Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential to sustain life, development
and the environment. Growth in population and economic activities have contributed
to water scarcity, which is a frequent challenge in rural and township communities in
South Africa. This study aimed at investigating onsite greywater reuse as a water
conservation method in Lepelle-Nkumpi local municipality, Limpopo province. The
study described the socio-economic characteristics, assessed the accessibility and
availability of water supply, and ascertained the coping mechanisms for water
scarcity as well as the perceptions and reuse of greywater. Four percent
respondents each were selected from two settlements, namely, Mashite village and
Lebowakgomo township (Zone F). Mashite village had a population size of 5314
people (1231 households) and Lebowakgomo Zone F had 5903 people and (1924
households). A systematic random sampling method was used to select the required
households from the two settlements. Both open and close ended questionnaires
were used. A Geographical Positioning System was also used to collect the absolute
location of available taps in the study area. Data collected were analysed using
SPSS version-22 and Arc GIS 10.1.
The study found out that the socio-economic characteristics of importance on onsite
greywater reuse included highest qualification, household size and employment
status, but they varied in these two areas. In Mashite village the majority of the
respondents went to secondary school (59%) as compared to Lebowakgomo Zone F
where the majority (72%) attained tertiary qualification. Household size mean in
Mashite is 6.18 as compared to Lebowakgomo Zone F (2.77). Sixty four percent of
respondents in Mashite village were unemployed, whereas in Lebowakgomo 69%
were employed. Water usage in the two areas differed; in Mashite village where they
use less water (250 to 840 litres) as compared to Lebowakgomo Zone F, where
more water is used (5900 to 8001 litres). In Mashite village, 87% of the respondents
could not access water due to inaccessibility of taps and unavailability of water as
compared to Lebowakgomo zone F (100%). It was also found that the Mashite
community sometimes go for a period of two to three months without tap water
whereas in Lebowakgomo water was comparatively regular. As a result both
communities resorted to rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse. Seventy six
percent (76%) of respondents in Mashite village and 30% of the respondents in
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Lebowakgomo Zone F harvested rainwater as a coping mechanism of water scarcity.
Perceptions of greywater reuse were higher (76%) in Lebowakgomo Zone F
compared to Mashite village (49%). A higher percentage of Mashite village
respondents (98%) reuse greywater compared to Lebowakgomo Zone F
respondents (59%). Both areas use greywater as water conservation method. These
results reinforce the potential of domestic greywater reuse as an alternative for
freshwater requirement. Greywater reuse as a water conservation method especially
in villages can be used to alleviate the extent of water scarcity.