Drinking Water Practices, Expenditures, and Perceptions in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

Access to safe drinking water is essential for public health, yet evidence integrating household drinking water practices, source-specific expenditure patterns, and consumer perceptions in Saudi Arabia remains limited. This cross-sectional survey examined drinking water sources, consumption practices, expenditures, and perceptions among a non-probability convenience sample of 265 adults residing in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Comparisons were conducted between water-sector specialists and the general public and across primary drinking water sources, while expenditure measures were characterized separately according to source. Bottled water was the most commonly reported primary drinking water source (57.0%), followed by tap water (23.4%) and tanker water (18.5%). Convenience was the most frequently reported reason for bottled water use, most tap water users reported household filtration, and tanker water users commonly cited family habits and storage convenience. Respondents showed the strongest agreement with the need for more official information to increase confidence in tap water safety and also expressed concern about household water storage tanks. Several practices and perception items differed between water-sector specialists and the general public and across primary water sources. These findings describe drinking water behaviors and perceptions within the surveyed sample and may inform further research and targeted communication concerning drinking water safety, household storage practices, and consumer decision-making.