Public trust in drinking water safety is low globally, study finds

A new study has found more than half of adults surveyed worldwide expect to be seriously harmed by their water within the next two years.
Co-authored by UWE Bristol’s Professor Chad Staddon alongside global health experts at Northwestern University in Illinois, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Southern California, the study sought to understand public perceptions of drinking water safety.
Because perceptions shape attitudes and behaviors, distrust in water quality has a negative impact on people’s health, nutrition, psychological and economic well-being — even when the water meets safety standards.
“We are accustomed to hearing that citizens of developing nations don't trust their water sources but our analysis of this new global data set shows that citizens of developed countries are worried about their water too,” said Professor Staddon.
“Our analysis shows that citizens in even highly developed countries such as Sweden worry about water related harms and this worry seems to be linked to declining trust in water management and public health protection institutions.”
Staddon, Professor of Resource Economics and Policy at UWE Bristol, contributed to the design of the study, data analysis and interpretation, and writing of the manuscript.
Using nationally representative data from 148,585 adults in 141 countries from the 2019 Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll, the authors found a high prevalence of anticipated harm from water supply, with the highest in Zambia, the lowest in Singapore and an overall mean average of 52.3 per cent.
They also identified key characteristics of those who thought they would be harmed by their drinking water. Women, city dwellers, individuals with more education, and those struggling on their current income were more likely to anticipate being harmed by their drinking water.
The researchers found that, surprisingly, higher corruption perception index scores were the strongest predictor of anticipated harm from drinking water, more so than factors such as infrastructure and Gross Domestic Product.
Further, even within countries with consistent access to basic drinking water services, doubts about the safety of water were widespread. For example, although less than 10 per cent of UK respondents said that they had experienced harm from drinking water, more than 20 per cent worry that they may in the near future experience such harm.
The researchers noted that it is difficult for consumers to judge the hazards and safety of their water supply because many contaminants are invisible, odourless and tasteless. Without adequate information, many are left to evaluate the safety of their water based on prior experiences, media reports, and personal values and beliefs.
The co-authors suggested actions officials can take to improve public trust around drinking water, including efforts to make testing more readily available, translate test results, replace lead pipes and provide at-home water filters when contaminants are detected, as well as providing improved access to safe drinking water.
The study Self-reported anticipated harm from drinking water across 141 countries has been published in the journal Nature Communications.
Related news

17 July 2025
Want social change? A deeper understanding could be key, study suggests
New study suggests a deeper understanding of social change could help close the gap between challenges and actions, especially on issues like climate change.

16 July 2025
Vast majority of rural councils have no targets for social housing, study finds
New research reveals a serious shortfall in rural social housing, with only 20 per cent of local authorities setting targets to deliver it.

16 July 2025
Researchers launch support hub for people with visible differences and their families
A first of its kind website offering evidence-based psychological support for people with visible differences and their families has been launched by university researchers.

11 July 2025
Wound dressings developed with support from UWE Bristol to be launched by global firm
Technology that a team of UWE Bristol scientists helped develop to aid the healing of chronic wounds will be used in new ‘smart dressings’ being launched by global medical company.

03 July 2025
Research lab The Brunel Centre opens to power sustainable and inclusive growth for the West of England
A new data and research centre designed to support sustainable and inclusive growth and industrial strategy in the region, has officially launched.

02 July 2025
Bristol’s trailblazing community-led climate action to expand across the West of England
UWE Bristol has been appointed as the evaluation and policy partner on a £1.75m project led by Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership.

24 June 2025
Gestural musical gloves developed at UWE Bristol to feature at prestigious science exhibition
Groundbreaking gestural musical glove technology originally developed at UWE Bristol will be exhibited at the Summer Science Exhibition 2025 in London.

11 June 2025
Telling our story at UWE Bristol: RISE with us
UWE Bristol has launched RISE - standing for Research, Innovation, Skills and Enterprise - an institutional framework which shapes the University's purpose, culture and future growth.

23 May 2025
New Centre launched at UWE Bristol to drive social and economic change across Africa through HE partnerships
UWE Bristol has launched the Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET) — a collaborative platform to support African-led innovation, research and HE initiatives.

20 May 2025
Short films created to improve self-management by Black people living with stroke
Short films exploring Black people’s experiences of stroke have been released as outputs from a research project led by UWE Bristol and Kingston University.

14 May 2025
Spruce trees communicate during a solar eclipse
A team of scientists, led by Visiting Professor Alessandro Chiolerio, has discovered that spruce trees can anticipate and respond to a solar eclipse.

12 May 2025
People with dietary needs choosing not to attend outdoor events
Individuals with dietary needs are choosing not to attend outdoor events because of the risks they associate with the experience, according to new research by UWE Bristol.
You may also be interested in

Media enquiries
Enquiries related to news releases and press and contacts for the media team.

Find an expert
Media contacts are invited to check out the vast range of subjects where UWE Bristol can offer up expert commentary.

Centre for Water, Communities and Resilience (CWCR)
Find out more about the Centre for Water, Communities and Resilience (CWCR).

We're creating tomorrow, today. RISE
Collaborating with industry, public sector bodies and communities, we’re redefining horizons and challenging conventions to impact lives positively.