Introduction:
Water scarcity is a significant global challenge that frequently manifests as inadequate water supply for domestic purposes. However, domestic water insecurity can occur even in regions where water is naturally abundant. Despite Colombia’s plentiful surface water resources, rural and peri-urban communities often experience limited access to water. Existing water supply systems are frequently susceptible to poor maintenance, particularly in remote areas where much of the infrastructure remains outdated. Consequently, water is often lost through leaks or unintentional non-domestic use. Although a regulatory framework for water usage exists, it does not consistently translate into effective implementation.

Methodology:
Based on an extensive survey of approximately 1000 households in four rural and four peri-urban communities in the Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia, we identified the factors underlying inefficient water supply and use. Perceived water use at the household level, based on self-reported time spent on various use types, such as bathing, and water supplied at the system level, was estimated.

Results and discussion:
Household size, education level, age and occupation were found to be critical factors influencing end water use and water supply. This not only elucidates why water is supplied and used inefficiently in rural systems (e.g., due to non-domestic use), but also accounts for the variability of perceived water use within peri-urban systems. The water use perceived by households in the rural systems was statistically similar across the rural systems studied and was significantly lower than that in the peri-urban systems. Most rural systems exhibited very low ratios of perceived water use to water supplied, indicating that either water is lost in conveyance or that water is used for non-domestic purposes. Peri-urban users, who perceived to use more water than users in rural areas, were associated with younger and more educated households. Higher education levels were also associated with better financial capacity and technical ability to manage water systems; therefore, peri-urban systems were better managed.

En el marco de la gestión del recurso hídrico la disminución de las fuentes hídricas es causada principalmente por la alta demanda y el uso ineficiente del agua lo que impacta negativamente su disponibilidad. Varias intervenciones se han hecho para reducir la demanda de agua, sin embargo, las acciones de las personas rara vez son consideradas en su análisis. La gestión de la demanda implica considerar tanto los sistemas hídricos como al ser humano simultáneamente. Hasta el día de hoy esta conexión entre el agua y el individuo generalmente se aborda utilizando indicadores socio-económicos a escala regional, nacional e incluso a escala global, pero aún pocas veces se integran variables sociales y a nivel local que puedan explicar comportamientos ambientales. El objetivo de este estudio es identificar los factores de contexto que influyen en el uso del agua para uso doméstico y que influyen en el suministro por los sistemas de acueductos rurales. Se seleccionaron ocho acueductos, cuatro en zona rural de Restrepo y cuatro en zona peri -urbana de Cali. Se realizaron entrevistas a los gestores del agua, encuestas enfocadas en la conservación del y uso del agua en 920 hogares y por otra parte se hicieron mediciones de caudal para estimación de suministro de agua diario y pérdidas de agua en cada uno de los acueductos. Los factores de contexto que influyen en el uso eficiente del agua y las restricciones en el uso del agua son diferentes, sin embargo el nivel de educación es una variable significativa que afecta estos dos comportamientos. Por otra parte la distancia a la ciudad principal, los factores técnicos y organizacionales influyen en el suministro de agua. Los factores de contexto, técnicos e institucionales influyen en el uso del agua a nivel hogar y a nivel del sistema de suministro de agua.