Why is News :
- Despite major improvements in water infrastructure, 2 billion people globally still lack access to safe drinking water.
- Over 8,00,000 deaths annually are caused by unsafe water, especially in low-income countries.
What is ‘Safe Drinking Water’?
To qualify as safe, water must:
- Be free from contamination (biological, chemical, radiological)
- Be located at the household
- Be available on demand (no seasonal or unpredictable supply)
This indicator replaced the older “improved water source” measure in 2017 for global tracking.
Levels of Water Access – Understanding the Global Ladder
- ~6 billion people (≈75% of global population) have access to safe water that meets all three criteria.
- ~2 billion people lack safe drinking water, but:
- ¾ of them use improved sources like protected wells or piped supplies — yet face issues like distance, irregular supply, or contamination in transit/storage.
- Only 156 million people (1.4%) rely on unsafe open sources like rivers and lakes.
Why Improved Sources Are Not Enough
Improved sources (boreholes, protected springs) can deliver safe water, but:
- Contamination often occurs during storage or transport.
- Water may be stored for hours or days at high temperatures, allowing pathogen growth.
E.g., A bucket of safe water fetched from a distant pipe may not remain safe when consumed hours later.
Regional Variations and Progress
- 95% of global population now uses some form of improved water supply.
- Rapid progress has been made in piped water access in many low-income and lower-middle-income countries.
- But universal in-home access and water quality assurance remain major hurdles.
Human Cost of Unsafe Water
Over 8 lakh deaths annually due to diarrheal diseases, including:
- Cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A/E, polio
Unsafe water also causes:
- Malnutrition (due to frequent gut infections, nutrient loss)
- High child mortality (malnutrition + disease)
- In some countries, 5%+ of all deaths are attributable to unsafe water.
India-Specific Context (Implicit Relevance)
India has significantly increased improved water coverage, especially under schemes like:
- Jal Jeevan Mission (tap connections to all rural households)
- Swachh Bharat Mission (sanitation and water integration)
- However, issues persist:
- Rural and urban supply reliability gaps
- Contamination risks due to groundwater arsenic, industrial pollution
- Women and children still walk long distances in many states
Challenges to Universal Safe Water Access
Infrastructure Limitations:
- Shared taps, community tanks, or borewells may be far from homes.
- Many lack piped connections inside homes.
Intermittent Availability:
- Even where infrastructure exists, supply is not 24/7 or seasonally inconsistent.
Contamination at Source or Storage:
- Unsafe storage and transportation degrade quality.
Urban-Rural Disparity:
- Rural areas lag behind in both infrastructure and quality assurance.
Financing and Governance:
- Investment needed in water treatment plants, last-mile connectivity, and monitoring systems.
Global & Indian Policy Interventions
- UN SDG Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
- UNICEF–WHO Joint Monitoring Programme tracks progress on drinking water safety.
- India’s Jal Jeevan Mission aims for “Har Ghar Jal” (tap water to every rural home by 2024).
- Smart Water Management: Use of IoT, water sensors, and GIS to ensure quality and flow tracking.
Way Forward – Multi-pronged Strategy
For India and the World:
- Decentralised Water Governance: Involve panchayats, communities, and NGOs for sustainable water management.
- Water Quality Monitoring: Real-time water testing kits, digital dashboards for contamination alerts.
- Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Integrate rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, and greywater recycling.
- Urban Planning: Strengthen water boards, enforce building norms for water safety.
- Behaviour Change Campaigns: Promote safe storage, boiling/filtration, and hand hygiene.
- Global Partnerships: Collaborate under UN-Water, World Bank, and Bilateral Aid Programs for financing and tech support.
| UPSC Relevance GS2: Governance / Health Role of state in delivering basic services; Human development indicators GS3: Infrastructure / Environment Sustainable development; Water and sanitation integration Mains Question for Practice Q. “Universal access to safe drinking water is a crucial goal for public health and human dignity. Discuss the current global and Indian challenges to achieving this target. Suggest policy and infrastructural solutions.” |