Rooftop rainwater harvesting systems in bergendal village, Limpopo : practices and value creation

Abstract

In Limpopo, most rural households lack access to piped water and instead, they rely on traditional water sources like wells, rivers, and streams, which are unsafe without prior treatment. Municipal water supply is also unreliable, primarily in villages where boreholes are used to supply water. This is because the long dry season affects the boreholes' yields. Since rooftop rainwater harvesting systems (RRHS) are inexpensive and simple to install, they are typically regarded as a practical solution in communities. This makes them a viable and economical way to speed up water access in rural areas. RRHS refer to when rain on a roof is collected and stored instead of letting it run off. One hundred households participated in the study, which was carried out in the village of Bergendal; 74 percent of these households were female, and 71 percent were pensioners. Bergendal village's cultural practices regarding the use and maintenance of RRHS have been accessed, which has also assessed value created with a greater emphasis on immediate, potential, and realized value; and also investigated and suggested improvements to financial, communication, and regulatory measures. According to the study, 86 percent of Bergendal village households confirm that RRHS has improved their quality of life and resolved water supply provision and that they appreciate the efforts of government for its continued support in improving the services. However, the study has demonstrated that the RRHS cannot be sustained in the absence of adequate funding, communication, regulations, training, and consistent rainfall. The study concluded that RRHSs in Bergendal have not only supported household water security, but also facilitated local learning about water conservation and sustainable resource use. This reflects a positive long-term impact of the intervention and provides a foundation for scaling similar initiatives in rural areas.