| Abstract: | Water consumption habit surveys were seldom performed in recent years. All around the world few databases are available for water consumption. The aim of present study is to carry out a study to assess water consumption habits of the population of Shanghai and Beijing, China. From 2002 to 2004, four studies on water consumption habits were carried out in Shanghai and Beijing, China in summer and winter. The mean consumption of water in the summer was estimated to be 2.0L·d-1 in Shanghai and 1.7L·d-1 in Beijing, and in the winter they were estimated to be 1.8L·d-1 in Shanghai and 2.2L·d-1 in Beijing. Significant differences in amounts of water consumed according to age were found in the summer survey of Shanghai and in the winter survey of Beijing. Association between the total amount of water consumed and gender was found, and the difference was more significant in the summer and winter surveys of Shanghai. The effect of occupation, season and region was also evaluated in this study. Consumption of drinking water via liquid was assessed as well as the type of water consumed (tap water, boiled tap water or barreled water). Our results showed that boiled tap water and barreled water were main components of water consumption. Few people (0.6% in summer and 1.2% in winter in Shanghai vs. 10.7% in summer and 5.7% in winter in Beijing) directly drink tap water. In China, milk and soybean milk have become an important component of water consumption. There is non-significant difference in water consumption according to age and gender. |
