Socio-Economic Implications of Domestic Water Collection for Women and Children in Rural Areas of South Africa

Abstract

Access to safe and reliable water remains a persistent challenge in many rural communities of South Africa, with far-reaching socio-economic and health implications, particularly for women and children. The study investigated the socio-economic implications of domestic water collection for women and children in a rural Eastern Cape municipality in South Africa. The research addresses the disproportionate burden of water collection on these vulnerable groups and the resulting negative impacts on their time and well-being. The study was supported by Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. The study was underpinned by a quantitative descriptive survey design, data were collected from 282 households to analyse the time burden of water collection and identify who is primarily responsible for the task. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Micro-Soft Excell was used to draw graphs and table. The findings reveal that a significant majority of households (98.2%) spend 30 minutes and more to collect water, with 61.3% of households being located within a 30-minute walk from a water source, while 36.9% spend between 30 minutes to 1 hour, and a small minority spend up to 2 hours. The study concludes that the significant and disproportionate burden of domestic water collection on women and children in rural areas. The study concludes with a call for targeted interventions to alleviate this burden and improve the socio-economic and health outcomes of women and children in rural South Africa. The study implements Community-Based Water Infrastructure Projects to alleviate the socio-economic burdens on women and children. Rural development programs could prioritise the establishment of accessible and reliable water sources within close proximity to households.