Rural Citizen Satisfaction With Drinking Water Supply: Public Policy Imperatives for a South African Municipality

ABSTRACT Many rural households in developing countries face serious water supply challenges, which make achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 a pipe dream. Radical policy interventions are required to improve access to a safely managed water supply, yet evidence‐based public policymaking is usually lacking. This study informs public policy on water supply by examining the determinants of rural citizens' satisfaction with drinking water supply. Probit regression models are used to analyse survey data collected from 360 households randomly sampled across villages in a selected rural South African municipality. Findings revealed household dissatisfaction with the distance travelled to water sources, long queues at water sources, unpleasant smell and colour of drinking water, and intermittent water supply. The study contributes to knowledge by providing evidence necessary for water policymaking by public utilities serving rural communities.