Abstract
This study is a survey of the use of water supply by the Provincial Waterworks Authority among resident villagers in Ronphibun subdistrict. During March-September 2003, 501 households were surveyed. The computerized data of piped water use from the Nakhon Si Thammarat Piped Water Office were extracted for the year 1999-2002 and were linked together with a survey data. The objective of this study is to evaluate the amount of piped water use per capita and per household, to evaluate the adequacy of piped water supply and to identify the factor associate with piped water use. The results revealed that piped water was used for drinking in only 5% of households and cooking in 32%. Piped water was mostly used for other consumption purposes (>90%). The total amount of water use was 89, 134 and 147 liters/person/day, respectively. The amount of piped water use depended on year of use, urbanization, household’s characteristics, owner status, satisfaction of the price and storing rainwater for using. The study showed that piped water use was highest in the year 1999 and village 13. The amount of piped water use was higher in single houses, owned houses or government accommodations, households with more than 3 persons, dissatisfaction with piped water price and storing rainwater for using. In conclusion, the trend of piped water use among villages 2, 12 and 13 was and not high. Piped water from the Provincial Waterworks Authority was adequate. Urbanization, type of household, number of members in household, price of piped water satisfaction and use of stored rainwater influences the amount of piped water use.
