Coping with intermittent water supply: problems and prospects.

This study examines whether consumer demand is sufficient to support a full-service water supply system without the need for government intervention to subsidize low-income groups in Dehra Dun India. Data were obtained from a survey of 1100 households in Dehra Dun. Demand information pertained to consumers coping costs based on an unreliable water supply and consumers willingness to pay more for improved water service. The site was selected due to the prevalence of favorable attitudes toward reform and the intermittent nature of the water supply. This city satisfied project criteria of having a sound water system that was no older than 10 years an adequate water supply source for the next 5-10 years and the willingness of the state and local government to privately commercialize the water supplies. This report presents findings on the overall water supply conditions and constraints consumer usage and payment patterns estimated demand based on two methods the value and price of water improving the water supply and conclusions. The survey was conducted during the regular season while the costs were highest in the dry season. It is assumed despite the local patterns of costs that demand functions are the same during the wet and dry seasons. The estimates do not include possible industrial and commercial tariffs. Current supplies are likely to be overestimates. Willingness to pay exceeded the revenues currently collected by the water works department. Current coping costs meet current billings. A full service water supply is a commercially viable option. The poor currently pay higher real costs for water than people with water connections. It is recommended that a study be conducted in the dry season in a larger town among institutions and on environmental health conditions. Skills in survey methods and demand analysis need to be transferred.