Factors influence in adapting of bottled water consumption in selected urban, semi urban and rural areas of Matara DS division

Abstract

Bottled drinking water usage shows a rising trend in worldwide and has become a key component in the segment of non-alcoholic beverages while becoming a massive environmental issue due to the plastic wastes accumulated due to this industry. Apart from the demographic factors such as gender, occupation and age, factors such as degree of urbanization also affect for the consumption pattern of bottled drinking water. Therefore a survey was conducted to examine the factors that influence bottled water consumption in selected urban, semi urban and rural areas of Matara Divisional Secretariat division in Sri Lanka. Grama Niladhari divisions of Walgama North, Hiththetiya and Issadeen town were selected as urban areas, Thudawa, Meddewaththa and Godagama as semi urban areas and Weherahena, Maakawita and Kekanadura as rural areas for the study. Randomly selected 150 respondents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Survey was carried out during July to August in 2019. According to the survey 18% and 12% of the respondents in urban and semi urban areas use bottled water as their primary drinking water source respectively while none of the respondents use bottled water as primary drinking source in rural areas. The influence of demographic factors such as age, gender and occupation on bottled water consumption varies in urban, semi urban and rural areas of Matara DS division. People in urban and semi urban areas have a better awareness on the origin and the treatments done to the bottled water than that to the people in rural areas. In urban areas bottled water is used for drinking (96%) and cooking (6%). But in rural and semi urban areas used only for drinking. In rural areas, bottled water is used in a flood condition and when travelling. In rural and semi urban areas, salty, muddy conditions and chlorine taste and odor of tap water, frequent water cuts and health concerns lead people to buy bottled drinking water.