Barriers to water use efficiency in rural and peri-urban areas of South Africa

Using the quantitative method, this paper examined barriers to water-efficiency behaviour amongst rural and peri-urban residents in Eastern Cape, South Africa and identify opportunities for promoting it. The result showed positive associations between water-efficiency behaviour and income, personal capabilities and poor knowledge of efficient water conservation measures. Rural and peri-urban households identified cost as the overarching barrier to installing water-efficient appliances. Financial incentives emerged as a significant opportunity for promoting water-efficient behaviour. The result suggests rural and peri-urban residents are open to water efficiency behaviour where financial incentives are provided for the voluntary installation of efficient taps and other water-saving devices. The findings underscore the need to educate the rural populace about the use and benefits of water-efficient appliances. The study contributes to methodological approaches in household water behaviour studies and provides further insights on water efficiency behaviour within a specific African population often overlooked in mainstream academic endeavours of this kind.