Orientation: Social innovation (SI) played a pivotal role in addressing local government water delivery challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. As traditional potable water delivery systems faced disruptions due to lockdowns and restrictions, innovative solutions emerged, driven by social and community-oriented approaches. In response to the urgent need for safe potable water, local government and civil society organisations leveraged social innovation to develop decentralised and community-driven water delivery mechanisms. These initiatives often involved the collaboration of government, local residents, businesses and non-profit organisations to establish alternative water supply chains. Such endeavours aimed not only to meet immediate water needs but also to enhance community resilience in the face of the pandemic. SI also supported equitable and inclusive access to water, recognising the pandemic’s overwhelming impact on disadvantaged communities. Initiatives were developed to ensure that marginalised populations have equitable access to safe drinking water, addressing both immediate and long-term imbalances in water delivery systems.

Motivation for the study: Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 aims at ensuring clean water and sanitation for all. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became apparent that a vast section of the South African population still did not have equitable access to potable water. Moreover, the realisation of country targets for SDG 6 might have been delayed or hindered. The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, population increase and other linked variables have compounded the global community’s water-related problems. However, in the midst of these obstacles, there is a realisation that SI is the key to tackling and overcoming these concerns. To address complicated challenges, SI provides a dynamic and holistic strategy that combines collaboration and broad participation of various stakeholders in order to transform water delivery into a sustainable practice. In the process of building back after COVID-19, the water challenges that loom large require innovative solutions. SI, with its emphasis on community engagement, collaboration, empowerment and transformation, emerges as a powerful instrument that could not only address immediate water-related concerns but also create resilient systems that can withstand the future. The present study unveiled a wealth of complexities and opportunities to delve deeper into the sustainable delivery of water to communities. The challenges inherent in the intersection of SI and water delivery have become increasingly apparent during this study. Against this background, this study investigates the application of SI as an approach to water delivery in the COE during the COVID-19 pandemic.