Determinants of access to potable water in South Africa: A household level analysis of wellbeing
Jabulile Makhalima 
& Steven Henry Dunga
Issue: Vol. 7 No.2 2026 Article 3 pp. 438 – 453
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026723| Published online 25th March 2026
© 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted for 2030 are in jeopardy, with goal one of ending poverty and its associated poverty-related goals (SDGs 2–6) far from being realised. SDG 6, access to water, is an important measure of well-being for households, especially those below the poverty line. In South Africa, the discussion on service delivery has become an important issue as many households have limited access to essential services such as water, electricity, and education. The need to have a clear understanding of how far the country is from achieving this goal is therefore paramount, as it can help drive policy that can turn things around. The purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants of access to potable water at the household level. A multinomial logistic regression was estimated on the main water sources, with water inside the house used as the reference category. The results show that age, gender, marital status, population group, and income of the head of household are significant determinants of access to potable water. Household size and poverty status were also significant household characteristics determining whether the household would have access to potable water or not. The findings point to the need for a holistic approach in dealing with water access for households. Older female heads of households are more at risk, and deliberate policies that target these vulnerable groups will go a long way in achieving Sustainable Development Goal six. The study recommends targeted interventions that address both demographic and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. This paper contributes to scholarship by providing empirical household-level evidence on the factors shaping access to potable water in South Africa and deepening understanding of the links between service delivery, poverty, and wellbeing.
Keywords: Water access, Sustainable Development Goals, Household, poverty status, Multinomial regression
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Jabulile Lindiwe Makhalima is an Associate Professor of Economics at the North-West University, Vanderbijlpark Campus, South Africa. Her research focuses on development economics and poverty analysis, with particular emphasis on child poverty.
Steven Henry Dunga is a Professor of Economics at North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa. His research focuses on development economics, poverty analysis, and household welfare with a focus of housing insecurity
Makhalima, Jabulile and Steven Henry Dunga. “Determinants of Access to Potable Water in South Africa: A Household Level Analysis of Wellbeing.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.2 (2026): 438 – 453. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026723
© 2026 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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