| Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Environment, Ecology and Disaster Management, Topic: Pollution, Issue: Water Pollution |
Drinking water issue:
- Only 10% of Indian cities meet drinking water standards.
- Water quality degrades in distribution networks due to old pipes, sediment buildup, and pathogen accumulation.
- The demand for packaged drinking water (PDW) is rising as a result.
The way ahead:
- Reconsidering treating large quantities for drinking when only a fraction is used.
- Segregating water for drinking and other domestic uses
- Decentralized treatment and non-pipe delivery.
- Bengaluru and Delhi are experimenting with water ATMs to address water crises.
- More experiments and technological advancements are needed.
