Perceptions on greywater reuse for home gardening activities in two rural villages of Fetakgomo Local Municipality, South Africa

• Published in: Physics and chemistry of the earth. Parts A/B/C 2019-08, Vol.112, p.21-27
• Main Authors: Radingoana, Makgalake P., Dube, Timothy, Mollel, Margaret H.N., Letsoalo, Josephine M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Food security; Fruit trees; Greywater; Home gardening; Livelihoods; Rural communities; Vegetables; Water scarcity
• ISSN: 1474-7065; 1873-5193
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pce.2019.02.009

Greywater reuse has been adopted worldwide as an alternative source to freshwater and has been found to contribute to the household food supply. In this study, we assess the greywater reuse for home gardening in two rural communities (Ga-Seroka and Ga-Nkwana) in Limpopo Province, South Africa, using a mixed methods approach (Qualitative and Quantitative). A total of 95 and 87 households were randomly selected in Ga-Seroka and Ga-Nkwana villages, respectively. Field surveys from the selected households were gathered using structured questionnaires and then analysed using statistical package software. The study showed that 66% of the respondents from Ga-Nkwana village reused their greywater for home gardening when compared to 59% from Ga-Seroka. Thirty-nine percent (39%) of Ga-Nkwana and 40% of Ga-Seroka respondents used this greywater for irrigating fruit trees, whereas 24% and 22% in Ga-Nkwana and Ga-Seroka villages, respectively, used it for irrigating vegetables that are not eaten raw. Many respondents (73% and 85%) in Ga-Nkwana and Ga-Seroka villages mentioned that, they were not aware of problems associated with greywater reuse, hence, they continue using it for home gardening. We, therefore, concluded that although greywater reuse for home garden irrigation is practised in the two communities, its utilization is still with caution. •Climate change contributes towards the reduction of water resources.•Onsite greywater reuse can be used as a water conservation method.•People's perceptions towards greywater play a major role in its reuse.•Greywater reuse for home gardens irrigation has potential to improve household food security.