Half of Romanians do not consider tap water a safe source of hydration. At least, this is what a study conducted in four Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, including Romania, shows.
Half of Romanians do not consider tap water good for drinking – Photo Adobestock
Research by the Waterdrop company shows that most consumers fear drinking tap water. More precisely, 84.9% of respondents believe that tap water is not a safe source of hydration, and of this percentage, 51% is attributed to Romania, compared to the Czech Republic, which has a percentage of only 5.9% regarding negative answers. As a consumption alternative, most people opt for bottled or filtered water, reports Agerpres.
“I will never tell people that tap water is good. Wanting to make a choice between tap water and natural mineral water, we must understand the value of water, that water is food, and hydration involves choosing a water that has a complex of minerals“, Claudia Benea, specialist in hydration, used to draw attention.
The WHO has devised an international guideline for drinking water that states that “reverse osmosis water, demineralized water, tap water cannot be considered drinking water because it lacks the main elements, the complexity of minerals“, Claudia Benea also showed.
The study carried out by Waterdrop and launched on World Water Day shows the preferences regarding hydration for the citizens of Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
If we talk about the well-being of the environment, Romania ranks among the European trends regarding efforts to eliminate plastic from everyday life, thus demonstrating a remarkable commitment to sustainability.
“A notable example is the fact that over 20,000,000 plastic bottles were returned by Romanians, during the 3 months since the implementation of the SGR (Warranty-Return System) in Romania“, the cited study shows.
In addition, 78% of the Romanians who took part in this study want to opt for sustainable alternatives, such as reusable bottles, in favor of plastic ones. This means that Romanians are aware of the negative impact of plastic on the environment.
“We are determined to directly involve as many consumers as possible in adopting the positive values we promote in society. In the cold season or spring, people tend to neglect vital aspects of body health, such as hydration, because the feeling of thirst is not as intense compared to hot summer days. However, it is important to pay close attention to hydration throughout the year. At the same time, understanding the importance of using sustainable containers and recycling contributes to protecting the environment, reducing waste production. Thus, by adopting responsible habits, each individual can contribute to creating a better future for us and everyone around us“, says Katerina Navratilova, Managing Director of Waterdrop CEE.
Water consumption decreases in the cold season
The research reveals that half of the participants consume an average of 3 to 4 glasses of water per day during the cold season. Well below the water requirement that an adult needs, that is between 6 and 8 glasses of water per day, depending on the needs of each person.
Moreover, the study emphasizes the preference for teas over water. They can be an excellent alternative, especially if we talk about preventing and fighting seasonal colds, if they are not sweetened, however.
It is important that teas are not sweetened with sugar or other sweeteners, to help maintain a balanced lifestyle and not alter their healing properties.
The importance of hydration
The conclusion of this study emphasizes the importance of awareness and correct management of our daily hydration.
“With nearly 60% of consumers reporting that they forget to hydrate throughout the day, it's essential that we take proactive steps to ensure we're not neglecting one of our body's vital needs. An effective solution could be installing applications on mobile phones or setting regular alarms to remind us that it's time to take hydration seriously and take care of our health and body. More than 60% of those who participated in this study stated that using such technologies would help them develop an optimal hydration regimen“, say the authors of the research.
The study was carried out by means of a questionnaire applied among customers from the Waterdrop portfolio. This questionnaire was distributed and completed by a total of over 2,000 consumers.
