Public attitudes toward tap water and bottled water use: a case study from Aksaray, Türkiye

In today's world, where the effects of global climate change on water resources are increasingly evident, the sustainable management of these resources has become critically important. In addition to its economic cost, bottled water consumption also poses environmental and public health concerns. This study investigated water consumption behaviours of residents in Aksaray Province, Türkiye, and explored the reasons behind the declining use of tap water. A face-to-face survey was conducted with 600 participants representing different genders, age groups, education, and income levels. Statistical analyses revealed that only 12.2% of residents drink tap water directly, whereas 32.7% prefer bottled water, 14.7% use household purifiers, and 40.5% obtain water from public fountains. The main barriers were unpleasant taste and odour caused by seasonal eutrophication in the Mamasın Dam and lingering distrust stemming from past arsenic contamination and waterborne disease outbreaks. A significant finding of the study was the relationship between socio-economic status and bottled water preference: individuals with lower income levels showed a higher tendency to consume bottled water, mainly due to their greater perceived health risk associated with tap water safety. To mitigate the negative environmental and economic impacts of bottled water consumption, municipalities should improve taste- and odour-related parameters, ensure transparent sharing of water quality data, and strengthen public communication to rebuild trust in tap water.