Essential, vital, crucial, fundamental – all of these words describe the role of water in our lives. Access to safe, sufficient, affordable and acceptable drinking water is not only critical to human health and well-being, but it is a basic human right.
Drinking water is also the healthiest and cheapest choice for hydration, with the lowest environmental impact. Compared to bottled water, tap water has an ecological and carbon footprint 300 times smaller.
Lowering the burden of noncommunicable diseases and reducing the environmental impact
Excessive intake of sugary drinks has become part of the daily diet among children and adolescents in the WHO European Region. A greater consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity, according to scientific evidence.
The more sugary drinks you consume, the higher your energy (caloric) intake. This can cause weight gain, which creates a greater risk of type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases.
Replacing sugar-loaded drinks with water can help tackle noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). These diseases account for 86% of all deaths in the European Region, which is the WHO region most affected by NCDs.
Drinking tap water, as opposed to bottled water, also has a lower environmental impact. Unnecessary plastic waste can be avoided and transport-related emissions of carbon dioxide and air pollutants decreased. Besides, bottled water is significantly more expensive than tap water.
“Promotion of drinking water promises many gains both for health and the environment,” said Dr João Breda, Head of the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD Office). “Not only could it help reduce sugary drinks consumption by our children and lessen their risk of overweight and obesity, but it could help save the planet as we reduce usage of bottled water and hence lower plastic waste and the carbon footprint.”
Tap water intake patterns in Europe
Between and within countries, the European Region has diverse tap water consumption patterns. The highest share of daily tap water intake is observed in countries in northern Europe, whereas in some countries in central and western Europe people tend to consume a lower amount of tap water.
Personal factors also influence water consumption. These relate to gender (with women drinking more tap water), ethnicity and culture, as well as self-perceived health status and diet choices. Among the key drivers of tap water consumption are a high level of environmental awareness and the low cost. City dwellers tend to drink less tap water, with the lowest consumption observed at restaurants and the highest in people’s homes.
Research shows that schools, workplaces, health-care facilities and restaurants are key settings in reducing sugary drinks intake, with the provision of free access to safe and acceptable drinking water. In many cities in the European Region, the lack of free drinking water in cafes and restaurants enhances the chances of customers purchasing sugary drinks or alcohol. It is crucial that a supportive environment is in place to strengthen obesity prevention, including policies and programmes aimed at increasing the availability of free drinking water.
Ramping up the efforts to promote drinking water
The Moscow-based NCD Office teamed up with the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health (ECEH) in Bonn, Germany, and called on leading experts in the field. They gathered in Moscow, Russia, on 27–28 February 2020, to look into consumption patterns of drinking water from taps and best practices in promoting drinking water in selected cities, regions and countries.
The experts identified barriers and brainstormed possible strategies for promoting drinking-water consumption. The meeting aimed at developing and piloting a toolkit tailored to promote consumption of drinking water in key settings.
“Drinking water is one of the best choices for hydration,” said Mr Oliver Schmoll, Programme Manager for Water and Climate at the WHO ECEH. “We support water provision initiatives that are inclusive of all stakeholders – be it a student, teacher, staff member or decision-maker. Our new toolkit will help local players to promote drinking-water consumption, offering a menu of tailored solutions.”