Do Decentralized Community Treatment Plants Provide Clean Water? Evidence from Rural Andhra Pradesh, India

Marc Jeuland, Marcella McClatchey, Sumeet R. Patil, Subhrendu Pattanayak, Christine M. Poulos and Jui-Chen Yang

Land Economics, 2021, vol. 97, issue 2, 345-371

Abstract: 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 supply solutions will not deliver environmental quality unless household protective behaviors are maintained.

JEL-codes: Q25 Q53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
Note: DOI: 10.3368/le.97.2.345
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:uwp:landec:v:97:y:2021:i:2:p:345-371

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