Households with children are far more likely to consider buying a water filtration system than those without, according to the 2019 WQA Consumer Opinion Study. The findings echo the study’s overall theme that Americans’ concerns about environmental issues affecting their quality of life have grown since the most recent previous study in 2017.
The independent survey was conducted by Applied Research-West, Inc., in January 2019. The study offers a look into Americans’ attitudes and concerns about their water. It is the seventh time in 15 years that the Water Quality Association has commissioned this professional opinion research team.
The study showed that 51% of the households with children said they’d consider buying a water filtration system in the future, versus only 37% of the households without kids.
When considering which filtration system to buy, more than half (52%) of the households with children would likely buy a system with connectivity over one that did not have connectivity, while only 29% of those with no children present would buy a system with connectivity over one without.
Among the survey’s major findings:
- A quarter of the households in America are very concerned about the quality of their household’s water supply, and another 26% are concerned.
- That’s an increase from the 2017 study, when 18% were very concerned about the quality of their household’s water supply, and an additional 24% were concerned.
- Nearly half – 48% – expressed concern for the safety of their tap water.
- Most Americans are somewhat knowledgeable about what contaminants might be found in their water supply, according to the study, and, unaided, almost half identify lead as the primary substance of concern.
The report presents the findings of a national online survey conducted by Applied Research-West, Inc. between Jan. 1 and Jan. 30, 2019. A total of 1,405 adults over 18 and living in private households were interviewed. ARW used a random sampling procedure, and the survey results are accurate within +/-2%. The results are representative of all U.S. adults over 18.
WQA is a not-for-profit trade association representing the residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment industry. WQA’s education and professional certification programshave been providing industry-standardized training and credentialing since 1977. The WQA Gold Seal certification program has been certifying products that contribute to the safe consumption of water since 1959. The WQA Gold Seal program is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).
