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Household Satisfaction and Drinking Water Quality in Rural Areas: A Comparison with Official Access Data

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Listed:
  • Zhanerke Bolatova

    (Department of Science, Kazakh National University of Water Management and Irrigation, Taraz 080000, Kazakhstan
    School of Public Health, Karaganda Medical University, Karaganda 100008, Kazakhstan)

  • Riza Sharapatova

    (Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Astana Medical University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan)

  • Kaltay Kanagat

    (Department of Science, Kazakh National University of Water Management and Irrigation, Taraz 080000, Kazakhstan)

  • Yerlan Kabiyev

    (Faculty of Civil and Agricultural Sciences, Atyrau University Named After Kh. Dosmukhamedov, Atyrau 060000, Kazakhstan)

  • Ronny Berndtsson

    (Division of Water Resources Engineering, Lund University, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden)

  • Kamshat Tussupova

    (Department of Science, Kazakh National University of Water Management and Irrigation, Taraz 080000, Kazakhstan)

Abstract

Background: Access to safe and reliable water and sanitation remains a critical public health and development challenge, with rural and low-income communities being disproportionately affected by inadequate services and heightened exposure to waterborne diseases. Despite global efforts and infrastructure-based progress indicators, significant disparities persist, and these often overlook users’ perceptions of water quality, reliability, and safety. This study explores the determinants of household satisfaction with drinking water in rural areas, comparing subjective user feedback with official access data to reveal gaps in current monitoring approaches and support more equitable, user-centered water governance. Methods: This study was conducted in Kazakhstan’s Atyrau Region, where 1361 residents from 86 rural villages participated in a structured survey assessing household access to drinking water and perceptions of its quality. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression to identify key predictors of user satisfaction, with results compared against official records to evaluate discrepancies between reported experiences and administrative data. Results: The field survey results revealed substantial discrepancies between official statistics and residents’ reports, with only 58.1% of respondents having in-house tap water access despite claims of universal coverage. Multinomial logistic regression analysis identified key predictors of user satisfaction, showing that uninterrupted supply and the absence of complaints about turbidity, odor, or taste significantly increased the likelihood of higher satisfaction levels with drinking water quality. Conclusions: This study underscores the critical need to align official water access statistics with household-level experiences, revealing that user satisfaction—strongly influenced by supply reliability and sensory water quality—is essential for achieving equitable and effective rural water governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhanerke Bolatova & Riza Sharapatova & Kaltay Kanagat & Yerlan Kabiyev & Ronny Berndtsson & Kamshat Tussupova, 2025. "Household Satisfaction and Drinking Water Quality in Rural Areas: A Comparison with Official Access Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-12, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:7107-:d:1718279
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alua Omarova & Kamshat Tussupova & Peder Hjorth & Marat Kalishev & Raushan Dosmagambetova, 2019. "Water Supply Challenges in Rural Areas: A Case Study from Central Kazakhstan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Yerbolat Sailaukhanuly & Seitkhan Azat & Makhabbat Kunarbekova & Adylkhan Tovassarov & Kainaubek Toshtay & Zhandos Tauanov & Lars Carlsen & Ronny Berndtsson, 2023. "Health Risk Assessment of Nitrate in Drinking Water with Potential Source Identification: A Case Study in Almaty, Kazakhstan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Kamshat Tussupova & Peder Hjorth & Ronny Berndtsson, 2016. "Access to Drinking Water and Sanitation in Rural Kazakhstan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-13, November.
    4. Jie Li & Ruijing Qiao & Lexuan Liu & Kai Wu & Pengbo Du & Kun Ye & Wei Deng, 2024. "Village Settlements’ Perspective on Rural Water Accessibility: A Mountainous Water Security Measurement Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-16, May.
    5. Valero, Diana & Cook, Jess & Lee, Angus & Browne, Alison L. & Ellis, Rowan & Pancholi, Vidya Sagar & Hoolohan, Claire, 2023. "Addressing water poverty under climate crisis: implications for social policy," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 120704, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    6. Nguyen Tuan Anh & Nguyen Huu Dung & Dao Thi Thu, 2022. "Privatization in Rural Water Supply and Customer Satisfaction: An Empirical Case Study in Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-15, May.
    7. Jessica C. Wedgworth & Joe Brown & Pauline Johnson & Julie B. Olson & Mark Elliott & Rick Forehand & Christine E. Stauber, 2014. "Associations between Perceptions of Drinking Water Service Delivery and Measured Drinking Water Quality in Rural Alabama," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-17, July.
    8. Berik Toleubekov & Zhanerke Bolatova & Martin Stafström, 2022. "Assessing Access to WASH in Urban Schools during COVID-19 in Kazakhstan: Case Study of Central Kazakhstan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-12, May.
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