Arbitrary Per Capita Water Standard
India uses a "per capita water supply standard" (lpcd) to define how much water a person should get daily.
This standard is used by municipal authorities to plan and invest in urban water infrastructure like dams and taps.
However, it is not based on real data or scientific evidence, but rather an arbitrary benchmark created by multiple agencies like the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organization (CPHEEO).
CPHEEO prescribes these standards, such as 150 lpcd for megacities and 135 lpcd for other cities, without providing a solid rationale based on actual water usage patterns.
Issues with Current Standards
Different cities and agencies use different standards for water supply (e.g., Mumbai uses 240 lpcd for domestic use, while rural areas get 55 lpcd under the Jal Jeevan Mission).
These standards are not backed by surveys or actual water consumption data, and they vary based on factors like geography, climate, and socio-economic status.
Cities often follow these standards for easier approval of water schemes without considering actual water needs.
Problems with Implementation and Monitoring
There is no effective monitoring to ensure that the prescribed water standards are actually met at the household level.
Many cities lack the necessary meters to measure water distribution, making it hard to track if the right amount of water reaches citizens.
Though water supply performance is evaluated using these standards, they do not reflect actual delivery to households.
National Rural Drinking Water Programme (2013) set a standard of 55 lpcd for rural drinking water, but the program did not monitor whether this standard was sufficient or met
Need for Evidence-Based Water Standards
The current per capita standards are useful for planners and engineers but are not effective for ensuring equitable and sufficient water supply to citizens.
There is a need for evidence-based standards that consider actual water requirements and ensure every citizen gets their fair share of water.
Both CPHEEO and NRDWP standards must be reassessed to better reflect the real water needs of urban and rural populations.
COMMENTS