Determinants of bottled and purified water consumption: results based on an OECD survey

Water Policy ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 668-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Johnstone ◽  
Ysé Serret
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
The Face ◽  
Tap Water Quality ◽  
The Individual

In the face of dissatisfaction with the quality of public water supply, there is significant ‘willingness-to-pay’ for improved services. However, pressuring authorities for public sector investments in water quality services is not the only means at the disposal of households to bring about improvements in drinking water quality. On the one hand, households can invest in purification systems at the level of the individual household. On the other, they can consume bottled water for their drinking needs. Based on a survey of 10,000 households, this paper analyses the determinants of a household's decision to purchase bottled water or invest in a purification system. Negative perceptions of tap water quality (health and taste concerns) affect the decision to purchase bottled water and home purification, with much greater effect on bottled water consumption. The same is true of household income. Household size, the presence of children in the household and length of residence affects the decision to invest in purification, but not bottled water consumption. Concern about solid waste has a negative impact on bottled water consumption, and car ownership has a positive impact.

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.

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.

scholarly journals Tendencies towards bottled drinking water consumption: Challenges ahead of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste management

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-68
Author(s):  
Hassan Aslani ◽  
Parisa Pashmtab ◽  
Abdolreza Shaghaghi ◽  
Asghar Mohammadpoorasl ◽  
Hassan Taghipour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Water Usage ◽  
Pet Waste ◽  
Bottled Drinking Water ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Waste Generation Rate ◽  
Tap Water Quality

Background: The main objective of this study was to investigate the logics behind tendencies towards bottled drinking water usage in spite of availability of treated tap water. The amount of waste bottle is also estimated in Iran and managing principles for resolving the issue presented. Methods: A questionnaire was used to survey the logics behind tendencies toward bottled drinking water consumption among 120 participants. In order to estimate the quantities of the PET wastes produced in the country, data about bottled water production rate as well as volume of the imported and exported drinking bottled water were collected from 1962 to 2015 and applied in the calculations. Results: Findings suggested that about 0.026 to 3.86 billion liters (about 1.04 billion literson average) of bottled water was consumed annually between 2000 and 2015. Furthermore, bottled water consumption increased from 0.41 to 48.9 L/capita-year within the same time period. In the meantime, the plastic bottle waste generation rate rose from 12.84 to 1519.38 g/capita-year. There is no efficient and suitable system for managing and recycling waste bottles in the country. The perceived unreliability of tap water quality was the main reason of bottled water consumption among 74% of the respondents. Conclusion: To reduce bottled water consumption and the associated harmful environmental and health consequences, measures such as informing people, validating public water supply quality, preventive rules enactment, and establishing extended producer responsibility (EPR) are highly recommended.

scholarly journals Predicting water filter and bottled water use in Appalachia: a community-scale case study

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas G. Levêque ◽  
Robert C. Burns
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Water Filter ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Tap Water Quality

A questionnaire survey was conducted in order to assess residents’ perceptions of water quality for drinking and recreational purposes in a mid-sized city in northcentral West Virginia. Two logistic regression analyses were conducted in order to investigate the factors that influence bottle use and filter use. Results show that 37% of respondents primarily use bottled water and that 58% use a household filter when drinking from the tap. Respondents with lower levels of environmental concern, education levels, and lower organoleptic perceptions were most likely to perceive health risks from tap water consumption, and were most likely to use bottled water. Income, age, and organoleptic perceptions were predictors of water filter use among respondents. Clean water for recreational purposes was not found to be significant with either of these models. Our results demonstrate that bottle use and filter use are explained differently. We argue that more education and better communication about local tap water quality would decrease the use of bottled water. We demonstrate that household filters could be used as an alternative to bottled water.

scholarly journals Differences in water consumption choices in Canada: the role of socio-demographics, experiences, and perceptions of health risks

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 671-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane Dupont ◽  
W. L. (Vic) Adamowicz ◽  
Alan Krupnick
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Multinomial Logit Model ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
French Speaking ◽  
Key Variables ◽  
Tap Water Quality ◽  
Contamination Events

In 2000 and 2001 Canadians were shocked by water contamination events that took place in two provinces. In 2004 we undertook an internet-based survey across Canada that asked respondents to identify in percentage terms their total drinking water consumption according to one of three sources: tap water, bottled water, and home-filtered water (either some type of container or an in-tap filter device). In this paper we investigate the factors that influence these choices and whether choosing to either filter or purchase water is linked to perceptions of health concerns with respect to tap water. A series of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests suggest that the presence of children in a household and self-reported concern that tap water causes health problems lead to significantly greater consumption of bottled water or filtered water and significantly less tap water consumption. In order to examine these choices in a multivariate framework, we estimate a multinomial logit model. Factors yielding higher probabilities of a respondent being primarily a bottled water drinker (relative to the choice of tap water) include: higher income, unpleasant taste experiences with tap water, non-French-speaking, and being a male with children in one's household. Similar factors yield higher probabilities of a respondent being primarily a filtered tap water drinker. An important finding is that two key variables linking a person's health perceptions regarding tap water quality are significant factors leading to the choice of either filtered tap water or bottled water over tap water. They are: a variable showing the degree of health concerns a respondent has with respect to tap water and a second variable indicating whether the respondent believes bottled water is safer than tap water.

scholarly journals Survey of public attitiude towards bottled and tap water quality in the UAE

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 607-617 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Stated Preference ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Storage Tanks ◽  
Survey Form ◽  
Tap Water Quality

<div> <p>The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the leading countries in the per capita bottled water consumption. This seems to be in controversy with adherences of local water authorities to stringent municipal water standards. A public survey (n= 891) was conducted to ascertain the perception of people in the country regarding bottled and tap water quality. The survey form was formulated based on the stated preference approach and was furnished in both Arabic and English languages. Some questions in the survey form require rating the quality of tap water and identifying the type of water the respondent drinks. For respondents who usually drink bottled water, they were asked to choose the reason(s) why they usually drink bottled water. Those who drink tap water more often were similarly asked to choose the reason(s) why they prefer tap water to bottled water. The study revealed that a large fraction of the UAE residents classify the quality of tap water as either good or excellent, yet many of them drink bottled water. This could be attributed in part to the high standard of living where the cost of bottled water is considered by the majority of the respondents as affordable. Other influential factors include the belief that bottled water has a better taste and concerns about tap water contamination. The latter may stem from the perception that water is not sufficiently treated or contamination is induced into the water from the distribution system or the in-house storage tanks. The study shows that more people in the UAE will drink tap water if relevant authorities provide information about tap water quality and if regular inspections and cleaning of the in-house storage tanks is conducted.</p> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p>

scholarly journals Tap Water, Bottled Water or In-Home Water Treatment Systems: Insights on Household Perceptions and Choices

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hug March ◽  
Xavier Garcia ◽  
Elena Domene ◽  
David Sauri
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Home Treatment ◽  
Housing Tenure ◽  
Significant Variable ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Tap Water Quality

This article addresses household strategies for coping with perceived tap water quality issues. By using a household survey (n = 581) in Catalonia (Spain) and three models, this article analyses the drivers and motivations behind the installation of in-home water treatment systems, and the use of bottled water for drinking and cooking. The main explanatory factors of the higher consumption of bottled water were the perception of poor tap water quality, the lack of in-home treatment systems, and the presence of children at home. Income did not appear as a significant variable explaining the use of bottled water, unlike in other studies. The presence of in-home treatment systems is related to factors, such as perceived bad water quality, larger households, and single-family housing. Income and housing tenure appeared as explanatory variables only when considering systems requiring some kind of installation: lower incomes or renting a multi-family house reduce the probability of having an in-home water treatment that required installation because of important investments and operating costs, and the space needed in the housing units. In-house water treatment systems may become a solid alternative to bottled water when tap water raises problematic perceptions related to bad taste, odor, or lime presence.

scholarly journals Examining Recent Trends in the Racial Disparity Gap in Tap Water Consumption: NHANES 2011–2018

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Asher Y. Rosinger ◽  
Anisha I. Patel ◽  
Francesca Weaks
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
Prevalence Ratio ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Water Crisis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Us ◽  
Recent Trends ◽  
Nationally Representative

Abstract Objective As tap water distrust has grown in the US with greater levels among Black and Hispanic households, we aimed to examine recent trends in not drinking tap water including the period covering the US Flint Water Crisis and racial/ethnic disparities in these trends. Design Cross-sectional analysis. We used log-binomial regressions and marginal predicted probabilities examined US nationally-representative trends in tap and bottled water consumption overall and by race/ethnicity. Setting The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, 2011–2018. Participants Nationally-representative sample of 9,439 children aged 2-19 and 17,268 adults. Results Among US children and adults, respectively, in 2017-2018 there was a 63% (adjusted prevalence ratio [PR]:1.63, 95%CI: 1.25-2.12, p<0.001) and 40% (PR:1.40, 95%CI: 1.16-1.69, p=0.001) higher prevalence of not drinking tap water compared to 2013-2014 (pre-Flint Water Crisis). For Black children and adults, the probability of not drinking tap water increased significantly from 18.1% (95%CI: 13.4-22.8) and 24.6% (95%CI: 20.7-28.4) in 2013–14 to 29.3% (95%CI: 23.5-35.1) and 34.5% (95%CI: 29.4-39.6) in 2017–2018. Among Hispanic children and adults, not drinking tap water increased significantly from 24.5% (95%CI: 19.4-29.6) and 27.1% (95%CI: 23.0-31.2) in 2013-14 to 39.7% (95%CI: 32.7-46.8) and 38.1% (95%CI: 33.0-43.1) in 2017-2018. No significant increases were observed among Asian or white persons between 2013-14 and 2017-18. Similar trends were found in bottled water consumption. Conclusions This study found persistent disparities in the tap water consumption gap from 2011–2018. Black and Hispanics’ probability of not drinking tap water increased following the Flint Water Crisis.

scholarly journals Tap Water Quality: Seasonal User Surveys in Poland

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3841
Author(s):  
Józef Ober ◽  
Janusz Karwot
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
World Literature ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Profit Analysis ◽  
Tap Water Quality

Security of supply of water, which meets the quality parameters specified in applicable standards, is now the basis for the functioning of most societies. In addition to climatic, biological, chemical, and physical hazards, it is worth paying attention to consumers’ subjective perception of the quality of tap water supplied in the area of Poland. The article discusses various activities related to water resources management and analyses the results of an evaluation of selected quality parameters of tap water in Poland. A novelty on a European scale here is an examination of the evaluation of these parameters based on potential seasonal differences (spring, summer, autumn, winter). For the first time in the world literature, PROFIT analysis was used to evaluate selected parameters of tap water quality. The aim of the article was to present a model for the evaluation of the parameters of tap water supplied in different seasons of the year in Poland. Due to the complexity of the research aspects, a mixed-methods research procedure was used in which a literature review was combined with a survey and statistical analysis. For the purpose of the survey, an original survey questionnaire called “Survey of customer opinions on selected parameters of tap water supplied in Poland” was developed especially for this study. The conducted research confirmed the adopted hypothesis that the results of evaluation of selected tap water parameters vary depending on the period (spring, summer, autumn, winter) in Poland. The model developed by means of PROFIT analysis makes it possible to highlight to water suppliers the specific quality parameters in particular seasons of the year (spring, summer, autumn, winter), which may improve the quality of water supplied in Poland and thus, in the long-term perspective, increase the level of satisfaction of water recipients and confidence in drinking tap water in Poland.

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