Sustainable Water Conservation Means Happiness: A Qualitative Approach in Rural Neighborhood Confronting Climate Change and Economic Struggles

This study examined the factors influencing household decisions to engage in sustainable water conservation in a rural neighborhood confronting climate change and economic struggles. The socioecological model (SEM) was employed to identify multilevel factors and relationships affecting sustainable water conservation behaviors. Participants included residents from a barangay (village) in the Philippines, consisting of approximately 100 households. Six female adults, aged 34 to 72, took part in the study. Two participants worked as vendors, while four were unemployed. Some also reported health issues such as urinary tract infections (UTI) and anemia. The study identified multiple interrelated factors that influence sustainable water conservation practices among rural households. Findings suggest that residents perceive sustainable water conservation as a mean to secure access to clean water amid climate and economic challenges. However, policy-level barriers were also revealed, such as the deprioritization water purity and indirect discrimination water disconnection. These findings should be interpreted in light of several limitations inherent to the study. Nevertheless, the results point to the potential for implementing sustainable water conservation initiatives in regions experiencing severe weather conditions and financial hardship.