Household water sharing: Implications for disaster recovery and water policy

Abstract

Access to safe water is vital for community health, especially during disaster and recovery periods when standard solutions may be slow or politically stalled. Water sharing, an informal and self-guided coping mechanism, becomes critical during disasters when standard water infrastructure is damaged or destroyed. Drawing on diverse literature, we highlight the prevalence and importance of household water sharing in disaster contexts, emphasizing its potential benefits and trade-offs. We explain why these systems–while often invisible–are important and relevant to disaster recovery. Our review identifies five key observations and implications for disaster intervention, emphasizing the need for tailored support for economically marginalized groups and the integration of water sharing practices as a short-term coping mechanism into disaster response and recovery agendas. We advocate for further research to evaluate the long-term impacts of water sharing and inform policy and intervention strategies while recognizing that such community-level coping mechanisms alongside formal water services may effectively address water insecurity and bolster resilience in disaster-affected communities.