Determinants of Choice of Water Sources in Aizawl City

The characteristics of the water sources have a number of influences on choice of a water source. One characteristic of the water sources in the study area is that an individual piped connections facility is unreliable. Piped water connection into a house, a large sum of money is necessary to pay at a time. Secondly, there are different types of other water sources available to people. These different water sources are exposed to different kinds and degrees of contamination. This significantly influences both the extent to which this source of water is used and the way it is used. It can therefore be said that the vulnerability of unprotected sources influence water related practices. Thirdly, limitation in number of sources and supply of water from these sources influence water - collecting practices. Different water sources deliver less water during the dry season causing congestion at the sources during this time. The limited number of hand pumps and public taps create congestion at the sources. These characteristics clearly contribute to making water collection a time demanding activity, thus affecting the choice of water sources. These are a few of the factors that potentially influence peoples? choice of water source; but it is important to bear in mind that such choice is not stable or inflexible.