Providing Students with Adequate School Drinking Water Access in an Era of Aging Infrastructure: A Mixed Methods Investigation

Ensuring students’ access to safe drinking water at school is essential. However, many schools struggle with aging infrastructure and subsequent water safety problems and have turned to bottled water delivery systems. Little is known about whether such systems are feasible and effective in providing adequate student water access. This study was a mixed-methods investigation among six schools in an urban district in the U.S. with two types of water delivery systems: (1) tap water infrastructure, with updated water fountains and bottle fillers, and (2) bottled water coolers. We measured students’ water consumption and collected qualitative data from students and teachers about their perceptions of school drinking water. Student water consumption was low—between 2.0 (SD: 1.4) ounces per student and 2.4 (SD: 1.1) ounces per student during lunch. Students and teachers reported substantial operational hurdles for relying on bottled water as a school’s primary source of drinking water, including difficulties in stocking, cleaning, and maintaining the units. While students and teachers perceived newer bottle filler units positively, they also reported a distrust of tap water. Bottled water delivery systems may not be effective long-term solutions for providing adequate school drinking water access and robust efforts are needed to restore trust in tap water.

Download Full-text

Drinking water consumption patterns in Canadian communities (2001–2007)

Journal of Water and Health ◽

10.2166/wh.2011.051 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 69-86 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

S. M. Roche ◽

A. Q. Jones ◽

S. E. Majowicz ◽

S. A. McEwen ◽

K. D. M. Pintar

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Water Consumption ◽

Tap Water ◽

Treatment Method ◽

Pooled Analysis ◽

Bottled Water ◽

Consumption Patterns ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Water Users

A pooled analysis of seven cross-sectional studies from Newfoundland and Labrador, Waterloo and Hamilton Regions, Ontario and Vancouver, East Kootenay and Northern Interior Regions, British Columbia (2001 to 2007) was performed to investigate the drinking water consumption patterns of Canadians and to identify factors associated with the volume of tap water consumed. The mean volume of tap water consumed was 1.2 L/day, with a large range (0.03 to 9.0 L/day). In-home water treatment and interactions between age and gender and age and bottled water use were significantly associated with the volume of tap water consumed in multivariable analyses. Approximately 25% (2,221/8,916) of participants were classified as bottled water users, meaning that 75% or more of their total daily drinking water intake was bottled. Approximately 48.6% (4,307/8,799) of participants used an in-home treatment method to treat their tap water for drinking purposes. This study provides a broader geographic perspective and more current estimates of Canadian water consumption patterns than previous studies. The identified factors associated with daily water consumption could be beneficial for risk assessors to identify individuals who may be at greater risk of waterborne illness.

Download Full-text

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

Health Promotion Perspectives ◽

10.34172/hpp.2021.09 ◽

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.

Download Full-text

The Bottled Water Market and Consumer Behavior

Brand Culture and Identity ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-7116-2.ch043 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 794-805

Author(s):

Mustafe Pllana ◽

Arbenita Qosa

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Consumer Behavior ◽

Water Consumption ◽

Tap Water ◽

Bottled Water ◽

Water Market ◽

Social Changes ◽

The World ◽

Marketing Activities ◽

Food And Drink

This article describes how packaged water consumption has risen sharply in the world over the past 30 years. It is the most dynamic sector of the food and drink industry. The growth of bottled water sales is the contribution of the marketing activities, promotion, and aggressive sales. Is there a difference between bottled water and tap water? Opinions are divided. Some are for bottled water, some for tap water. World consumption of bottled water in 2013 was 70,371.6 million gallons or more than consumption in 2008 for 6.2%. Kosovo is a small country with a small purchasing power. In recent years, Kosovo has increased the use of packaged water by the population, due to a lack of viable drinking water running to the water network, and also as a result of social changes and the mentality of people. This article will deal with Kosovo's market developments, consumer behavior and factors that affect the behavior of purchases.

Download Full-text

Risk Perception and Bottled Drinking Water Consumption in Istanbul City

Global NEST Journal ◽

10.30955/gnj.002378 ◽

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.

Download Full-text

Drinking water consumption patterns of residents in a Canadian community

Journal of Water and Health ◽

10.2166/wh.2006.0010 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 125-138 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

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.

Download Full-text

Drinking Water Consumption Patterns: An Exploration of Risk Perception and Governance in Two First Nations Communities

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12176851 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (17) ◽

pp. 6851

Author(s):

Neal Spicer ◽

Brenda Parlee ◽

Molly Chisaakay ◽

Doug Lamalice

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Risk Perception ◽

First Nations ◽

Water Consumption ◽

Local Community ◽

Indigenous Communities ◽

Bottled Water ◽

Consumption Patterns ◽

First Nation ◽

Individual Risk

Many Indigenous communities across Canada suffer from the lack of access to clean drinking water; ensuring individuals and communities have safe water to drink either from their home or from their local environment requires the consideration of multiple factors including individual risk perception. In collaboration with local leaders, semi-structured interviews (n = 99) were conducted over a two-year period in the Dene Tha’ First Nation and Kátł’odeeche First Nation to unpack the issue of risk perception and its meaning to local community members. These local metrics of risk perception including smell, taste, safety, health fears and level of concern were then used to explore patterns in other data on drinking water consumption patterns and bottled water use. The results are consistent with previous research related to water insecurity and indicate that both communities consume more bottled water than the average Canadian. Results also varied by jurisdiction; those in Alberta indicated much higher levels of concern and a greater degree of bottled water consumption.

Download Full-text

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

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980021002603 ◽

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.

Download Full-text

Water Quality Violations and Avoidance Behavior: Evidence from Bottled Water Consumption

The American Economic Review ◽

10.1257/aer.101.3.448 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 101 (3) ◽

pp. 448-453 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

Joshua Graff Zivin ◽

Matthew Neidell ◽

Wolfram Schlenker

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Drinking Water ◽

Willingness To Pay ◽

Water Consumption ◽

Avoidance Behavior ◽

Bottled Water ◽

Poor Water Quality ◽

Using Data ◽

The Impact

We examine the impact of poor water quality on avoidance behavior by estimating the change in bottled water purchases in response to drinking water violations. Using data from a national grocery chain matched with water quality violations, we find an increase in bottled water sales of 22 percent from violations due to microorganisms and 17 percent from violations due to elements and chemicals. Back-of-the envelope calculations yield costs of avoidance behavior at roughly $60 million for all nationwide violations in 2005, which likely reflects a significant understatement of the total willingness to pay to eliminate violations.

Download Full-text

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

Applied Water Science ◽

10.1007/s13201-021-01505-2 ◽

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.

Download Full-text