A recent global study has revealed alarming levels of distrust in the safety of drinking water, with more than half of adults worldwide fearing serious harm from their water supply within the next two years. This research, led by experts from Northwestern University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, sheds light on the pervasive anxiety surrounding drinking water and its potential impact on public health and well-being.
The study utilized data from the 2019 Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll, which included responses from 148,585 adults across 141 countries. Researchers aimed to understand how people perceive the safety of their drinking water and the factors influencing these perceptions. The findings indicate a widespread lack of confidence in water safety, with an average of 52.3% of respondents anticipating harm from their water supply.
IMPACT OF PERCEPTION: MORE THAN JUST A FEELING
Perceptions of water safety play a crucial role in shaping attitudes and behaviours. When individuals believe their water is unsafe, they are likely to avoid using it, leading to a cascade of negative consequences. Sera Young, a professor of anthropology and global health at Northwestern University and the study’s senior author, emphasized the broad implications of this distrust.
“When we mistrust our tap water, we buy packaged water, which is wildly expensive and hard on the environment,” Young explained. “We also tend to drink soda or other sugar-sweetened beverages, which are harmful to our health, or eat out more often, leading to less healthy and more expensive diets.”
Young, who is also a Morton O. Schapiro Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research, highlighted the psychological stress associated with concerns over water safety. Individuals who perceive their water as unsafe are at greater risk of depression and other mental health issues, compounding the negative impact on their overall well-being.
KEY FINDINGS: WHO FEARS THEIR WATER?
The study identified specific groups more likely to anticipate harm from their drinking water. These included women, urban residents, those with higher levels of education, and individuals struggling financially. Interestingly, the researchers found that perceptions of corruption were the strongest predictor of fear regarding water safety, even more so than infrastructure quality or a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
This finding suggests that public trust in governmental and institutional integrity plays a significant role in how people assess the safety of their water. In countries with high corruption perception index scores, residents are more likely to distrust their water supply, regardless of actual water quality.
The study revealed significant global variations in trust levels. In Zambia, for example, the highest levels of anticipated harm were recorded, while Singapore had the lowest. Even in countries with consistent access to basic drinking water services, such as the United States, a substantial proportion of the population expressed doubts about water safety. In the U.S., 39% of those surveyed anticipated serious harm from their drinking water in the near term.
THE ROLE OF INFORMATION: INVISIBLE RISKS
One of the challenges highlighted by the study is the difficulty consumers face in accurately judging the safety of their water. Many contaminants are invisible, odourless, and tasteless, making it hard for individuals to assess water quality without reliable information. As a result, people often rely on past experiences, media reports, and personal beliefs to form their opinions about water safety.
Sera Young pointed out that in some cases, these judgments are accurate. “The good people of Flint didn’t trust their water, and they were spot on,” she said, referring to the well-documented water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
BUILDING TRUST: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT
To address the widespread distrust in drinking water, the study’s authors recommend several actions that officials can take to improve public confidence. These include:
- Enhanced Testing Availability: Making water testing more accessible to the public can help individuals make informed decisions about their water safety.
- Transparent Communication: Providing clear and understandable information about water test results can help bridge the knowledge gap and build trust.
- Infrastructure Improvements: Replacing lead pipes and upgrading water infrastructure are critical steps in ensuring safe drinking water.
- At-Home Solutions: Offering at-home water filters when contaminants are detected can provide immediate relief and reassurance to concerned consumers.
- Policy Prioritization: Integrating water safety initiatives into national development plans can help ensure long-term access to safe drinking water for all.
Joshua Miller, a doctoral student at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and the study’s first author, emphasized the importance of both delivering safe drinking water and ensuring that people have confidence in their water sources. “Our research highlights that it is imperative both to deliver safe drinking water and to make sure that people have confidence in their water source,” Miller said.
A CALL FOR ACTION
The findings of this study underscore the urgent need for greater attention to water safety and public trust. As Aaron Salzberg, director of the Water Institute at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, noted, this research can catalyze the political will necessary to prioritize water safety in national and international development strategies.
By addressing the root causes of distrust and improving both the safety and perception of drinking water, we can move closer to achieving universal access to safe drinking water—a fundamental human right and a critical component of public health.