Water consumption patterns in a rural setting in Ngamiland district, Botswana: the case of Boro village

Water is a precious resource with a variety of uses, which include drinking, cooking, bathing, recreation, gardening, agriculture, hydropower generation, industry and maintenance of the environment. The focus of many empirical studies has been the identification of factors that determine demand for water in urban and semi-urban areas, with the aim of improving water resource planning and development. However, studies on water use patterns in rural areas, especially where water is obtained from open sources, are limited. This study aims to describe water use patterns and demand in the rural settlement of Boro in the Ngamiland district in Botswana. Data were collected from rural households using a structured questionnaire. The average per capita water use was estimated at 20.6 litres per person per day. Estimation of the water demand model showed a significant relationship between annual household income and per capita water consumed (PWC). Both the regression model and the scatter plot did not reveal any significant relationship between PWC and distance to the water source. The study recommends further work be done on the relationship between PWC and distances beyond the ‘threshold’ distance.