PEOPLE IN IRELAND drank almost an extra litre of water a day during the course of the pandemic, according to results of a new survey.

The results showed that women are drinking more than men. 1,000 adults were surveyed in the research carried out by survey company iReach on behalf of bottled water company Ishka. 

It also found that the average weekly spend on bottled water is €4.60.

The survey found that women are 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.

Overall, a third of people (34%) upped their water consumption in lockdown – the vast majority (58%) of them were 18 to 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, with women consuming marginally more (1.4 litres) than men (1.3 litres).

Just over a third of people increased water intake during lockdown, and of these, 71% drank at least an extra one litre, with 23% pouring themselves an extra 1-2 litres.

It meant the average extra water intake was just off one litre during the pandemic. 

More than half of people (54%) buy bottled water every week with an average weekly spend of €4.60 – with 10% spending between €5 and €10.

The research also shows many consumers are thinking about their plastic usage, with half of all respondents saying the type of water they buy is influenced by whether bottles are made from recycled plastic and whether they can be recycled after use.

Younger consumers are more tuned in, with 79% of those aged 18-24 concerned about recyclability, almost double that (34%) in the 35-44 age bracket.

The survey was conducted between 8-15 July, surveying 1,000 adults over the age of 18.