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Drinking Water in Transition: A Multilevel Cross-sectional Analysis of Sachet Water Consumption in Accra

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  • Justin Stoler
  • John R Weeks
  • Richard Appiah Otoo

Abstract

Rapid population growth in developing cities often outpaces improvements to drinking water supplies, and sub-Saharan Africa as a region has the highest percentage of urban population without piped water access, a figure that continues to grow. Accra, Ghana, implements a rationing system to distribute limited piped water resources within the city, and privately-vended sachet water–sealed single-use plastic sleeves–has filled an important gap in urban drinking water security. This study utilizes household survey data from 2,814 Ghanaian women to analyze the sociodemographic characteristics of those who resort to sachet water as their primary drinking water source. In multilevel analysis, sachet use is statistically significantly associated with lower overall self-reported health, younger age, and living in a lower-class enumeration area. Sachet use is marginally associated with more days of neighborhood water rationing, and significantly associated with the proportion of vegetated land cover. Cross-level interactions between rationing and proxies for poverty are not associated with sachet consumption after adjusting for individual-level sociodemographic, socioeconomic, health, and environmental factors. These findings are generally consistent with two other recent analyses of sachet water in Accra and may indicate a recent transition of sachet consumption from higher to lower socioeconomic classes. Overall, the allure of sachet water displays substantial heterogeneity in Accra and will be an important consideration in planning for future drinking water demand throughout West Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Justin Stoler & John R Weeks & Richard Appiah Otoo, 2013. "Drinking Water in Transition: A Multilevel Cross-sectional Analysis of Sachet Water Consumption in Accra," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(6), pages 1-11, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0067257
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067257
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Krieger, N., 1992. "Overcoming the absence of socioeconomic data in medical records: Validation and application of a census-based methodology," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 82(5), pages 703-710.
    2. Arku, Godwin & Luginaah, Isaac & Mkandawire, Paul & Baiden, Philip & Asiedu, Alex B., 2011. "Housing and health in three contrasting neighbourhoods in Accra, Ghana," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(11), pages 1864-1872, June.
    3. Carolina Dominguez Torres, 2012. "The Future of Water in African Cities : Why Waste Water? Urban Access to Water Supply and Sanitation in Sub-Saharan Africa, Background Report," World Bank Publications - Reports 12276, The World Bank Group.
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    1. Michael B Fisher & Ashley R Williams & Mohamed F Jalloh & George Saquee & Robert E S Bain & Jamie K Bartram, 2015. "Microbiological and Chemical Quality of Packaged Sachet Water and Household Stored Drinking Water in Freetown, Sierra Leone," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(7), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Ernest Acheampong & Mark Swilling & Kevin Urama, 2016. "Sustainable Urban Water System Transitions Through Management Reforms in Ghana," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 30(5), pages 1835-1849, March.
    3. Nunoo, Jacob & Koomson, Isaac & Orkoh, Emmanuel, 2015. "Household Deficiency in Demand for Water: Do Water Source and Travel Time Matter?," MPRA Paper 66007, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Ernest Nti Acheampong & Mark Swilling & Kevin Urama, 2016. "Sustainable Urban Water System Transitions Through Management Reforms in Ghana," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 30(5), pages 1835-1849, March.
    5. Yuke Wang & Christine L. Moe & Peter F. M. Teunis, 2018. "Children Are Exposed to Fecal Contamination via Multiple Interconnected Pathways: A Network Model for Exposure Assessment," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(11), pages 2478-2496, November.

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