POTABLE WATER ACCESSIBILITY AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC WELL BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF BUSHROD ISLAND, LIBERIA

Abstract

Clean drinking water and sanitation are essential for well-being. There are international agreements that indicate that all people have the right to obtain water in quantities and of a quality that satisfies their fundamental needs, regardless of their social and economic circumstances or developmental stage. Coupled with the management and infrastructure challenges, population growth and urbanization have exacerbated the water accessibility issue in Liberia, despite the country’s water resources potential. An exploratory sequential mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) study design, was employed to collect and analyze data of this study. Through purposeful sampling, participants (water service providers or experts) with a range of perspectives and experiences regarding the problems with Bushrod Island's (Liberia) water supply were selected and interviewed. To guarantee a representative sample of residents from various demographic and socioeconomic groups in Bushrod Island, random sampling was employed. A sample size of 400 was determined for the quantitative survey through the use of the Taro Yamane Formula. For the aspect of the qualitative data, 10 water service providers from several institutions in the water sector of Liberia were selected through purposeful sampling (principle of saturation). These water service providers (experts) were the focus of the in-depth interviews. To get quantitative information on the primary obstacles to water availability in Bushrod Island, a structured survey was conducted. Thematic analysis was used to find repeating patterns and themes in the qualitative data. Descriptive statistics was employed to measure the relationship between variables and find significant statistical data, based on the respondents’ (community dwellers) relations and perceptions about access to clean and reliable drinking water and its socio-economic impacts in the study area. Several aspects associated with Bushrod Island’s potable water supply challenges, which include damaged and outdated water infrastructure, electricity for water transmission and distribution, chemicals procurement, water theft/ pipes leakages, vehicles breakdown/inadequacy, fuel availability, and customers' refusal to pay water bills, were identified. The ‘high cost of water’, is one of the impacts of inadequate access to potable water that was indicated by both participants of the study’s interview and survey phases. It is recommended that the provision of adequate water sources (supply) can help mitigate the outbreak or spread of cholera disease that affected 4 households of the study (6 months before the study) and improve health and well-being in Bushrod Island.