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