Assessment of sustainable water security in the Bojanala region in the Northwest Province in South Africa
Mokone, Neo William
Sustainable water security is essential for human well-being, environmental preservation, economic
prosperity, and social stability. Pursuing sustainable water security is instrumental in guiding
policymakers, planners, and stakeholders to implement effective and equitable water management
practices that can create a resilient and sustainable water future for both current and future generations.
The Bojanala District, like many other regions, faces significant challenges regarding water security.
Understanding the challenges faced by the Bojanala District in terms of water security is vital to secure a
sustainable water future and supporting socio-economic development. The purpose of this research was
to assess sustainable water security among households and develop a descriptive model capable of guiding
for implementation of reliable interventions regarding water security and supply in the Bojanala District,
in the Northwest Province of South Africa. The specific objectives of the study were to identify and
analyze the demographic and socio-economic features associated with water security in the study area;
assess the water security status among households in terms of availability and access to water, and identify
and analyze the factors influencing sustainable water security in the area. In this endeavor, the study
employed an explanatory sequential mixed-method design to explore the concept of sustainable water
security among households in the Bojanala District. A sample size of 384 participants was selected,
allowing for the generalizability of findings to the target population. The combination of stratified random
sampling and simple random sampling ensured the representation of diverse perspectives. Data collection
at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic necessitated non-contact interviews. The survey was disseminated
online to respondents residing across the Bojanala District. The study employed a semi-structured
questionnaire divided into sections informed by the specific objectives of the study. The quantitative data
was collected through household questionnaire surveys, focusing on water security indicators such as
water availability, access, and quality, as well as their impacts on livelihoods, health, and education.
Subsequently, qualitative data was gathered through interviews, focus groups, and observations to provide
further explanation and context for the quantitative finding. The quantitative data were analyzed using
descriptive statistics of SPSS Windows Version 25. The qualitative data obtained from interviews were
analyzed using the thematic analysis technique. Triangulation, using multiple data sources and methods,
strengthened the validity and reliability of the research
The study comprised a predominantly female population, constituting 63.8% of the participants, while
62.5% of the respondents were single. Furthermore, a substantial proportion, 32.6%, fell within the age
bracket of 30 to 40 years. The study findings indicate that a significant majority (51.3%) of the
respondents hold the perception that the condition of the water supply infrastructure is poor; a
considerable proportion (63.9%) revealed that there have been disputes or disagreements about water
shortages, and standing in long queues when fetching water. The majority (49.7%) of participants
indicated boreholes as their main source of water supply. The participants, comprising 41.7% of the
sample population, hold the view that the diseases observed within their households have a direct association with water-related factors due to the perceived poor quality of water. Moreover, the findings
indicate that a significant proportion of the participants, 93.8%, reported not obtaining water from an in house tap connected to a private borehole. Additionally, a majority of the respondents, 89.6%, expressed
dissatisfaction with the public water source, as it fails to adequately meet the water demands of the current
population. The results of logit regression show that when independent variables are added, the model
correctly classifies 82.9% of overall cases. The results also revealed that 78.1% of the participants who
are water-secured were predicted by the model to be water-secured. Furthermore, the results revealed that
86.4% of the participants who were not water-secured were predicted by the model to be not water secured. It is also noted from the results that the positive predicted value of 80.6% of all the cases
predicted to be water-secured was correctly predicted. The negative predicted value of 84.4% of all the
cases predicted to be not water-secured was correctly predicted.
The insights gained from our logit
regression analysis offer valuable contributions to the field of water security. The model's predictive
accuracy and identification of key predictors can significantly enhance water security outcomes by
guiding targeted interventions. To address the concerns, the study recommends the following: enhancing
the management and maintenance of water sources and infrastructure to ensure a consistent and reliable
water supply; Regularly assessing the effectiveness of implemented measures in addressing water
shortages and resolving disputes; Implementing appropriate water treatment and purification methods to
improve the quality of water supplied to the participants' households. Exploring strategies to optimize
water distribution systems and minimize long queues; Implementing a comprehensive water quality
monitoring program to assess the safety of the water supply. In other words, addressing these concerns
through targeted strategies can lead to improved water security outcomes for the District. Finally, this
research makes a significant academic contribution by pioneering an innovative analytical framework in
the study area, effectively addressing an existing research gap. It represents the first comprehensive study
of its kind in this geographical region, thereby offering valuable insights and relevance to the field.
↧