Public Perception of Drinking Water Quality in Bekasi City, Indonesia

The study of public perceptions regarding drinking water quality is essential for understanding how people choose and manage safe drinking water for consumption. Understanding public perceptions and the actual drinking water quality can also help to ensure the right policies to improve water quality and minimize possible risks. This study aims to analyze the association between public perceptions and the actual drinking water quality in Bekasi City, Indonesia. This study was conducted in three urban villages (Jatiluhur, Jatirangga, Sumur Batu) in Bekasi City, Indonesia, in the dry season (September-October 2021). The survey was conducted by distributing questionnaires and collecting groundwater samples at point-of-use for drinking (n=51 households). Drinking water samples were analyzed for pH, TDS, Total Coliform, and Escherichia coli. Among 51 households, 100% of respondents answered that the drinking water was safe and had good taste, 5% answered that there was a problem with the appearance (color/particles), and 2% of respondents answered that there was an odor in the drinking water consumed. Logistic regression was performed, and the result shows that measured drinking water quality does not significantly contribute to public perception of drinking water quality