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including the type of settlement; the number of family members
available to collect water; the return of weekly-migrant family
members over weekends (resulting in a much higher demand for
water); the distance and type of terrain to be walked, and the
perceived quality of the water source. Other factors are the
household water storage capacity (including provision for rainwater
collection and storage); the preferred site for laundry operations;
payment or non-payment for water, and weather conditions. There
is little seasonal variation in demand under such circumstances,
although fieldwork suggests that the availability of roof-runoff in
households with large rainwater storage systems, will tend to reduce
consumption from external sources in summer (Alcock, 1989 ­
above). A similar trend has been found in peri-urban KwaZulu in
areas supplied by public standpipes. A marked reuse of water is
evident generally, depending on distance to source or payment for
water. Considerable use is made of free sources such as springs and
rivers for clothes washing purposes, if water has to be purchased in
peri-urban and urban areas. As would be expected in rural and periurban
areas where raw water only is available, the nearest source of
water is generally preferred (provided that water quality - for potable
purposes - is regarded as good). Kruger (1982)* in a study of rural
villages in the Transkei (with boreholes or protected springs and
gravity reticulation to standpipes), found that a desired return journey
of 500 m was evident, beyond which, residents used other sources.
Friedman (1985. quoted in Mann. 1985)**, working in the Valley
Trust area in the Durban Functional Region. observed that most
return journeys to preferred water sources involved a distance of less
than 1 km (which would probably take about 20 minutes).
Iiii) In situations where a standpipe is available in or immediately
adjacent to the yard, consumption may increase by a factor of two
or three, in comparison with more distant sources of supply.
Multiple tap households (even without waterborne sanitation). as
opposed to single tap households. will use substantially more water
depending on circumstances such as metering and the watering of
gardens. Expressed in a different manner. water which must be
carried some distance is used with a much more strict accounting
than water which is available closer to the home.
(iv) Alcock (1986)*** in a survey of the Inadi Ward, Vulindlela
District (KwaZulu) in the vicinity of Henley Dam near
Pietermaritzburg, found a weighted mean daily household
consumption of 91,5 i for water consumed at the home (mainly
with reference to springs). The weighted mean daily per capita
consumption for water consumed at the home was 15,6 i. The data
Kruger. P.• 1982. Personal communication. O'Connell MantM and Partners. Durban.
See Mann, C.• 1985. The Valley Trust water and sanitation projects. Valley Trust, Botha's Hill, 48 p.
See Alcock, P., 1986. An examination of household water consumption in the Inadi Ward. Kwazulu,
Civil Engineer in South Africa, VOl28(11l, p. 424 - 426.