Determining consumption preferences of consumers considering quality attributes of drinking water

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the main factors affecting the consumption preferences of consumers by considering the quality characteristics of drinking water according to the regions where they reside. For this pur-pose, the data obtained from 400 consumers living in the central districts of Iğdır province were used for Factor Analysis and Two-Step Clustering Analysis. Research results reported that physiological needs of the consumers residing in region I were based on the physiological and physical quality of the water in their drinking water consumption preference, consumers in region II relied on the chemical quality of the tap water, and consumers in region III focused on the cost advantages of tap water depending on the chemical quality of tap water. Therefore, supplying differentiated bottled drinking water in hygienic conditions according to physical and physiological quality standards of drinking water for consumers in region I, ensuring the protection and access of local water resources suitable for chemical quality characteristics to consumers in region II, and maintaining the reliability of local water resources with good chemical quality and low cost of supply and sustainability of their use for consumers in region III can have positive effects on consumption satisfaction.