and environmental impacts of bottled water. Results highlight the importance of water education efforts among the general population and the key role of women in the processes related to drinking water. The need for gender-specific interventions and the empowerment of women on water issues is noted. Results also strongly support the relevance of ensuring the provision of safe drinking water, from the source to the consumption point, with the trust of consumers.

scholarly journals How Perceptions of Trust, Risk, Tap Water Quality, and Salience Characterize Drinking Water Choices

Hydrology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Madeline A. Grupper ◽  
Madeline E. Schreiber ◽  
Michael G. Sorice
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Water Utilities ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
The Public ◽  
Water Behavior

Provision of safe drinking water by water utilities is challenged by disturbances to water quality that have become increasingly frequent due to global changes and anthropogenic impacts. Many water utilities are turning to adaptable and flexible strategies to allow for resilient management of drinking water supplies. The success of resilience-based management depends on, and is enabled by, positive relationships with the public. To understand how relationships between managers and communities spill over to in-home drinking water behavior, we examined the role of trust, risk perceptions, salience of drinking water, and water quality evaluations in the choice of in-home drinking water sources for a population in Roanoke Virginia. Using survey data, our study characterized patterns of in-home drinking water behavior and explored related perceptions to determine if residents’ perceptions of their water and the municipal water utility could be intuited from this behavior. We characterized drinking water behavior using a hierarchical cluster analysis and highlighted the importance of studying a range of drinking water patterns. Through analyses of variance, we found that people who drink more tap water have higher trust in their water managers, evaluate water quality more favorably, have lower risk perceptions, and pay less attention to changes in their tap water. Utility managers may gauge information about aspects of their relationships with communities by examining drinking water behavior, which can be used to inform their future interactions with the public, with the goal of increasing resilience and adaptability to external water supply threats.

Use of a stable carbon isotope to assess the efficiency of a drinking water treatment method with CO2

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 983-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Poberžnik ◽  
A. Leis ◽  
A. Lobnik
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Drinking Water Treatment ◽  
Treatment Method ◽  
Water Supply Systems ◽  
Co2 Gas

CO2 gas with a special isotopic signature (δ13C = −35.2‰ vs. VPDB) was used as a marker to evaluate the efficiency of a drinking water treatment method and the effect of an ultrasonic (US) stirrer. This treatment was developed to prevent precipitation and corrosion effects in water–supply systems. The research work was performed using a laboratory-scale pilot plant that was filled with tap water. The stable isotope analyses of δ13C-DIC (Dissolved Inorganic Carbon) in the water samples indicated that the maximum content of added CO2 gas in DIC was in the range of 35 to 45%. The use of the US stirrer during the entire experiment decreased the method's overall efficiency by 10%, due to degassing at a late stage of the experiment but accelerated the dissolution process in the early experimental stage.

scholarly journals Impacts of temperature alteration on the drinking water quality stored in plastic bottles

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelkader T. Ahmed ◽  
Mohammed Emad ◽  
Mohammed A. Bkary
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Physiochemical Parameters ◽  
Heating Water ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Concentration Levels

AbstractMany people prefer to drink bottled water instead off the tap water. The bottled water is stored in the plastic bottles sometimes for long time. These plastic bottles might leach out some harmful materials into the water especially when exposed to temperature alteration, which may affect human health. This research work focused on investigating the effect of changing temperature on the bottled water quality. The work studied the effect of heating water in plastic bottles by sun, oven, and microwave. The study included also the impact of cooling and freezing the bottled waters. Results showed that temperature alterations caused changes in some physicochemical properties of bottled waters such as decreasing the values of pH and TDS and increasing levels of fluoride and chloride. In addition, the concentration levels of some physiochemical parameters exceeded the permissible values for drinking water. With temperature alterations, all levels of heavy metals in bottled waters were minimal except some small concentrations of copper and zinc. Results confirmed also differences in behavior between the bottled water brands exposed to the same temperature alterations. Heating bottled waters above 50 °C is alarming problem on the water quality. This is because above this degree, many alternations were observed in the water content. The outcomes of this work are useful for improving the current legislation on bottled waters and their storage.

Survey of Bottled Drinking Water Sold in Canada. Part 1. Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, Aluminum, and Fluoride

1992 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 949-953 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W Dabeka ◽  
Henry B S Conacher ◽  
John Salminen ◽  
Gerald R Nixon ◽  
Gunther Riedel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Mineral Waters ◽  
Mineral Spring ◽  
Bottled Drinking Water ◽  
Drug Regulations ◽  
Tap Water Quality

Abstract Samples of bottled water (n = 172) offered for sale in Canada were analyzed for lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, and fluoride: means and ranges (μg/g) found were, respectively, 0.0026 (<0.0010- 0.074), 0.00018 (<0.0001-0.0004), 0.0030 (<0.001- 0.048), 0.027 (<0.010-0.568), and 0.543 (<0.050- 5.85). Comparison of levels among mineral waters (n = 64), spring waters (n = 77), and miscellaneous waters (n = 31) indicated appreciable differences only in the case of fluoride. For fluoride, the means and medians (μg/g) for mineral, spring, and miscellaneous waters were 1.179 and 0.455, 0.152 and 0.090, and 0.201 and <0.050, respectively. No samples were found in violation of the tolerances in the Canadian Food and Drug Regulations; however, 1 sample (in a lead-soldered can) contained lead and 15 samples contained fluoride at levels above the limits recommended by the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water (tap-water) Quality.

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