Title: Consumer perception of water quality, abundance, and cost: comparison of drinking water source, attitudes, and preference

Authors: Isaac W. Wait

Addresses: Division of Engineering and Computer Science, Marshall University, One John Marshall Dr., Huntington, WV, 25545, USA

Abstract: Public attitudes about drinking water quality, fresh water availability, water spending, and suitable uses for recycled water were determined with a survey administered to respondents in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), North America, and Europe. Statistically significant differences in perception were identified as a function of respondent's country of residence. Among the findings are a significantly greater proportion of residents of the GCC who view their tap water quality as poor (36.6%) compared to those in North America and Europe (23.8%), and a significantly greater percentage of the GCC group prefers to utilise bottled water for drinking (88.4% vs. 66.3%) and says that they 'never' drink tap water (76.1% vs. 26.2%). Differences in perception of drinking water quality and source preference are likely attributable to the prevalence of desalination as a drinking water source in the GCC, and public uncertainty regarding the potability of desalinated water.

Keywords: tap water; bottled water; Gulf Cooperation Council; GCC; desalination; drinking water; water quality; consumer perceptions; water abundance; water availability; water costs; water sources; consumer attitudes; consumer preferences; public attitudes; fresh water; recycled water; North America; Europe; public uncertainty.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2014.067006

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2014 Vol.6 No.4, pp.361 - 369

Received: 04 Jan 2012
Accepted: 03 Aug 2012
Published online: 31 Jan 2015 *

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