One third of Dubliners increased their daily intake of water, study shows

A third of consumers in Dublin increased their daily water intake during lockdown, new research shows.

Around 33% of the people surveyed said their consumption rose during restrictions – just below the national average of 34%.

The majority of Dubs (42%) now drink one-to-two litres a day and of those who are drinking more, 80% are downing an extra litre or less.

The study, carried out by iReach and An Ishka Irish Spring Water surveyed 1,000 adults,  also reveals that almost one in five (17%) spend €2-€5 on bottled water every week.

The data shows Dubliners are also more wary of recycling, with more than half (53%) say the recyclability of water bottles is a factor in their purchase, the highest in Ireland.

It compared to 45% in Munster, 49% in Ulster and Connacht and 51% in the rest of Leinster.

Nationally, consumers in Ireland drank almost an extra litre of water a day as the pandemic locked them out of offices, schools, colleges and hospitality.

And women are drinking more than men as restrictions continue to deprive people of workplace watercoolers.

They are now drinking an average of 1.4 litres daily since March 2020, an increase of 900ml, compared to men’s average of 1.3 litres, up 800ml.

Across Ireland, a third of people (34%) upped their water consumption in lockdown – the vast majority (58%) of them 18-24-year-olds, who downed up to two litres more than usual.

The data shows a majority of the adult population (45%) drink between one and two litres of water every day.