Assessing tap water awareness: The development of an empirically-based framework

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259233
• Publication Date: 2021-10-29T17:23:40Z
• Authors: Stijn Brouwer; Nicolien van Aald...; Steven Hendrik An...
• Keywords: Tap water; Empirical Research

Despite the often emphasized importance of water awareness, and notwithstanding fact that calls for increasing public awareness are becoming commonplace, most studies do not define concept, let alone operationalise it into measurable units. This is, however, essential to measure evaluate efforts related such as campaigns, customer communication behavioural interventions. To address this gap, we conceptualise, assess tap hereby differentiating between cognitive (head), affectional (heart), (hands). In parallel, also differentiate quality, quantity system. By building on a variety contemporary conceptual insights in literature series expert interviews, an assessment framework is developed. A cohesive set nine components identified operationalised tangible questions which put test large-scale online survey (n = 1003) Netherlands, applying both traditional modern segmentation approach based four types perspectives (‘quality & health concerned’, ‘aware committed’, ‘egalitarian solidary’, ‘down earth confident’). Based analysis results first empirical application our framework, conclude that—with score 53.5 points out 100—tap Netherlands shows ample room improvement. Interestingly, significant variations generally sociodemographic factors but rather apply drinking people’s subjective views preferences.