The physical capacity and time implications of water collection in a resource-constrained rural South African context

Abstract

Background Many rural households in South Africa still experience significant challenges regarding provision of potable water even though government policy and legislative framework prioritises delivery of such infrastructure to rural households. Water collection which requires both physical effort and time, is a significant occupation in rural contexts such as in the Limpopo Province. Objective This paper describes the physical capacity and time demands of water collection for rural dwellers and the implications of this occupation for occupational therapist conducting Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs). Methods A descriptive single case study research methodology was utilised, and data collected during visits to rural homesteads were analysed. Results The findings revealed that all study participants collected water daily from sources outside of their homesteads, including taps in the adjacent streets, village water tanks or nearby rivers. The physical capacity and time required for this occupation exceeds safe limits for industrial manual handling with water collection Conclusions Many rural dwellers in South Africa and globally continue to need to collect water for survival and hygiene tasks. Occupational therapists conducting FCEs should consider the cumulative impact of unpaid work including water collection in rural settings when evaluating physical capacity and making recommendations regarding compensation.