Health and safety risks amongst women who access communal taps and sanitation facilities: A case study of Zandspruit Informal Settlement

Abstract

Access to safe and sufficient water and sanitation is critical for human health, dignity, and sustainable livelihoods. However, in South Africa's informal settlements, these basic services are unevenly distributed, with women bearing disproportionate tasks and risks. Women are frequently responsible for water collection, household hygiene, caregiving, and sanitation management, which exposes them to physical, social, and health risks in areas where services are inadequate or unreliable. Despite their critical role in water provision and management, women's lived experiences and needs are usually marginalised in water and sanitation governance and planning. This study investigates how the use of communal facilities and limited access to water and sanitation infrastructure increases women's vulnerability in informal settlements, particularly their health and safety risks. The study employs a qualitative research design, including semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion with female residents supported by a review of academic literature and in community observations. A thematic analysis of data was conducted, and four themes were generated from the data. The themes included, water accessibility and utilisation, inadequate access to sanitation services, safety concerns related to water and sanitation access and perceived health problems linked to water and sanitation access. The findings highlight that inadequate and poorly maintained communal water points and sanitation facilities restrict women's ability to meet basic family needs, generate an income, and safeguard their physical and emotional well-being. Long distances to water sources, insufficient water quantities, and unsafe sanitation facilities put women at risk of harassment, violence, and health risks, particularly early in the morning and late at night. The study further demonstrates that sanitation options such as pit latrines, bucket toilets, and inadequately serviced communal facilities are frequently unreliable, undignified, and unsafe, forcing women to use coping strategies that increase their vulnerability. While both men and women are impacted by insufficient service provision, entrenched gender roles and social expectations intensify women's responsibilities and risks, making their experiences more urgent and visible. The study concludes that addressing water and sanitation challenges in informal iv settlements requires gender-responsive planning and the provision of safe, permanent, and accessible household-level infrastructure. Strengthening inclusive governance and prioritising women's lived realities are critical for reducing vulnerability while fostering equity, dignity, and well-being in informal settlements.