Perceptions and Consumption of Bottled Water at the University of the Basque Country: Showcasing Tap Water as the Real Alternative towards a Water-Sustainable University

Abstract

This paper examines the beliefs and environmental attitudes of university individuals towards bottled and tap water use and examines tap and bottled water availability and sales volumes at the University of the Basque Country. The research employed a mixed methods approach including (i) an exploratory survey to document environmental beliefs and behaviors towards bottled and tap water; (ii) written questionnaires addressed to faculty administrators to inquire about accessibility to tap water and, (iii) personal interviews with restaurant managers to inquire about sales volumes of bottled water. Respondents to our survey predominately drink tap water and no health or taste issues associated with its consumption are perceived among respondents reporting to drink two or fewer bottles per week. These results imply that in our context, there are positive perceptions towards tap water and pro-environmental behavior regarding water consumption. However, respondents also claimed to use reused plastic water bottles as the most common tap water container. Moreover, there was widespread presence of bottled water sales at university premises, confirming the ubiquity of this commodity worldwide. Collectively, both survey and sales volume analyses suggest that a greater shift in sustainable behavior is needed in our community. Regarding measures and policies to promote tap water accessibility, considerable differences were found within and between campuses. These findings should help to inform university managers and support sustainability goals where bottled water consumption could be minimized or even eliminated.

Making Europe go from bottles to the tap: Political and societal attempts to induce behavioral change

“…The most drastic move to promote tap water would be to impede access to bottled water. Some municipal and regional governments (in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, and the United States) have instituted bans on the commercialization of bottled water in the public sphere (Díez, Antigüedad, Agirre, & Rico, ). For example, the government of the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Nova Scotia have banned bottled water in provincially owned facilities (Pacheco‐Vega, ).…”

“…The third strategy used by the European Commission and some national initiatives on tap water focuses on elucidating the positive health, environmental, and social impacts of tap water use (see, e.g., Goggins & Rau, ; Wilk, ). Business studies and research in economics have stressed the positive impact of switching from bottled water to tap water for protecting the climate and the environment (see, e.g., Díez et al, ; Hawkins, ). For example, Torretta () alludes to the resources and energy needed to produce the plastic for bottled water as well as to the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the transportation of bottled water.…”

The Success of Water Refill Stations Reducing Single-Use Plastic Bottle Litter

“…HLW aimed to reduce plastic bottle litter by providing an alternative source of cold water in an area where plastic bottle litter accumulates, rather than in an area of bottled water purchases. Hence, the current location of the Go2Zones is likely providing water to consumers who already have cold water, whether it be in a reusable bottle or a single-use plastic water bottle [23,51]. For the Go2Zones to maximise their impact as an intervention opportunity, they may be better placed where consumers purchase bottled water, which is the main point of bottled water supply and demand.…”

“…In Australia, bottled water is predicted to be the fastest growth sector in the beverage industry [20] with Australians spending more than half a billion dollars per year on bottled water [21]. This increased consumption has been linked to the preconception by consumers that bottled water is healthier, more convenient, and tastier than tap water [21][22][23]. That rationale is illusionary, however [24], with tap water often demonstrated to be 'cleaner' or less contaminated than that sold in bottles.…”

Turning the Tap or Buying the Bottle? Consumers’ Personality, Understanding of Risk, Trust and Conspicuous Consumption of Drinking Water in Norway

“…Wilk [13] (p. 303) understands this development from a cultural perspective and describes it as a case where sound cultural logic leads to environmentally destructive behavior. A range of factors have already been identified that have an effect on public perception of drinking water quality [14] and bottled water [15] such as sociodemographics and implicit and explicit attitudes [16,17], consumers' perceptions [12,18] and behavior [19].…”