Poster #90 - Navigating Fragmented Water Markets: Household Decision-Making and Socio-Technical Interventions Under Devolved Governance in Kenya

• In Event: Saturday Poster Luncheon

Abstract

Across the United States and globally, devolved governance systems increasingly shape how essential services like water are delivered, with consequences that vary by locality. Over 40% of people worldwide are affected by water scarcity, with climate change exacerbating this challenge. The UN Sustainability Goal 6 ensures universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water. Yet recent estimates suggest that only one in three people in low- and middle-income countries have access to safety managed drinking water. As states and localities across the globe assume greater responsibility for water governance, understanding how decentralization shapes household water decisions and how new technology can fill service gaps is critical for policy design.

We studied household water choices through surveys across 13 communities in Kenya over three years (2023-2025, with plans to collect more data May 2026). Surveys were completed with residents by recruiting participants at various water collection sites. Households use a variety of treated and untreated water sources ranging from rain and surface water to private vendors or public water. Our study follows Kenya’s shift from centralized water services to decentralized local county management. This decentralization of water governance created fragmented markets where water quality, cost, and availability vary considerably between neighboring areas. Across nearly 800 surveys, we examined how households navigate these different water markets, and we investigated how solar water farms (SWF – locally operated solar-powered systems that desalinate and disinfect local water) affect behavior and health outcomes by comparing locations with and without SWF access.

Our study shows that water markets differ substantially by county, with some neighborhoods having access to a range of water sources, while others rely heavily on one water source (such as expensive private vendors). Purchasing water can cost up to a third of a household’s income, with households relying on multiple water collection strategies such as buying more expensive treated water for drinking and using cheaper, untreated sources for other uses such as washing or bathing. Water prices do not always reflect reported health outcomes; while households trust high-quality water sources when they can identify them, they may not have clear information if using price signals alone. Lastly, solar water farms disrupt existing water markets. These decentralized, community-scale facilities are trusted by the community and provide treated, high-quality water at an affordable cost that improves health outcomes and reduces overall water costs for the community in which they are located.

Understanding technology adoption and the conditions under which market-based solutions succeed or fail is critical to improving water access for all. Our findings show that socio-technical interventions can produce meaningful equity outcomes under devolved governance when they provide affordable, trusted, clean, sustainable options that allow households to make informed decisions.

Author

• Deidra Miniard, University of Texas at Austin
  Presenting Author