Associations Between Perceived Tap Water Safety and Dietary Outcomes Among US Adults

Water safety and insecurity in the United States are growing public health concerns. Apprehension about water safety may impact consumption and use in food preparation, yet associations between water insecurity indicators and nutrition outcomes remain understudied.

The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between water safety perceptions and diet quality and intake frequency of dietary components among US adults, and to assess how these associations vary with sociodemographic variables and cooking behaviors at home.

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted.

Adults aged 18 years and older living across the United States (n = 4096) completed an online survey in November 2023.

Water perceptions were measured using a 7-point Likert scale measuring agreement with the statement "My local tap water is safe to drink." Diet quality and intake frequency were assessed using the Prime Diet Quality Survey (PDQS-30).

Generalized linear models, adjusted for sociodemographic variables, assessed associations between tap water safety perceptions and PDQS-30 scores (overall and stratified by "healthy/unhealthy" foods) and intake frequency of individual food groups. Sociodemographics and cooking frequency were evaluated as modifiers of the associations.

Tap water safety perceptions were not associated with total PDQS-30 scores (β = -0.27; 95% CI, -1.00 to 0.46; P = .47). For "unhealthy" foods only, not agreeing tap water was safe (compared with agreement) was associated with a 0.79-point higher PDQS-30 score (95% CI, 0.38 to 1.20; P < .001), driven by lower intake of red and processed meats and sweets/ice cream. Considering "healthy" foods only, not agreeing that tap water was safe (compared with agreement) was associated with a 1.06-point lower PDQS-30 score (95% CI, -1.83 to -0.29; P = .007), driven by lower intakes of fruits/vegetables and poultry. This association of lower intake of "healthy" foods was observed among US adults living in urban and rural areas, but not suburban areas, and for those cooking dinner at home fewer than 7 days per week; no modification by urbanicity and cooking at home was observed for "unhealthy" foods.

Tap water safety perceptions were associated with lower intake of some foods classified as unhealthy, and some foods classified as healthy in this sample of US adults. Urbanicity and cooking dinner from home modified the associations with "healthy" foods only, highlighting the complex social and environmental aspects of water insecurity and suggesting that tap water safety perceptions could be a barrier to healthy diets in some populations.