Ethical implications of water tankering in urban water provision: Case of eThekwini Municipality

Background: Water tankering has increasingly been adopted as a short-term water provision strategy by South African municipalities, particularly in regions experiencing infrastructure failures, governance challenges, and recurrent water shortages. While this practice offers immediate relief, it raises significant ethical concerns related to sustainability, equity, and long-term dependency. Aim: The study aimed to examine the ethical implications of water tankering as a crisis-response mechanism, with a focus on how the practice shapes social equity, governance accountability, and environmental sustainability. Setting: The study explored the lived experiences and perceptions of diverse stakeholders within the eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province. Methods: A qualitative research design was employed, drawing on semi-structured interviews. In total, 20 interviews were conducted, and the data were analysed thematically to identify key patterns from the responses. Results: Findings indicate that although water tankering plays an important role in emergency contexts, it often perpetuates inequitable access to water and reinforces existing social and spatial inequalities. Marginalised communities experience irregular and unreliable tanker services, while decision-making processes frequently exclude community voices, undermining trust and accountability. Rather than addressing underlying infrastructural and governance challenges, water tankering often entrenches dependence on temporary measures, delaying long-term solutions. Conclusion: The study concludes that while water tankering may be defensible as an emergency intervention, it is inadequate and problematic as a sustained water provision strategy. Achieving equitable and sustainable water access requires a shift from reactive, tanker-based responses towards long-term infrastructural investment, transparent governance, and participatory water management. Contribution: This study advances the discourse on ethical water governance by highlighting the moral, environmental, and socio-political implications of tanker-based water provision.