Survey finds only 60% of Americans trust drinking water

October 21 – Only 60% of the American public trusts their tap water at home for drinking according to a new international consumer survey commissioned by Kemira, a global leader in water treatment chemistry. That means many people are either unsure or do not trust that their tap water is safe to drink.

Most people who said they distrust their water are afraid of contaminants or chemicals. People also reported concerns about bacteria and disease.

The survey included 7,963 people from seven US states and five European countries. Kemira commissioned it to better understand public sentiments related to water and raise awareness of the challenges facing the water supply.

“Everyone deserves access to clean, safe drinking water regardless of where they live,” said Michael Cavallero, Kemira’s regional vice president. “While most drinking water is safe, unfortunately that is not true everywhere across the US. As a result, the public seriously questions water quality.”

There were 2,808 survey respondents from the states of Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The levels of trust varied significantly by state. At 53%, Floridians had the lowest trust in drinking water of the states surveyed. Minnesota and Wisconsin had the highest levels of trust at 67%.

Kemira’s survey also found that many people are unaware of basic information related to the water supply, which may explain some of the distrust. Just 55% of Americans surveyed said they have a good understanding of where their water comes from and how it gets to their home. Even fewer said they know what happens to their wastewater after it leaves their homes.

Kemira shared the survey results today on the sixth annual “Imagine a Day Without Water”, a national education campaign organized by the US Water Alliance to highlight the importance of water and the need for investment in American water infrastructure. Kemira supplies a variety of water treatment chemistry and digital monitoring solutions.

“We’re thrilled that Kemira is a part of Imagine a Day Without Water. This national day of action educates our neighbors and public officials about the essential role water plays in all of our lives,” said Radhika Fox, CEO of the US Water Alliance. “This year showed us the critical importance of water service to safeguard public health and the economy. But the infrastructure and service it takes to bring water to our homes and businesses and take it away is not free and can’t be taken for granted. We all need to educate ourselves about where our water comes from and the investment these critical systems need.”

The full survey results are on Kemira’s website

For more information, please contact:

Michael Cavallero
Vice President, Commercial, Kemira
+17047713160
michael.cavallero @ kemira.com