Evaluating residents’ health awareness about drinking water in Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the level of health awareness regarding drinking water among residents of the Al-Baha region in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional design was employed, and data were collected through an online questionnaire distributed via social media platforms. A total of 351 participants responded and were included in the final analysis. The demographic characteristics of the participants showed a relatively balanced gender distribution, with females representing 53.33% and males 46.67%. The majority of respondents held a bachelor’s degree (76.67%), indicating a generally well-educated population. With regard to drinking water sources, bottled water was the most commonly used (46.1%), followed by network water (36.1%) and well water (14.7%). Despite this, only 41.7% of participants reported using water filtration systems, while a considerable proportion (37.2%) were unaware of the type of filter used, reflecting limited technical awareness. In terms of water storage practices, only 34.2% of respondents reported sterilizing their water tanks, and 44.7% indicated that they cleaned them regularly. Notably, more than half of the participants (56.4%) were unaware of the frequency of tank cleaning, and 70.6% did not know the type of sterilization method used. These findings suggest significant gaps in proper water maintenance practices.Environmental and infrastructural factors also revealed potential risks. A large proportion of participants (64.2%) relied on septic tanks for sewage disposal, and although 55.6% reported a safe distance (more than 5 meters) between sewage and water tanks, others reported shorter distances that may increase the risk of contamination. Importantly, a high percentage of participants (76.7%) reported noticeable changes in the taste, odor, or color of their drinking water, which may indicate possible water quality issues. Overall, the findings demonstrate moderate awareness among residents; however, several critical gaps remain in water safety practices, particularly in tank maintenance, filtration knowledge, and environmental risk management. These results underscore the need for targeted public health interventions and awareness campaigns to improve safe water consumption and storage practices.