Water security and water, sanitation and hygiene practices across 10 years in South Africa
1
Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
2
Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1906
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Reliable access to enough safe and acceptable water is an important component of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) initiatives. Although Sustainable Development Goal 6 promotes universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all individuals, many communities continue to experience intermittent water supply and inadequate WASH services. Evidence on how water supply interruptions affect WASH practices over time remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the impact of water supply interruptions on WASH practices over a ten-year period in South Africa.
METHODS:
We performed a secondary analysis using the South Africa General Household Survey data from 2015 to 2024. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise demographics, water access and WASH variables. Bivariate analysis was done to examine the association between water access, water supply interruptions and handwashing practices.
RESULTS:
Over the ten years, access to piped water within the dwelling or yard ranged from 67.86% to 73.58%. The proportion of households with piped water and with access to handwashing facilities varied from 31.9% to 60.9%. Among households with piped water, reports of at least one water supply interruption varied between 22.08% and 84.6%. Water tankers and stored water were the most common alternative sources of drinking water during the period of water interruptions. The percentage of households with piped water not practicing handwashing with soap ranged from 31.94% to 60.89%, with the highest reported in 2020. Notably, in 2020, 64.8% of households with piped water experienced water supply interruptions and reported not washing hands with soap after toilet use.
CONCLUSIONS:
Water interruptions were linked with poorer handwashing practices, highlighting the importance of reliable water services and behaviour-change interventions to support hygiene practices.
Reliable access to enough safe and acceptable water is an important component of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) initiatives. Although Sustainable Development Goal 6 promotes universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all individuals, many communities continue to experience intermittent water supply and inadequate WASH services. Evidence on how water supply interruptions affect WASH practices over time remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the impact of water supply interruptions on WASH practices over a ten-year period in South Africa.
METHODS:
We performed a secondary analysis using the South Africa General Household Survey data from 2015 to 2024. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise demographics, water access and WASH variables. Bivariate analysis was done to examine the association between water access, water supply interruptions and handwashing practices.
RESULTS:
Over the ten years, access to piped water within the dwelling or yard ranged from 67.86% to 73.58%. The proportion of households with piped water and with access to handwashing facilities varied from 31.9% to 60.9%. Among households with piped water, reports of at least one water supply interruption varied between 22.08% and 84.6%. Water tankers and stored water were the most common alternative sources of drinking water during the period of water interruptions. The percentage of households with piped water not practicing handwashing with soap ranged from 31.94% to 60.89%, with the highest reported in 2020. Notably, in 2020, 64.8% of households with piped water experienced water supply interruptions and reported not washing hands with soap after toilet use.
CONCLUSIONS:
Water interruptions were linked with poorer handwashing practices, highlighting the importance of reliable water services and behaviour-change interventions to support hygiene practices.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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