Study: Self-reported anticipated harm from drinking water across 141 countries . Image Credit: luchschenF / Shutterstock Over half of adults in 141 countries fear harm from drinking water within the next two years, with perceptions influenced by gender, urbanization, financial hardship, education, and trust in public governance. In a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications , researchers used survey data from the World Risk Poll to investigate perceptions of drinking water safety across 141 countries.
Their findings indicate that over half of the global population anticipates serious harm from drinking water within the next two years, highlighting the need for improved trust in water safety and governance to ensure sustainable water resource management. Background Water crises are a widespread issue that negatively impacts agriculture, the economy, regional stability, and human health. However, the effects of water quality on society and health are less understood.
Global organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) have identified this gap as a worldwide barrier to assessing water safety. Most decisions about water use are based on personal perceptions and experiences, as objective data on water safety is often lacking. Even when water is considered "safely managed," it can still be contaminated during transportation or storage.
Current global water indic.