Improved Water Services Research Articles

Sustainable Water Use Practices: Behavior and Knowledge Awareness of Applied Science Private University-Students

Jordan is facing a significant challenge with its water resources. Conserving water has become an urgent need. This study aims to provide new evidence on the behavior and knowledge awareness of water conservation for Applied Science Private University ASU students and how it affects water-saving behaviors. This study was applied to a stratified random sample from the ASU that included 134 students. A special questionnaire was distributed to the study sample, including the various study variables: gender, age, place of residence, and income. The questionnaire also included questions about behavior and knowledge awareness toward water conservation conviction about the reality of the water scarcity problem. Students showed good knowledge of sustainable Jordanian water sources and realized the limitations of these resources. ASU students practice water-saving behaviors in households, gardening, and swimming pools. They also adopt tools and practices to save water in their communities. This was evidenced by their concern about purchasing water-saving tools and interacting with posts related to water conservation on various social media platforms. Results showed that ASU students are concerned about water-saving education. The results revealed no significant differences in behavior and knowledge awareness towards water conservation attributed to gender, age, and level of study for father and mother, faculty, governorates, and average family income. The implementation of water waste reduction measures is expected to save about 10 million cubic meters of water, thereby improving water services for the people of Jordan, and contributing to strengthening resilience to climate change. Moreover, the project will contribute to reducing electricity consumption.

Consumer willingness to pay for improved drinking water in District Buner

AbstractThis study investigates households' willingness to pay (WTP) for better water systems, clean water availability, and water quality in Gadaizi tehsil, District Buner, Pakistan. This research aims to shed light on various aspects of water quality, health impacts, and socioeconomic factors influencing households' ability to pay for superior water services. This research also looks into waterborne infection and water purification methods residents utilize to mitigate the risk of water pollution. Utilizing a mixed‐method approach with a structured questionnaire, data from 62 households were collected. SPSS was used for data analysis. Findings reveal awareness of water contamination issues, primarily attributed to marble industries. Most households use untreated water, boiling, chemicals, or candle filters. Water purification methods are influenced by media exposure and higher income. Common waterborne diseases, such as typhoid and diarrhea, are treated in private hospitals. Consumer WTP for better water systems depends on income, education, and media exposure, in which income has a statistically significant positive effect on WTP for improved water services. Although 76% of households do not use any water purification method. 84% of households are willing to adopt a private sector‐provided system. Importantly, this study highlights the necessity for public health initiatives and a thorough understanding of socioeconomic issues to guide political choices for better water delivery. These insights can inform policies that prioritize public health and ensure better access to clean water for all.

Assessing the functionality of a water-vending kiosk network with high-frequency instrumentation in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Access to safe, reliable, and equitable water services in urban settings of low- and middle-income countries remains a critical challenge toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6.1, but progress has either slowed or stagnated in recent years. A pilot water kiosk network funded by the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation was implemented by the Sierra Leone Millennium Challenge Coordinating Unit into the intermittent piped water distribution network of Freetown, Sierra Leone, as a private-public partnership to improve water service provision for households without reliable piped water connections and to reduce non-revenue water. This study employs the use of high-frequency instrumentation to monitor, model, and assess the functionality of this water kiosk network over 2,947 kiosk-days. Functionality was defined via functionality levels on a daily basis through monitored stored water levels and modeled water withdrawals. The functionality levels across the kiosk network were found to be 34% operational, 30% offline, and 35% empty. Statistically significant (p<0.001) determinants of functionality were found for several predictors across the defined thresholds. Finally, modeling of water supply, water demand and withdrawal capacity, and water storage was conducted to further explain findings and provide additionally externally relevant support for kiosk operations.

Water Service Delivery Issues and Challenges for the Urban Poor Zones in South Western Uganda

The article aims to examine the issues and challenges associated with providing water services to urban impoverished areas in South Western Uganda. The research methodology employed in this study involved conducting a comprehensive desktop study and literature review, systematically searching, and selecting peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and conference proceedings within a specified scope, using carefully chosen keywords and search criteria. After collating and evaluating the selected literature, a thorough synthesis was done to identify existing knowledge gaps and provide insights into the research questions under investigation. The main findings of the results highlight the need for integrated service models to expand water service delivery for the urban poor zones in southwestern Uganda. The study concludes that the problems addressed in this research and the suggestions presented provide the basis for improving water services to urban impoverished areas in South Western Uganda. This research will broaden service models for urban areas while also creating service models for locations with features of impoverished conditions. It is crucial to remember that households in urban cells were more likely to use improved water sources (including piped water on-premises), make regular payments for water, rely on shared sanitation facilities, and use manual sludge emptying services

Willingness to pay for improved water services: evidence from Peru

Willingness to pay for improved water services: evidence from Peru

Costs and benefits of improving water and sanitation in slums and non-slum neighborhoods in Dhaka, a fast-growing mega-city

Mega-cities like Dhaka in Bangladesh face urban planning challenges to provide residents access to safe water and sanitation. This paper presents the results of a large-scale survey focusing on slum and non-slum residents' experiences with urban water supply, water pollution and flood risks and associated costs of illness (COI). The latter are compared to residents' willingness to pay (WTP) for improved water services. We test differences in public health risks between slum and non-slum residents and the value of improved water and sanitation in a discrete choice experiment closing the loop between water supply, wastewater and stormwater. We find that a substantial share of a Dhaka household's disposable income is spent on water, varying between 3 and 21% across neighborhoods. Over 10% of the residents link poor health to poor water quality and face higher COI. Higher income non-slum residents appear to have a higher absolute WTP, but slum residents are willing to contribute a higher share of their income to the improvement of urban water management. These results provide important value cues to support large-scale investments in improved water and sanitation infrastructure and their cost recovery.

Assessing Willingness to Pay for Improved Water Services from Forest Area in Bayas Jaya Village, Lampung Province

One of the important functions of the forest is to provide water to the community. Improvement of water services from forest areas requires the community’s participation. This study aims at (1) identifying the community’s willingness to pay for improved water services and (2) determining factors affecting the community’s willingness to pay. This study is located in Bayas Jaya Villages and the upland area of Kedondong Sub-District, Pesawaran District, Lampung Province. The study interviewed 75 farmers of 3 water services management, i.e.: (1) independent, (2) PAMSIMAS, and (3) PDAM. Each management water service was represented by 25 members who were randomly selected. Objective one is analyzed using descriptive analysis, and objective two is analyzed using a regression analysis model. The study suggests that, on average community received 10,6m3 per day, which is far higher than their daily consumed, i.e., 460 l per day. However, water surplus is not optimized as they are drained to the local sewer. Further, 56% of the community is willing to pay should water services be improved. The average willingness to pay is Rp 440,357.14 annually per family. Factors affecting the community’s willingness to pay, include (1) the PDAM model, (2) the PAMSIMAS model, (3) age, and (4) daily water discharge to family.

Management of water Issues in Taiz basin, Yemen

Generally, the study area including the city of Taiz, in particular is suffering from an acute shortage of water due to the increase of the growing demand on water for domestic and industrial needs as well as the water needs for agriculture in the region. In addition, the water resources in the study area are limited to the aquifers while water extraction rates exceed the natural recharge and the use is not effective. Therefore, it highlights the importance of water demand management to maintain the quantity and quality of drinking water and domestic use, irrigation and industry. The objectives of this study is to evaluate current and future vulnerability of water sources in the study area; Development of scenarios and analysis of future water balance to find out the best solution to the problem of water in Taiz basin as the study area; Select the appropriate scenario to resolve the water problem. The results of this study will assist decision makers in the field of water resources for better planning and management in the future. During the period 15/1/2013 to 15/4/2013 Implementation of the field study in 1501water points, these water points are distributed between 954 hand-dug well, 479 deep well, 50 springs, five water collection tanks, two dams, and six water retaining walls. For calculating the amount of water supply in the region and the amount of water deficit, in addition to knowing the amount of needs that must be secured in the future, Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) application as Decision Support System (DSS) to manage the supply and demand for water in Taiz basin as the study area. The analysis and results using WEAP program include the following themes: Ground water storage in the aquifers: The usable storage for the base year of the model (2013) has been calculated for the five sub-basins in the study area, Estimated ground water storage in alluvial aquifer (in Mm3) ranged 221.52-&#x0D; 415.36 Mm3 at best estimate at 332.29 Mm3, groundwater storage in Volcanic aquifer ranged 129.98-2599.52 Mm3 at best estimate 259.95, whereas groundwater storage in sandstone aquifer ranged 5.044- 50.44Mm3 at best estimate at 10.088; Unmet water demand, The gap between supply and demand for water in the study area was estimated as (47,692,840.9 m3). Preliminary, set of adaptation strategies that address water scarcity; Interpret the proposed set of adaptation strategies to solve water issue from improve water services and water management for the urban area as part of the study in Central and Al Hawban Sub Catchment:&#x0D; (Increase the coverage rates for water services, Diversify water sources for the city, Efficient water management, Implementation of control and water quality program in water sources and drinking water factories, Development of specialized human cadres technically and administratively for the development of water management, Flow of water services from different water sources….. etc.); and Improve water projects and water management for the rural area as part of the study area Al Dabab Sub Catchment, Al Janad Sub Catchment and Thi- Sufal Al Haimah Sub Catchment: Commitment of the Commission basin management to Upper Rasyan Valley, The formation of committees Sub-water basin to ensure the management of water resources from the lower level, Resolving water conflicts in different regions of the study area and the basin provider of water to the city of Taiz, Community participation by establishment of water users associations (WUAs) in the sub- basin areas.&#x0D;

What impacts water services in rural Alaska? Identifying vulnerabilities at the intersection of technical, natural, human, and financial systems

Thousands of homes in rural Alaska do not have access to in-home water services and those that are served often experience disruptions. Such gaps in service lead to extreme water conservation and water quality issues, causing health disparities in Native communities that have been historically disenfranchised. Water sector challenges in rural Alaska stem from a variety of conditions that create a complicated operating context, such as the extreme climate, limited funding, small workforce, and remote settings of the communities. It is imperative to holistically understand the nature of water sector challenges in Alaska, bringing together proxy views to gain an understanding of overall system operations. In turn, our research objectives are to 1) identify challenges within the financial, human, natural, and technical systems involved in the provision of water services in rural Alaska, and 2) use a systems thinking approach to identify interdependencies between systems. Specifically, we identify the cascading impacts caused by the arctic environment and by climate change, and the factors contributing to the increase of unserved communities and system failures. To do so, we performed a deductive-inductive qualitative content analysis on semi-structured interviews with 19 stakeholders that work with water infrastructure in Alaska. Findings show that climate change exacerbates the Arctic operating context, straining financial and technical systems (e.g., flooding impacts source water quality). Additionally, we found that service disruptions are often caused by a lack of operations and maintenance funding; communities are only able to pay for repairs using emergency funds that become available after system failures. Here, we outline policy, engineering, and management leverage points that can be used to improve water services in rural Alaska. For instance, we recommend auditing funding systems to ensure equitable allocations and further exploring the water-energy nexus in arctic communities.

Communication planning and technology integration on implementation of water construction projects in Bomet County, Kenya

Globally over 40 million people are faced with deficiency supply of water and more than 110 million of the worlds’ 240 million population have no access to clean and safe drinking water. In Africa, water shortages are related to both under-development of potentially available water resources and their uneven distribution while conserving the catchments’ sustainability. The country like many other developing countries is facing formidable freshwater planning and management challenges. Despite the fact that a lot of resources have been invested in water infrastructure, there has been little impact on implementation water infrastructures and water supply systems in most parts of the countries. Communication planning is the key component to project success, but the main focus has been on project management practices and project performance. The main objective of this study was to assess the influence of communication planning on implementation of water projects in Bomet County, Kenya. Communication theory was used to guide this study. The study used descriptive survey design and ideally data was collected by use of self-administered Questionnaires. The study targeted 440 respondents and the sample size was 164 respondents. This study carried out a census on 88 initiated water projects in the county of Bomet. Pre-test study was administered to 18 respondents of Kajiado County to test the reliability and validity of the instruments. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires. Regression results showed that communication planning, positively influenced effective implementation of water project with the F statistics value of 98.068, and P-value of 0.000. Regression resulted in R2 of 0.43. In conclusion, therefore communication planning influenced implementation of water projects. The study recommends that the government can embrace the use of technology to equally enhance communication among stakeholders of water projects. The study can be replicated in other counties so as to improve water services.

Does the urban poor want water service improvement? Residents’ preferences for future water service supply in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Abstract Access to clean and adequate drinking water supply has a significant contribution to public health and the economies of developing nations. However, leaders in developing countries continue to experience challenges in their attempt to provide citizens access to safe drinking water. This study examines residents’ preferences for improved water service supply attributes in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Using a conjoint experiment survey from 450 residents, the study estimates part-worth valuation for each attribute and shows that preference for future water service is heterogeneous. Finally, the researchers confirmed that the resident is willing to pay up to 75% surcharges on their current bill for improved drinking water supply.

Willingness to pay for improved water supply service in coastal urban settings: evidence from Khulna, Bangladesh

Abstract The provision of clean water and sanitation has been one of the challenging targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for developing countries like Bangladesh. The southern cities of the country confront the scarcity of fresh and improved water for drinking and sanitation. The study aims to investigate the demand for improved water service among city dwellers and the potential revenue for the water supply authority. The study surveyed 100 households in Khulna city by administering a simple random sampling method. The single-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method revealed that years of schooling, household income, and excessive time in water collection positively affect willingness to pay (WTP) for improved water service. The households are willing to pay US$ 5.05 per month on average for enjoying improved water service, which in turn produces annual revenues of US$ 4.26 million, overriding the current level of revenue by 2.5 times. Additionally, the water supply authority is incurring around US$ 2.14 million of revenue loss annually which can be recovered by supplying improved water to the city households. This study suggests that the government may be able to address the fresh and improved water scarcity in the urban territory by capturing and utilizing the potential revenue efficiently through removing the structural barriers.

Households’ willingness to pay for improved water service in Bonga town, Kaffa zone, Southwestern Ethiopia

This study was initiated to estimate households’ willingness to pay for improved water services and identify its determinants by using the contingent valuation method in Bonga town of Kaffa zone, Southwestern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional data from a total of 212 sampled households’ from two randomly selected kebeles of Bonga town. Contingent valuation survey responses were analyzed through descriptive and econometric analysis using Probit and Bivariate probit model. Double bounded dichotomous choice with open-ended follow-up format was used to elicit the household’s willingness to pay. The descriptive analysis showed that out of the total 205 valid responses indicated that most households’ have perceived the problem of existing water services and were willing to pay for its improvement. Results from the study showed that about 80.98% of the sampled households were willing to pay the initial bid offered for an improvement in their water services scheme. The Probit model regression result shows that the age, daily water use, satisfaction level, fetching time, initial bid, ownership of the house, quality, family size, stay in town, and income were important factors that influenced WTP for improved water service. The study also shows that the maximum willingness to pay for improved water service was calculated to be 57.62 Birr and 30.11 Birr per month from double bounded and open-ended format respectively. The study also reveals that the aggregate welfare gains from the improvement of water supply in the study area were calculated to be 1,176,531 and 614,810 ETB per month from double bounded dichotomous choice and open-ended format respectively. Therefore, the policymakers, as well as project implementers who design solutions to address the problem of water service in the study area, should take account of these factors into their decision. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 12(1): 105-114, June 2022

Sustainable management of water utility in Samoa through services improvement with Okinawa Water Bureaus

This study examines how Samoa improved the capacity of Samoa Water Authority (SWA) by implementing integrated cooperation with water utilities in Okinawa Prefecture, and hardware and software development to reduce the high non-revenue water (NRW) ratio and improve water supply quality and inadequate water pressure. Standard operation procedures were formulated to enhance the capacity of SWA. The cooperation method adopted continuous on-the-job training with a bottom-up approach. Consequently, the NRW ratio was reduced from 68 per cent to 36 per cent and water supply with proper pressure was achieved in the targeted area. The quality of the tap water, in which many coliform bacteria were detected before the cooperation, achieved 100 per cent compliance with standards. The cooperation evidenced that improving water services can help users’ understanding of tariff payments, although the water tariff increased for most consumers due to a shift from fixed to metered tariff.

Sustainable water resources management under water-scarce and limited-data conditions

Urbanization and population growth increase the demand for freshwater abstraction, food production, rising thus the agricultural, economic, and productivity expectations. The need for improved water services, sustainable and resilient management under changing climate, are major drivers to set forth the redesigning of water planning. Water scarcity combined with the limited expansion of new infrastructure create competition among water uses and further stress the satisfactory coverage of the increasing needs. Integrated modeling is a way to simulate and address the above challenges, however, poor monitoring, incomplete databases, and complexity make its applications difficult. Questions such as what data to use, how to best exploit the (limited) available databases, what parameters to calculate, and how to satisfy both economic and environmental objectives, occur. This study presents a novel Decision Support System (DSS), combining hydrology, economics, engineering, and social aspects, aimed to participatory management, using simple concepts, and discussing assumptions for working with limited data, and useful parameters to estimate. Water availability and demand, water quality, profits, costs, and management scenario analysis, including nature-based solutions, are explored under climate change scenarios, and alternative policies are evaluated. The combination of the above and the useful modeling insights, under water- and data-scarcity conditions are novel elements, while the aim is to encourage integrated and sustainable water resources management through understandable and user-friendly DSSs.

Valuing improved water services and negative environmental externalities from seawater desalination technology: A choice experiment from the Galápagos

While seawater desalination technologies can improve drinking water supply, they can also generate significant environmental externalities. A choice experiment was implemented to investigate household preferences for potential trade-offs between improved water services and environmental impacts from seawater desalination in the Galápagos Islands. Our results indicate that households are willing to pay for water quality improvements, and for protection of coastal ecosystems and marine organisms. In contrast, households seem indifferent regarding water availability and potential impacts on air quality. Our findings also suggest that respondents who consistently reject the proposed desalination project tend to be less affluent and have stronger environmental preferences than those who support it. It is concluded that stated-preference studies on improved water services should also elicit preferences for potential environmental effects of the proposed water technology.

Are Households Willing to Finance the Cost of Individual Water Supply? Case Study in Central Tunisia

In developing countries, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by the United Nations and the expectations expressed by modern local populations call for universal water access through individual connections (IC), to be achieved by 2030. An ambitious target such as this presents the challenge of how best to achieve the goal of funding high-quality but expensive water supply systems, to serve populations with low incomes. This raises the question of the assessment of the relevant households’ willingness to pay (WTP) for improved water service in rural areas, in particular in the context of developing countries. This paper examines this issue using a case study in Tunisia. As with other developing countries, Tunisia faces difficult challenges: the increasing demand for water and the inherent cost that is involved must be met whilst climate change is likely to increase the pressure on already stressed resources. The approach applied in this paper is to assess the households’ WTP using a contingent valuation (CV) method in a dedicated field household survey in Central Tunisia. The particular governorate in which the survey was conducted was facing at the time of this study high social expectations, in particular, coming under increasing demand from inhabitants of rural communities to be individually connected to water supplies in the same way as their urban counterparts who were served by SONEDE, the national utility company. The results of the survey reveal that non-SONEDE-piped households were not willing to pay the amount required in order to have an individual connection (the average bid was USD 443 whereas the expected contribution is above USD 800). It was found that a household’s WTP for an individual connection had a direct relationship with its trust in the current water management model, alternative modes of supply, and its socio-economic characteristics. However, if already connected, households would be willing to pay more than their current water expenses, although the amount they were willing to pay was still lower than the sustainable water cost enabling long-term maintenance of the system. SONEDE-piped households stated a clear WTP the amount required to keep water services for the future (average bid of USD 14 to add to their current quarterly water bill of USD 14). Based on these results, this paper concludes by highlighting several policy implications.

Assessing inequalities in sustainable access to improved water services using service level indicators in a rural municipality of South Africa

Abstract Sustainable access to improved water services is a human right recognized by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda and the constitution of South Africa. In recognition of this, South Africa implemented the Free Basic Water (FBW) policy outlining six recommended service level standards (e.g. distance, reliability and cost) to guide improved water services provision, especially in rural municipalities. However, despite implementing the rights-based approach policy, a significant proportion of the rural population is reported to have limited/poor access to improved water services. For this reason, the study adopted the FBW standards as indicators to assess inequalities in sustainable access to improved water services in Makhudutamaga Local Municipality (MLM) in South Africa. The findings indicate inequalities in access to improved water services based on FBW standards. Overall, the improved water services complied with the FBW standard for distance but not with the other standards. The non-compliance with the other standards indicated limited/poor access to improved water services and improper implementation of the FBW policy. This work provides water managers with an understanding of levels of water services provided based on FBW standards for planning and management to improve access to improved water services and enforce proper implementation of the FBW policy.

Healthcare provider satisfaction with environmental conditions in rural healthcare facilities of 14 low- and middle-income countries.

Healthcare provider (HCP) satisfaction is important for staff retention and effective health service delivery. Inadequate resources, understaffing, and ineffective organizational structure may reduce HCP satisfaction in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Some qualitative studies have described links between environmental conditions and job satisfaction in HCPs; however, few studies have explored this link using survey data. This study explores associations between HCP satisfaction and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) infrastructure, cleanliness, and infection prevention and control (IPC) practices in rural healthcare facilities (HCFs) in LMICs. This study analyzes 2002 HCFs in rural areas of 14 LMICs. Generalized linear mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between HCP satisfaction, WaSH infrastructure, and cleanliness and IPC practices. Most respondents reported that they were unsatisfied with water (65%), sanitation (68%), and hygiene infrastructure (54%) at their HCF. Insufficient supply and poor quality of WaSH resources were the most commonly reported reasons for provider dissatisfaction. Respondents were less likely to report dissatisfaction with cleanliness and IPC practices (36%). Dissatisfaction with cleanliness and IPC were most reported because patients and staff did not wash their hands at the correct times or with proper materials, or because the facility was not clean. Several characteristics of the WaSH environment were significantly associated with provider satisfaction at their HCFs, including acceptable water quality, readily available supply of water (on premises and improved), accessible supply of WaSH infrastructure to people with reduced mobility, accessible supplies of sanitation and hygiene materials, and sufficient training and budgeting for WaSH or IPC needs. Our results suggest that the provision of on premises, improved water service accessible to people with reduced mobility, interventions that prioritize the acceptability of sanitation facilities within the local context, and the provision of hygienic materials are key interventions to improve HCP satisfaction. Dedicated funding and oversight should be established at the HCF level to ensure access to consumable hygiene and IPC products and maintenance of WASH infrastructure. Improvements to WaSH in HCF may improve HCP satisfaction and ultimately patient outcomes.

Household preferences for improved water services in the Galápagos Islands

Like many islands worldwide, Santa Cruz, the most populated of Ecuador's Galápagos Islands, has limited resources to provide safe drinking water to an increasing number of inhabitants and tourists. Currently, households receive brackish water at their tap, which is rationed to a few hours per day. Insufficient recovery of water supply costs is an impediment to improving water services. Against this backdrop, we implemented a contingent valuation survey to investigate whether households are willing to pay for improved water services. Using split-sample scenarios that allow for scope and part-whole tests, we elicited household preferences for three improvements: 1) uninterrupted water supply, 2) drinkable tap water, and 3) combining both. Our estimation results indicate that households are willing to pay for safe drinking water. Conversely, our willingness-to-pay estimates suggest that households are indifferent about improvements of service reliability unless water quality is improved as well. The median willingness to pay for concurrent improvements of system reliability and water quality is estimated at approximately $36/month, about 2.1% of average monthly household income. This study has policy implications as it demonstrates that households deem system reliability and water quality as complementary improvements.