Water scarcity: Global concerns high but many do not want to act until they are impacted personally

GROHE x YouGov survey about water scarcity

With a quarter of the world's population experiencing extreme water stress each year, the world is currently facing an unprecedented water crisis.* Disruptions to water supplies this year alone have forced countries such as France, Spain, and the US to impose restrictions, including limiting water use for agriculture or delivering water in tankers or bottles as local resources are depleted. 

An international representative survey initiated by GROHE shows that people expect these shortages to get worse in the near future: While almost a quarter of respondents (24%) are already personally affected by water scarcity today, more than half (51%) expect to be affected in the next ten years. It also shows that the personal impact of water stress is a key driver of people's willingness to change their consumption behaviour: 74% would change their water consumption if there was a water shortage in their country. In contrast, however, the study also reveals that despite the almost daily news about the water crisis, many people are still not taking heed: 30% would not change how they consume water, even if there were legally required water restrictions. 

In conducting the survey – which follows a similar study in 2022 – YouGov asked more than 7,200 people from Belgium, France, Germany, Morocco, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, and the USA about their awareness of water scarcity and their showering habits.

7 out of 10 concerned that cost of water and food will increase due to deteriorating water supplies

The nations surveyed have in common that their citizens expect the water crisis to worsen, but the international comparison shows some notable differences: While people in the Netherlands are the least likely to feel affected now (4%), they are the most convinced that water stress will impact their personal water (75%) and food (74%) costs within the next five years. Internationally, nearly two-thirds (65%)** are concerned that these costs will increase due to deteriorating water supplies in the next five years. More than two in three are willing to reduce their water consumption if the cost of water or energy increases: The study provides evidence that concern over personal impact is a key driver of people's willingness to change their consumption behaviour.

People who have opted for a shower equipped with a thermostat save water in several ways. The GROHE While concerns about personal impact are widespread, people see opportunities to make a difference at an individual level. The majority (64%)*** believe that using less water personally makes a difference to the environment. This motivation to take individual action is supported by the fact that changes in showering habits – identified by a 2022 GROHE and YouGov survey in the context of the energy crisis – have in most cases continued or become more widespread in 2023. 

In Germany, for example, 51% of respondents a year ago said they had changed their showering habits – this year that number has risen to 57%. Internationally, 65% of respondents said they had already changed their showering habits or were planning to do so. Interestingly, people tend to use different strategies: In the Netherlands and Morocco, almost a third (32%) shower less often, the largest proportion of respondents in France take shorter showers (32%), and more respondents in the United Arab Emirates shower at a lower temperature (23%) than in any other market surveyed.

Study identifies untapped potentials to achieve more efficient water use

Our product portfolio has to be as diverse as our customers are individual – regarding functionality but also While the survey found that there is a high level of awareness around water stress and its potential negative impacts, as well as behavioral changes, people’s demand for further knowledge on how to combat the water crisis is striking: Overall, a staggering 47% of respondents say they do not know enough about how to save water in their daily lives. Participants in Morocco (60%), the United Arab Emirates (53%), and France (51%) in particular want to be better informed – the very countries where respondents already feel most affected by water stress. 

At the same time, 38% of all those questioned have already installed water- and energy-saving products in their bathrooms, and further 24% are planning to do so, but almost a third (27%) say they are not yet aware of any products or devices that can help them reduce water consumption. These findings underline the importance of educating people about technological solutions that can help limit water use without the need to change behavior – a fact that GROHE has long sought to raise awareness of. This points to an untapped potential for further resource savings: Improving knowledge of resource-efficient technologies and solutions can be a cornerstone of local and national strategies to reduce resource consumption and adapt to limited water supplies.

Methodology:
GROHE commissioned a representative YouGov survey in seven countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Morocco, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, USA). The survey was conducted from 08 September to 26 September 2023, with a total of 7,258 people interviewed.

* World Resources Institute: Aqueduct 4.0: Updated Decision-Relevant Global Water Risk Indicators (August 2023). Source: https://www.wri.org/research/aqueduct-40-updated-decision-relevant-global-water-risk-indicators
** Result for 5 out of 7 countries, not surveyed in France and Belgium.
*** Result for 6 out of 7 countries, not surveyed in the US.