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Tap Water, Trust, and Perceived Risk: What Drives Intentions to Use Single-Use Bottled Water?
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Whether people choose bottled water over tap water comes down to how safe they think tap water is, how it tastes and smells, and—surprisingly—how much they trust the federal government, even though most people don't actually know which agencies regulate their tap water. This confusion matters because relying on bottled water instead of tap water adds to plastic pollution, and that plastic waste is a growing source of microplastics that end up in our water, food, and bodies. Building clearer public understanding of who ensures tap water safety, and fixing real taste or odor issues, could help people feel confident choosing tap water and cut down on unnecessary plastic waste.
The plastic pollution resulting from single-use bottled water contributes to global environmental, economic, and health issues. Reducing use requires communication strategies tailored to consumer behavior. This study tested a conceptual model examining the influence of trust in the federal government, perceived risk of tap water, organoleptic qualities, and attitudes toward single-use bottled water on intentions to purchase or use it. All variables showed significant effects on intention to use single-use bottled water. Unexpectedly, trust in the federal government had a small but positive effect on both attitudes toward and intention to use single-use bottled water. This result may reflect public misunderstanding or limited awareness of which agencies regulate tap water, as well as the influence of broader media narratives. The findings underscore the need to improve public understanding of tap water governance. To reduce reliance on single-use bottled water, communication efforts and infrastructure improvements must address both perceived safety and organoleptic qualities of tap water.
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Examining Drinking Water Preferences among University Students: A Comparative Assessment
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Researchers surveyed university students in Qatar about their drinking water preferences, finding a notable rise in bottled water consumption driven by attitudes about taste and safety, raising concerns about the associated plastic waste and environmental impact.
Comparing the Health Impact of Tap Water and Bottled Water Consumption: Implications for Public Health
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Good news for your wallet and the planet: this review of existing research found that tap water hydrates you just as well as bottled water, with no meaningful health differences between the two — as long as your local tap water meets safety regulations. Bottled water isn't necessarily safer either, since it comes with its own concerns, like exposure to microplastics and chemicals that can leach from plastic bottles. Bottom line: for most people with access to regulated tap water, skipping the bottled stuff is a simple way to stay hydrated while cutting down on plastic waste.
A Comparative Assessment of Drinking Water Preferences among University Students in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Study
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This cross-sectional survey of 688 university students in Qatar found that 68% preferred plastic bottled water over tap water, with safety being the primary stated reason despite 72% acknowledging that plastic bottles are more environmentally harmful. The findings highlight a significant attitude-behavior gap and underscore the need for targeted environmental and health literacy programs on campus.
The plastic pulse: How global water consumption behaviors shape exposure to nano- and microplastics from single-use plastic water bottles
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A global survey of over 15,000 people found that most of us drink from single-use plastic water bottles out of convenience or habit, even though 75% of respondents already believe these bottles contain microplastics and 70% suspect a cancer link. The catch: awareness alone isn't changing behavior much, especially among younger, more educated drinkers, showing that reducing microplastic exposure will take more than just information—it likely needs better refill infrastructure and easier access to alternatives like filtered water or glass bottles.
Communicating About Single-Use Bottled Water to Mitigate Ecosystem Pollution
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Researchers surveyed consumers in three U.S. states to model what drives single-use bottled water purchases, finding that knowledge, cognitive beliefs, and affective beliefs together explained 34.5% of attitude variance, and that communication strategies targeting emotional attachments and perceived knowledge can reduce purchase intentions.
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