Intermittent water supply is more costly both for the ULBs and the beneficiaries in the long run. Intermittent water flow increases the risk of contamination in the system (since adequate water pressure is not maintained in the pipes allowing infiltration of contaminated ground water) and reduces the durability of the pipes due to the pressure surges experienced when the pumps come back on. The absence of full-time water supply means customers still have to make an extra effort to collect or pump water from other sources, as well as store and treat the water. The cost of this “home-made treatment” and the related public health cost is difficult to quantify, but is substantial, especially for low-income households.
Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environmental Management Project