JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ECOLOGY, vol.17, no.2, pp.453-459, 2016 (SCI-Expanded)
The objective of the study was to research the drinking and utility water preferences of the individuals who live in different neighbourhoods with different socio-economic characteristics in the centre of Trabzon province and the reasons for these preferences. It was a cross-sectional study in which the data were stratified according to socio-economic levels. Data were collected with simple random method in the face-to-face interviews with 586 people from different neighbourhoods. 31.7% of the participants stated that they only prefer city water for drinking purposes, 13.3% of them expressed that they prefer plastic bottled water, 9.9% of them pointed out that they prefer dispenser size water and 3.1% of them indicated that they prefer water that springs from village. In the study, it was found out that the use of city water as drinking water is highly low. The income and educational level have an effect on this rate. In terms of quality, city water ranks the last according to the views of the participants. In order to provide sufficient, clean, favourable and accessible water that is the most basic need and right of humanity, relevant water policies should be established and every central and local stakeholder should implement these policies.