An assessment of perceptions, sources and uses of water among six African communities in the North West Province of South Africa

Authors

  • Hendri Coetzee 1. Institutional Community Engagement Office, North-West University, Private Bag x6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa; 2. Unit for Environmental Science and Management, North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
  • Werner Nell Optentia Research Focus Area, School of Behavioural Sciences, North-West University (Vaal Triangle Campus), PO Box 1174, Vanderbijlpark, 1900, South Africa
  • Carlos Bezuidenhout Unit for Environmental Science and Management, North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v42i3.08

Keywords:

African, beliefs/attitudes towards water, human-water interactions, perceptions about water, water conservation, water sources, water use

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess perceptions, sources and uses of water among African residents of six different impoverished communities in the North West Province (NWP) of South Africa. A sequential exploratory mixed-methods design was used. Twenty-five purposively selected community members took part in the qualitative phase of the study, and during the quantitative phase a sample of 1 000 participants was proportionately and systematically selected from the six communities. The qualitative results were used to develop a structured questionnaire to quantify and verify the initial findings. The quantitative findings revealed that the majority of participants (72.4%) regard their water quality as average, and believe that water should be conserved and used sparingly (97.2%) and be provided free of charge (90.5%). Results also revealed that residents mostly obtain their water from local government (municipal) sources (76.5%), and that they mostly use water for drinking (98%), cooking (98.8%), flushing toilets (95.9%), washing themselves (bathing) (98.4%), their hands (99%), clothes (99.1%), and personal property (99.3%), as well as to water their gardens and domestic plants (93.2%). Finally, it was found that most people (83%) store their water in a fridge inside their homes. The results of the study have direct practical implications for water management and for the development and implementation of water-related interventions and projects in the NWP.

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Published

2016-07-29

How to Cite

Hendri Coetzee, Werner Nell, & Carlos Bezuidenhout. (2016). An assessment of perceptions, sources and uses of water among six African communities in the North West Province of South Africa. Water SA, 42(3 July). https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v42i3.08

Issue

Section

Research paper