Socio-political processes must be emphasised alongside climate change and urbanisation as key drivers of urban water insecurity

Abstract

Urban water security is of critical global and local importance. Across many parts of low- and middle-income countries, urban water security either remains elusive or is becoming stressed. Rapid urbanisation and climate change are two key drivers of resource insecurity and at the forefront of urban water discourse. However, there are manifold and complex socio-political processes functioning alongside these megatrends that are often underemphasised. Drawing on three urban case studies in Ethiopia, we highlight these structural issues and the need for their continued consideration to fully understand and address urban water insecurity. Household water-use surveys, semi-structured interviews and participatory exercises with community residents, stakeholders and informal water vendors were used as part of a mixed-method approach in three urban areas. We found that government-managed urban water supplies were intermittent and unsafe, resulting in economic, health and time-use burdens for households, and that the socio-political dimensions reproducing urban water insecurity have historical roots. We argue that the uncertainty of climate change and unprecedented urbanisation do not offer sufficient explanation for why urban water insecurity persists. Moreover, we call for caution in only employing these narratives, to avoid obscuring deeply rooted challenges within socio-political systems. We call for socio-political processes to continue to be a central component of future interventions that seek to improve urban water insecurity.

Climate and hydrological seasonal effects on household water insecurity: A systematic review

“…The effects of environmental seasonality on household water affordability are found when changing seasons increase both water demand and price (Collins et al, 2019; Grasham & Neville, 2021; Mason & Agan, 2015) (Table S6). During seasonal water scarcity, households use coping strategies, such as purchasing water from vendors or hiring others to collect water (Akib Jabed et al, 2020; Benebere et al, 2017; Hanrahan & Mercer, 2019; Kujinga et al, 2014; Mushavi et al, 2020; Mwiturubani, 2017; Nyong & Kanaroglou, 1999; Pearson et al, 2015).…”

“…The studies in our systematic review show that environmental seasonal effects on household water adequacy, affordability, reliability, and safety have critical health implications. Wet–dry cycles contribute to seasonal higher risks of hypertension (Khan et al, 2011), mental health distress (Brewis et al, 2020; Collins et al, 2019; Grasham & Neville, 2021; Hanrahan & Mercer, 2019; Makame & Kangalawe, 2018; Mushavi et al, 2020; Stevenson et al, 2012; Wutich, 2009a, 2009b; Wutich & Ragsdale, 2008), diarrheal incidence and other water‐borne diseases (Akib Jabed et al, 2020; Few et al, 2013; Kulinkina et al, 2016; Mertens et al, 2019; Mondal et al, 2001; Tubatsi et al, 2015), high fluoride exposure (Paul et al, 2018), and agrochemical exposure (Few et al, 2013; Malley et al, 2009).…”

“…Wells ran dry during dry cycles (Makame & Kangalawe, 2018; Malley et al, 2009; Uzomah & Scholz, 2002) and also collapsed on themselves in the rainy season (Uzomah & Scholz, 2002). Deterioration of infrastructure and lack of financing for operation led to water reliability issues (Grasham & Neville, 2021). Repairs needed at water treatment and power plants affected community‐wide water security (Eichelberger, 2019).…”

“…To cope with unreliability, many households pursue increased at-home water storage (Eakin et al, 2016;Eichelberger, 2018Eichelberger, , 2019. In contexts where households rely on water vendors or depend on piped water supply, changes between rainy and dry seasons, as well as seasonal flooding, affect water delivery reliability, increase waiting times, and generate uncertainty related to water availability (Eakin et al, 2016;Grasham & Neville, 2021;Mason, 2012).…”

“…Increased precipitation, overland flow during rainy seasons, and recurrent flooding increase human and animal waste contamination (Eakin et al, 2016;Eichelberger, 2010Eichelberger, , 2019Makame & Kangalawe, 2018), accumulation of agrochemicals (Few et al, 2013;Malley et al, 2009;Tucker et al, 2014), and turbidity (Eichelberger, 2010;Few et al, 2013;Grasham & Neville, 2021;Malley et al, 2009;Smiley & Hambati, 2019) among household shallow groundwater and surface water sources (Table S6). They also pose greater risk to households of experiencing waterborne diseases (Collins et al, 2019;Kulinkina et al, 2016;Mondal et al, 2001;Noradilah et al, 2017).…”