Does rural water resource outcry elevate communities’ conservation for livelihoods in a pooled resource? A case of Mvomero district, Morogoro region, Tanzania

Water represents an essential resource for survival. However, growing concern within communities is arising due to elevated demand and increasing apprehensions about the scarcity of rural water resources. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of water accessibility on water conservation practices, determinants of water conservation practices among rural households, and the effects of water conservation on rural households’ livelihood, focusing on food security and household income, with comparisons made across those who practice water conservation and those who do not. The study was undertaken in the Mvomero district, Morogoro region in Tanzania, using a cross-sectional research design from October 2022 to December 2022. Through a two-stage sampling technique, primary data were collected from 490 households in the Mvomero district. Structural equation modeling (SEM), multivariate probit, simple probit, and robust ordinary least square models were employed for analysis. The SEM results indicate that agricultural productivity significantly influences water conservation (p < 0.01), as does sustainable water supply (p < 0.01). Additionally, water accessibility significantly influences rural communities’ participation in water conservation practices (p < 0.01) and environmental sustainability (p < 0.01), while government regulations influence water accessibility (p < 0.01). Results on the determinants of water conservation practices have shown that water quality, education, occupation, water proximity, and location of residence across wards significantly determine their choice of water conservation practices. Furthermore, results from probit and robust ordinary least square models have shown that earth dams significantly increase food security (p < 0.05) and income (p < 0.1), while water banks and guttering influence food security (p < 0.01) and income (p < 0.01), respectively. Unlike rooftop catchment, which significantly influences income (p < 0.05) alone, guttering influences food security (p < 0.1) and income (p < 0.1). Therefore, this study signifies that water accessibility and water conservation practices used by rural households significantly influence rural household livelihood (food security and income). Moreover, the study emphasizes that water tanks were the most preferable water conservation practice in rural areas, followed by rooftop catchment systems. The study recommends that policymakers prioritize investing in water infrastructure while encouraging households to participate in rural water resource conservation, which will help make the water resource more sustainable and beneficial for societal development.