Exploring Water Storage Practices and Determinants for Sustainable Water Supply in Tropical Environments: Advancing SDG 6 Implementation

Abstract

Seasonal variability in water supply in tropical humid environments makes household water storage essential for reliable domestic access. This study examined water storage practices and determinants of storage behaviour in Iwo Township, Osun State, Nigeria. Using stratified random sampling, 756 households across 4 sections—Gidigbo, Molete, Oke-Oba I, and Oke-Oba II—were surveyed between February and November 2023, prioritising female household heads due to their central role in water management. Household sizes ranged from fewer than 5 members (32.3%) to more than 15 (12.3%), with most comprising 6 to 10 persons (34.0%). Educational levels were predominantly post-primary (57.7%) and tertiary (25.0%), while religious affiliation was split between Islam (51.9%) and Christianity (45.4%). Storage relied mainly on steel and plastic drums (44.2%), followed by buckets (29.5%) and overhead tanks (20.4%), with deep wells and boreholes serving 89.3% of households. Factor analysis identified 8 determinants of storage preferences, explaining 82.7% of the variance: age composition (17.8%), number of toilets (12.2%), water supply reliability (11.6%), religious activities (10.9%), beliefs about storage (9.0%), household assets (8.9%), storage method (6.8%), and alternative sources (5.7%). The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measure (0.827) and Bartlett’s test (P < .005) confirmed data suitability. Findings indicate that socio-demographic characteristics and household assets influence storage behaviour more than water availability alone. To enhance water security and support SDG 6, interventions should provide affordable household storage, promote safe storage practices through community awareness, incentivise improved behaviours, and integrate storage considerations into urban planning. Effective implementation requires collaboration between local governments, water agencies, and communities to ensure context-sensitive, equitable, and sustainable water management.