Changes occurring in consumption habits of people during COVID-19 pandemic and the water footprint

Abstract

In this study, it has been aimed to determine the difference between water footprint values of individuals with different socio-economical levels, living in various cities, before and during COVID-19 pandemic period. For this purpose, a questionnaire study has been made and data obtained because of questionnaire have been processes in a water footprint calculation module. Data obtained from questionnaires have also been evaluated statistically in SPSS application. According to the findings obtained, while average water footprint before COVID-19 pandemic has been calculated as 4178.42 L/day, average water footprint during COVID-19 pandemic period has been calculated as 4606.18 L/day. It was determined that the percentage of participants whose water footprint increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period at all education levels was higher than other participants. When the water footprint values of the participants with an income level of 7000 TL and above were compared with the water footprint values of other income groups, it was observed that the water footprint values of the participants with an income of 7000 TL and above increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. When the water footprint values of individuals according to age groups are examined, it has been determined that the water footprint values of individuals tend to increase in all age groups (except for the 51–60 age range) during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been seen that in the monthly clothing expenses and car washing numbers of participants, there was a tendency to decrease and that in their monthly kitchen expenditures there was a tendency to increase. Because of statistical evaluations, it was seen that there was a meaningful correlation between change in water footprint values and weekly shower numbers, weekly laundry washing numbers, and monthly kitchen expenses. Despite the increase in water consumption with many daily activities, it can be said that the average water footprint value did not increase much due to the decrease in clothing expenditures of the participants during the pandemic process, the change in car washing frequencies, and the fact that red meat consumption did not increase in general despite the increase in kitchen expenses.