Water treatment facilities in South Africa are critical for ensuring safe drinking water supplies. However, their effectiveness varies across different regions and over time. A mixed-method approach combining quantitative data analysis with qualitative insights to assess the efficacy of water treatment systems in reducing health risks associated with contaminated water sources. Analysis revealed a significant reduction (p < 0. 05) in diarrheal disease incidence among households near newly installed, well-maintained water treatment facilities compared to those without such facilities, indicating effective risk mitigation strategies. The quasi-experimental design proved robust in isolating the impact of water treatment systems on health outcomes, offering a reliable method for future research and policy implementation. Further studies should explore longer-term impacts and scalability of these interventions across diverse environmental settings. Policymakers could leverage this approach to prioritise funding and resource allocation for high-risk areas. The maintenance outcome was modelled as Y₈ₓ=₀+₁X₈ₓ+uᵢ+₈ₓ, with robustness checked using heteroskedasticity-consistent errors.
Mkhize et al. (Wed,) studied this question.