Do Decentralized Community Treatment Plants Provide Clean Water? Evidence from Rural Andhra Pradesh, India
Though there is little evidence on its effectiveness, a decentralized community water system (CWS), such as a market-based kiosk, is thought to be appropriate where piped services are infeasible or unreliable. We assess changes in household behaviors, water quality, and health following the installation of a CWS in rural India, using quasi-experimental methods. Three negative findings stand out: (1) few households use the CWS; (2) water quality is lower among CWS users; and (3) childhood diarrhea is higher among CWS users. This appears to stem from reduced self-protection by users amid continuing reliance on multiple water sources. Decentralized solutions will not deliver environmental quality unless protective behaviors are maintained.
Jeuland, M., M. McClatchey, S. Patil, S. Pattanayak, C. Poulos und J. Yang (2021), Do Decentralized Community Treatment Plants Provide Clean Water? Evidence from Rural Andhra Pradesh, India. Land Economics, 97, 2, 345-371
DOI: 10.3368/le.97.2.345