LISLE, Ill. — Sept. 10, 2015 — The Water Quality Association (WQA) recently conducted its 2015 Study of Consumers’ Opinions and Perceptions Regarding Water Quality for the fifth time in 11 years, according to a press release.
The study analyzes consumer attitudes toward water quality and water treatment, noted the release. It is based on a March national survey conducted by Applied Research. Random sampling selected 1,200 adults over 18 living in private households to be interviewed by telephone.
According to the survey, consumer confidence has decreased slightly over the last two years in residential water quality, reported the release. Fifty-six percent of respondents, up four percent from 2013, said they were "concerned" or "very concerned" with the water quality in their homes.
Government alerts were also shown in the survey to affect consumer behavior, reported the release. Forty-eight percent of respondents reported that they purchased a filtration device after receiving a boil water or "unsafe water for us" alert. Fifty-six to sixty-six percent indicated they would spend more on a home water treatment system that could remove biological waste, arsenic, lead and other contaminants.
The survey also noted that the bottled water trend continues to climb, shared the release. Up five percent from 2013 and 12 from 2011, 77 percent of respondents identified themselves as regular bottled water users. Refrigerators with water filters rose 10 points, up 35 to 45 percent, since 2013.
“The study showed, once again, the positive impact that water treatment has on consumers’ lives and the growing opportunity for WQA’s members to meet the needs of their customers,” said Ken G Kabira, WQA associate executive director of member and public engagement, in the release.
Click here for more information on the study.
Watch for our November Professor POU/POE column written by Technical Editor Dr. Joseph Cotruvo for more on this topic.
