This research surveys households in three different communes in the province. The aim of the research is to explore how domestic water is perceived by local people, how it is used, and how it should be improved. | JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, Hue University, Vol. 67, No. 4A, 2011 WATER ACCESS AND PREFERENCES OF PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS IN THUA THIEN HUE PROVINCE Hoang Ngoc Tuong Van1, Lisa Guppy2 and Robert Catherman3 1 Institute of Resources, Environment and Biotechnology, Hue University 2 3 University of Western Australia School of Earth and Environment Abstract. Domestic water scarcity is a growing problem worldwide. Thua Thien Hue Province in central Vietnam is an example of an area where water scarcity is being reduced under programs that supply centrally piped water to households. However, not all communes in Thua Thien Hue have piped water, and some areas of the province are still suffering from acute water scarcity. This research surveys households in three different communes in the province. The aim of the research is to explore how domestic water is perceived by local people, how it is used, and how it should be improved. Keywords: water access, preferences, domestic water scarcity, Thua Thien Hue province. 1 Introduction For the purposes of this research, water scarcity is defined as a lack of easily accessible, clean water for domestic use. Around 900 million people worldwide currently suffer from water scarcity (UN-Water, 2008). There is a very close relationship between water scarcity and poor human health. Globally, lack of water or poor water quality causes deaths of thousands of people each day; and inadequate water and sanitation causes an estimated five million deaths every year (UN-Water, 2008; UNEP, 2002; WHO/UNICEF, 2000; Wolf, 1999). The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP, 2010) emphasizes that water scarcity has the greatest impact on marginalized communities and those who lack political and economic power. Groups that are most affected by poor water quality include the poor in developed and developing countries, women and children. Adequate access to clean water is recognized as a key issue in developing countries and receives a
