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Multidimensional Measurement of Household Water Poverty in a Mumbai Slum: Looking Beyond Water Quality

Author

Listed:
  • Ramnath Subbaraman
  • Laura Nolan
  • Kiran Sawant
  • Shrutika Shitole
  • Tejal Shitole
  • Mahesh Nanarkar
  • Anita Patil-Deshmukh
  • David E Bloom

Abstract

Objective: A focus on bacterial contamination has limited many studies of water service delivery in slums, with diarrheal illness being the presumed outcome of interest. We conducted a mixed methods study in a slum of 12,000 people in Mumbai, India to measure deficiencies in a broader array of water service delivery indicators and their adverse life impacts on the slum’s residents. Methods: Six focus group discussions and 40 individual qualitative interviews were conducted using purposeful sampling. Quantitative data on water indicators—quantity, access, price, reliability, and equity—were collected via a structured survey of 521 households selected using population-based random sampling. Results: In addition to negatively affecting health, the qualitative findings reveal that water service delivery failures have a constellation of other adverse life impacts—on household economy, employment, education, quality of life, social cohesion, and people’s sense of political inclusion. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, price of water is the factor most strongly associated with use of inadequate water quantity (≤20 liters per capita per day). Water service delivery failures and their adverse impacts vary based on whether households fetch water or have informal water vendors deliver it to their homes. Conclusions: Deficiencies in water service delivery are associated with many non-health-related adverse impacts on slum households. Failure to evaluate non-health outcomes may underestimate the deprivation resulting from inadequate water service delivery. Based on these findings, we outline a multidimensional definition of household “water poverty” that encourages policymakers and researchers to look beyond evaluation of water quality and health. Use of multidimensional water metrics by governments, slum communities, and researchers may help to ensure that water supplies are designed to advance a broad array of health, economic, and social outcomes for the urban poor.

Suggested Citation

  • Ramnath Subbaraman & Laura Nolan & Kiran Sawant & Shrutika Shitole & Tejal Shitole & Mahesh Nanarkar & Anita Patil-Deshmukh & David E Bloom, 2015. "Multidimensional Measurement of Household Water Poverty in a Mumbai Slum: Looking Beyond Water Quality," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(7), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0133241
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133241
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    2. Maria-Zenovia Grigore & Răzvan Vasile, 2022. "Water Collection, Treatment and Supply as an Essential Service and Engine for Sustainable and Resilient Development in Post Pandemic Period. Economic Performance vs Social Responsibility," Global Economic Observer, "Nicolae Titulescu" University of Bucharest, Faculty of Economic Sciences;Institute for World Economy of the Romanian Academy, vol. 10(2), pages 53-66, December.
    3. Gimelli, Francesco M. & Bos, Joannette J. & Rogers, Briony C., 2018. "Fostering equity and wellbeing through water: A reinterpretation of the goal of securing access," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-9.
    4. Antonia Walther & Amira Shaheen & Hamza Zubeidat & Ghassan Shakhshir & Shakoor Hajat, 2025. "Water Insecurity in the Jordan Valley: Community Perspectives on Its Impacts on Maternal and Child Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(2), pages 1-17, January.
    5. Elizabeth A Wood & Hannah Douglas & Andrew J Fiore & Meredith K Nappy & Robinson Bernier & Kelly S Chapman, 2019. "Perceived water insecurity among adults from urban and peri-urban Haiti: A qualitative study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-13, April.
    6. Kumar, Tanu & Post, Alison E. & Ray, Isha, 2018. "Flows, leaks and blockages in informational interventions: A field experimental study of Bangalore's water sector," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 149-160.
    7. Bisung, Elijah & Elliott, Susan J., 2018. "Improvement in access to safe water, household water insecurity, and time savings: A cross-sectional retrospective study in Kenya," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 1-8.

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