From David Foster, Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad
Posted 16 February 2009
Dear members,
The quality of service in urban water supply in most Indian cities remains low, notwithstanding high subsidies and major investments in the sector. Leakage rates are high, most of the poor are not even connected to the water lines, and the rate of water borne disease is among the highest in the world. Further, despite high subsidies, when coping costs are included (household pumps, storage, and treatment, as well as lost time), the real cost to the consumer for this water is often higher than in other Asian countries that offer significantly better service.
To overcome these problems many organizations have sought to increase the water supply available through water tankers and public stand posts. Others have focussed on Point of Use (POU) in-home treatment systems or sought to develop self-sustaining water kiosk systems where residents can purchase 10 litre containers of water at a nominal price. You can read more on the debate at http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/environment/cr/res-16020901.doc).
The discussion process
The pros and cons of a 24/7 water supply were discussed at the Water Community’s Annual Forum held on 23-25 July 2008 (for more details please visit http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/environment/resource/annual_forum_2008.pdf) and it was felt that the discussion should be taken up by the community. As a follow-up this discussion will focus on the role of continuously pressurized (24/7) water supply. No longer a “pipe dream”, 24/7 water has been provided in the last few years in Navi Mumbai, Mysore, Badlapur, Hubli-Darwad and Jamshedpur.
Some of the preconceptions I would like to challenge and discuss in response to proposals for 24/7 water supply are:
- “24/7 water supply is wasteful as it requires too much water and would not be sustainable for most Indian cities”
- “24/7 water is too expensive for India. The poor can’t afford it and the rich don’t need it”
- “24/7 water supply, even if it could be achieved, would be inequitable to the poor, far better to ration water by hours of supply so that rich and poor alike have equal access”
- “24/7 water supply is a needless luxury good, no one needs water 24 hours per day”
I will like to discuss each of the issues around 24/7 water supply, given above, to determine if they are genuine obstacles, major but surmountable challenges, or only simple misunderstandings.
Issue # 1 “24/7 Water Supply Is Wasteful”
In this topic I would like us to discuss the fact that many people regard having a 24/7 water supply as wasteful, because they know that water resources in India are limited, especially drinking water. If pipes were old and leaking, then 24/7, supply would only magnify water losses. The only rational thing to do in situations with limited water resources is to ration those supplies by limiting the number of hours per day, and/or days per week, that water is available to the public.
Given this concern, I would like to seek your inputs on:
- Will a 24/7 water supply encourage people to conserve or waste water?
- Does a well-managed continuously pressurized (24/7) water supply system necessarily requires more water than the typical systems seen in most Indian cities?
- How much water, in litres per capita per day (LPCD), is normally required to operate a 24/7 system?
The results of this discussion will feed into the on-going policy debate at the Administrative Staff College of India and help us to develop a framework on continuously pressurized water supply for cities.
Please see attachment below for the responses.