ABSTRACT
Groundwater is vital for the reliable availability of an acceptable quantity and quality of water for health, livelihoods and production. However, its significance is often underestimated due to lack of case studies and examples in academic literature, particularly those that demonstrate the impact that groundwater development has had on households, communities and economies. This knowledge gap has hampered the ability to demonstrate the positive role that groundwater development can have and the importance of developing groundwater sustainably. This chapter provides a case study as evidence to how groundwater has contributed to improving urban water security among low-income residents in Budiriro 5B, a suburb of Harare in Zimbabwe. A mixed methods approach involving literature review, interviews and participant observations were employed to gather data. The research has shown that with erratic municipal water supply, all residents depend on groundwater for socio-economic activities. Underground water obtained from wells and boreholes plays a stronger role in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) among the residents. Finally, the study has shown a dire need to improve the quality of available groundwater to prevent outbreaks of water-borne and water-related diseases.
