title: Perception of drinking water in the Quebec City region (Canada): the influence of water quality and consumer location in the distribution system.
abstract: The purpose of every water utility is to provide consumers with drinking water that is aesthetically acceptable and presents no risk to public health. Several studies have been carried out to analyze people's perception and attitude about the drinking water coming from their water distribution systems. The goal of the present study is to investigate the influence of water quality and the geographic location of consumers within a distribution system on consumer perception of tap water. The study is based on the data obtained from two surveys carried out in municipalities of the Quebec City area (Canada). Three perception variables were used to study consumer perception: general satisfaction, taste satisfaction and risk perception. Data analysis based on logistic regression indicates that water quality variations and geographic location in the distribution system have a significant impact on the consumer perception. This impact appears to be strongly associated with residual chlorine levels. The study also confirms the importance of socio-economic characteristics of consumers on their perception of drinking water quality.
authors.affiliation: Département d'Aménagement, Université Laval, 1624 Pavillon Savard, Université Laval, Québec, Que., Canada G1K 7P4.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turgeon
authors.forename: Manuel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thériault
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Levallois
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D011792:Quebec; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014505:Urban Population; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards*