DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2017.v05i03.011

Pages: 209-216

The study focused on investigating the factors that affect multiple uses of water and its sustainable supply in rural communities with reference to Binga District; where a number of water supply systems exist in different agro-ecological regions. The research used a descriptive survey design and a population comprising of rural community members of Binga District was used. A sample of 40 (N=40) people was selected to answer the questionnaires which were used as research instruments to gather data. Several factors such as relying on seasonal unprotected water bodies such as springs, dams, ponds and rivers were found to be the causes of limited use of water in rural areas. The borehole was the most common source of water but, however, the people are still dependent on traditional water sources such as rivers, streams, hand dug-wells and ponds. On other water uses, vegetable gardening was the most common livelihood activity in the area. However, vegetable gardening strongly affected water consumption because watering gardens accounted for the largest outdoor water use. The researchers recommended that there should be provision of alternative sources of water supply through construction of more water treatment plants, boreholes, wells and solar powered driven water supply systems. Traditional water sources such as rivers, streams, hand dug-wells and ponds should be mainly reserved for gardening so that congestion in borehole use is reduced.