Bottled-Water Consumption and Disposal in Herat, Afghanistan

Poor water quality drives bottled-water consumption (BWC) in developing countries if affordable, while plastic-bottle disposal exacerbates global environmental problems. This article presents data on drinking-water attitudes, norms and behaviours of 380 residents randomly surveyed in Herat, Afghanistan. Structural equation modelling found attitudes and norms affected drinking-water and plastic-disposal behaviours. Regression models explained 60 % of future BWC-intention variance. Education, perceived behavioural control and household size positively affected BWC. Most believed BWC supports healthy lifestyles. Residents believed they could act pro-environmentally, yet threw away bottles, rather than recycling or reusing them, and thus endorsed BWC. Findings reveal that pro-environmental government policy, regulation and education are necessary to counter BWC advertising and overcome structural factors inhibiting safe and secure municipal drinking-water supply. Improved water governance and municipal infrastructure are urgently required to meet UN sustainability development goals to reduce infant mortality rates, improve waste and water supply management, and provide water security in Afghanistan.