Bottled water versus tap water: Risk perceptions and drinking water choices at the University of South Florida
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 20 June 2019
Issue publication date: 19 July 2019
Abstract
Purpose
Bottled water consumption continues to break records worldwide and its environmental impact is often underestimated by the consumer. Many factors affect individuals’ choices to consume tap water and bottled water including perceived health risks and water quality. The University of South Florida (USF) has joined a nationwide initiative to become carbon-neutral, and reducing bottled water consumption was a chosen strategy. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk perceptions and drinking water choices of the USF-Tampa campus community.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 561 students, faculty and staff members responded to an online survey. The survey contained questions about the use of bottled water and tap water, reusable water bottles, risk perceptions and demographics.
Findings
The results revealed that certain groups – undergraduate students and ethnic/racial minorities (e.g. black/African American, Hispanic/Latino) – drank significantly more bottled water. Among political ideologies, Liberals drank the least bottled water. Females and minorities had significantly greater risk perceptions of the tap water on campus. Important perceived benefits were tap water being less expensive and better for the environment than bottled water. Important perceived barriers were poor tasting tap water and the desire for filtered water.
Originality/value
The findings suggest the need for public health campaigns to increase awareness of health, environmental and financial consequences of bottled water consumption. Such campaigns should aim to discourage bottled water and any potential increased sugar-sweetened beverage consumption while promoting tap water consumption.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors want to thank Dr Amber Mase and Dr Linda Prokopy for sharing the survey used at Purdue University that was implemented in this research.
Research funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Ethics statement: Free and informed consent of the participants was obtained and the study protocol was approved on April 19, 2016 by the University of South Florida (Tampa, Florida, USA) Institutional Review Board (IRB#: Pro00025971).
Citation
Graydon, R.C., Gonzalez, P.A., Laureano-Rosario, A.E. and Pradieu, G.R. (2019), "Bottled water versus tap water: Risk perceptions and drinking water choices at the University of South Florida", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 20 No. 4, pp. 654-674. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2019-0003
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited