Assessment of Water Quality and Customer Satisfaction of Water Supply Schemes in District Badin, Sindh, Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-iv.244Keywords:
Safe Drinking Water, Service Reliability, Microbial Contamination, Community Satisfaction, Water SecurityAbstract
In many developing countries like Pakistan, water availability to drink is a serious public health problem primarily due to poor quality water in combination with its inadequate delivery. The district Badin is situated at the farthest part of Indus River. The study evaluates the water quality and satisfaction on the operated water supply schemes of the district with respect to the five talukas of the said district which includes Badin, Matli, Shaheed Fazil Rahu, Talhar and Tando Bago. A method mix between laboratory analysis of 330 water samples and structured household survey of 234 households along with qualitative data from key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used. The water samples were tested for physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics. Results revealed wide-spread microbiological contamination in all talukas in the form of E.coli and Total coliforms. From the water supply scheme level to the household level, contamination levels were significantly higher, while chemical parameters were mostly within acceptable limits. Badin and Tando Bago were found to be the most polluted, whereas Talhar had relatively good water quality. Survey findings showed a low level of trust and satisfaction with piped water services. Although most households had access to piped water for domestic use, they relied on handpumps, public taps, or bottled water for drinking purposes. Only 10% reported being “very satisfied.” Unreliable timing of supply, weak billing practices, and poor household water storage practices were key factors affecting dissatisfaction. The study concludes that technical improvements, institutional strengthening, and improved WMPs are necessary to enhance water services in District Badin.
References
Ahmed, T., Sipra, H., Zahir, M., Ahmad, A., & Ahmed, M. (2022). Consumer perception and behavior toward water supply, demand, water tariff, water quality, and willingness-to-Pay: A cross-sectional study. Water Resources Management, 36(4), 1339–1354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-022-03085-5
Alameddine, I., Jawhari, G., & El-Fadel, M. (2017). Social perception of public water supply network and groundwater quality in an urban setting facing saltwater intrusion and water shortages. Environmental Management, 59(4), 571-583. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-016-0803-2
Bhandari, B., & Grant, M. (2007). User satisfaction and sustainability of drinking water schemes in rural communities of Nepal. Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 3(1), 12-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/15487733.2007.11907988
Doria, M. de F. (2010). Factors influencing public perception of drinking water quality. Water Policy, 12(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2009.051
Ellawala, K. C., & Priyankara, D. P. (2016). Consumer satisfaction on quantity and quality of water supply: A study in Matara, southern Sri Lanka. Water Practice and Technology, 11(3), 678-689. https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2016.073
Jianping, L., Minrong, L., Jinnan, W., Jianjian, L., Hongwen, S., & Maoxing, H. (2014). Current Chinese Economic Report Series Report on Global Environmental Competitiveness (2013). http://www.springer.com/series/11028
Mekuriaw, A., & Gurmessa, B. (2020). User satisfaction with rural water drinking points in Woliso district, central Ethiopia. Water Supply, 20(8), 3330-3340. https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2020.234
Mohanty, T., & Rout, H. S. (2024). Consumers’ perception of piped water supply and their willingness to pay for improved water supply: Evidence from an eastern Indian state. Water Supply, 24(4), 1335-1351. https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2024.054
Parveen, S., Ahmad, J., & Rahman, M. U. (2016). Estimating willingness to pay for drinking water quality in Nowshera Pakistan: a domestic study for public health. Int J African Asian Stud J, 19, 48-56.
Rasool, A., Saeed, S., Ahmad, S., Iqbal, A., & Ali, A. (2024). Empowering community participation for sustainable rural water supply: Navigating water scarcity in Karak district Pakistan. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 26, 101269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101269
Sajjad, A., Ahmad, M., Tariq, R., Iqbal, M., Farooq, R., Ali, W., & Ali, A. (2025). Assessment of community perceptions on drinking water quality and its implications for human health in Islamabad, Pakistan: A comprehensive analysis. Desalination and Water Treatment, 321, 101055. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dwt.2025.101055
Savari, M., Mombeni, A. S., & Izadi, H. (2022). Socio-psychological determinants of Iranian rural households' adoption of water consumption curtailment behaviors. Scientific Reports, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17560-x
Tshililo, F. P., Mutanga, S. S., Gumbo, T., Sikhwivhilu, K., & Chikozho, C. (2024). Corrigendum: Water Reuse 1 March 2024; 14 (1): 30–38. The influence of public perception on acceptance of potable water reclamation schemes. The case of Diepsloot township, Johannesburg. Fhulufhelo Phillis Tshililo, Shingirirai Mutanga, Trynos gumbo, Keneiloe Sikhwivhilu, Claudious Chikozho. Water Reuse, 14(2), 264-264. https://doi.org/10.2166/wrd.2024.103
UNICEF & WHO, (2021). water supply and sanitation: global baseline report 2021. https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/
Zikrina, M. N., Kazama, S., Sawangjang, B., & Takizawa, S. (2024). Filling discrepancies between consumer perception and actual piped water quality to promote the potable use of the municipal water supply in Indonesia. Sustainability, 16(16), 7082. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16167082
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
