Transforming Lives with Local Clean Water Delivery: A Revolutionary Approach From Odisha

A study by the University of Chicago's EPIC suggests that local treatment and doorstep delivery of water can significantly increase access to clean drinking water in India. This cost-effective method proved more popular than traditional alternatives, providing substantial health benefits and showing promise for overcoming a major public health challenge.

A groundbreaking study by the University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) has revealed a transformative approach to providing clean drinking water in India, emphasizing localized treatment and doorstep delivery. Conducted across 60,000 households in Odisha, this approach offers a potentially revolutionary solution to a pressing public health issue.

Despite the existence of pipe infrastructure, clean water access remains severely limited for over 2 billion individuals globally. The study highlights a critical innovation — providing tasteless, safe drinking water that is both economical and convenient, without the dependency on expensive infrastructure. Researchers found that households were willing to pay more than anticipated, with water delivery proving more popular than alternatives like chlorine tablets.

The collaborative research, with contributions from Harris School's Fiona Burlig, Amir Jina, and Warwick's Anant Sudarshan, partnered with solar-powered Spring Health Water. Their randomized trials indicate that, under the right conditions, water treatment and delivery can become key tools in resolving one of today's significant global health challenges. The study suggests government subsidies or vouchers may further propel this initiative.

(With inputs from agencies.)