Public Perception of Drinking Water Quality in the United States: A Thirty-Three Year (1990-2023) Systematic Review of Primary Research Articles

Public perception of drinking water quality reflects thoughts, trust, and beliefs about whether drinking water poses a risk to health and well-being. This perception is often shaped by sensory qualities such as appearance, taste, color, and odor. We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed articles published between 1990 and 2023 to (a) assess public perceptions of drinking water quality and (b) identify the factors influencing these perceptions in the United States. A systematic search of eight databases yielded 19,225 publications, of which 64 articles met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Most of these studies were published between 2006 and 2023. Of the 64 articles reviewed, 24 (37.5%) reported tap water as safe for drinking, while 19 (29.6%) cited bottled water as safe. Additionally, 1 (1.6%) identified well water, 2 (3.1%) filtered water, and 1 (1.6%) spring water as safe. Over the past five years, a decline in the number of studies affirming tap water's safety was observed, alongside an increase in studies favoring bottled water. Factors influencing public perceptions included the organoleptic properties of water (taste, smell, and color), socio-demographic characteristics, health risk concerns, past negative experiences with water utilities, trust in water systems, and media influence and public awareness. Although many respondents express trust in tap water quality, ongoing challenges with public water systems are eroding this trust, leading to increased reliance on bottled water. Addressing these issues through infrastructure improvements, public education, and community engagement is crucial to restoring long-term confidence in drinking water quality. Systematic review registration: The systematic review protocol was registered (CRD42024545308) and is published on PROSPERO.