Measuring household water insecurity in intermittent supply systems: a context-sensitive index from urban Jordan

Abstract

Urban water insecurity is a multifaceted, multi-scalar issue disproportionately affecting regions with intermittent water supply. This study introduces a novel household-level water insecurity index calibrated using fuzzy sets, thus addressing an important methodological gap in the water (in)security metrics literature. Focusing on urban Jordan–a region with chronic water problems–the index incorporates 6 dimensions reflecting on the impact of the household’s water situation on its members and the interaction of household members with their water environment through adaptation actions. Using survey data from 125 Jordanian households, this study’s interdisciplinary design models different index composition scenarios to derive an optimal configuration. The findings identify significant drivers of water insecurity in urban Jordan while providing a replicable methodology for similar regions. By measuring water insecurity through household experiences–that is, from the ‘bottom-up’; this study informs Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) frameworks and contributes to sustainable water sector development in Jordan and beyond.