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Bottled Water: United States Consumers and Their Perceptions of Water Quality

Author

Listed:
  • Zhihua Hu

    (Department of Sociology, Iowa State University, 103 East Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA)

  • Lois Wright Morton

    (Department of Sociology, Iowa State University, 103 East Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA)

  • Robert L. Mahler

    (PSES Department, University of Idaho, P.O. Box 442339, Moscow, ID 83844, USA)

Abstract

Consumption of bottled water is increasing worldwide. Prior research shows many consumers believe bottled water is convenient and has better taste than tap water, despite reports of a number of water quality incidents with bottled water. The authors explore the demographic and social factors associated with bottled water users in the U.S. and the relationship between bottled water use and perceptions of the quality of local water supply. They find that U.S. consumers are more likely to report bottled water as their primary drinking water source when they perceive that drinking water is not safe. Furthermore, those who give lower ratings to the quality of their ground water are more likely to regularly purchase bottle water for drinking and use bottle water as their primary drinking water source.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhihua Hu & Lois Wright Morton & Robert L. Mahler, 2011. "Bottled Water: United States Consumers and Their Perceptions of Water Quality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:8:y:2011:i:2:p:565-578:d:11390
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Donna M. Dosman & Wiktor L. Adamowicz & Steve E. Hrudey, 2001. "Socioeconomic Determinants of Health‐ and Food Safety‐Related Risk Perceptions," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 21(2), pages 307-318, April.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Lianne McLeod & Lalita Bharadwaj & Cheryl Waldner, 2014. "Risk Factors Associated with the Choice to Drink Bottled Water and Tap Water in Rural Saskatchewan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-21, January.
    3. Erica L. Kenney & James G. Daly & Rebekka M. Lee & Rebecca S. Mozaffarian & Katherine Walsh & Jill Carter & Steven L. Gortmaker, 2019. "Providing Students with Adequate School Drinking Water Access in an Era of Aging Infrastructure: A Mixed Methods Investigation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-15, December.
    4. Suntorn Sudsandee & Krailak Fakkaew & Vivat Keawdounglek & Pussadee Laor & Suwalee Worakhunpiset & Tawatchai Apidechkul, 2020. "Drinking Water Investigation of Hill Tribes: A Case Study in Northern Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-13, March.
    5. Jessica C. Wedgworth & Joe Brown & Pauline Johnson & Julie B. Olson & Mark Elliott & Rick Forehand & Christine E. Stauber, 2014. "Associations between Perceptions of Drinking Water Service Delivery and Measured Drinking Water Quality in Rural Alabama," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-17, July.
    6. Liu, Yanan & Klaiber, Allen, 2022. "The Impact of Harmful Algal Blooms on Household Averting Expenditure," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322117, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    7. Namakando, Namakando, 2020. "Stakeholder perceptions of raw water quality and its management in Fetakgomo and Maruleng municipalities of Limpopo Province," Research Theses 334769, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
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