Exploring water supply challenges to selected villages of greater Giyani municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Limpopo Province faces significant water access challenges, with one-third of its population lacking sufficient domestic water supply. This study examines water access and supply-related challenges in selected villages in the Greater Giyani Municipality (GGM), which suffers from severe water shortages due to persistent drought. In 2008, water levels in the Nsami and Middle Letaba Dams dropped below 5% and 6%, respectively. An open-ended questionnaire survey of 638 households was conducted in 2021, and hydroclimatic data were used to achieve the aim of the study. The analysis revealed that the main water supply sources in GGM are boreholes, communal taps, bulk water through in-house connections, and water vendors. The estimated water demand for the selected villages is 3,230,600 L per day, while the total water supply is only 1,796,676 L per day, resulting in a 44.38% deficit. The questionnaire survey identified two key challenges: unreliable municipal water supply and a lack of access to water within 200 m of households. The study recommends prioritizing water management strategies, such as demand management, groundwater development, and supply innovations, to meet domestic water needs.