In Focus by The Hindu Indore deaths: What ails the water supply systems in India
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Jan 10, 2026 Pradip Kalbar, an Associate Professor in Environmental Science at IIT Bombay, dives into the tragic water contamination case in Indore that caused multiple fatalities. He explains the complex workings of urban water systems in India, highlighting issues like leaking sewage and intermittent supply. Kalbar emphasizes the impact of poor governance and maintenance on clean water delivery. He advocates for decentralized solutions, improved regulation, and practical strategies for achieving safe drinking water for all, particularly for vulnerable communities.
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How Urban Water Systems Are Structured
- Urban water supply mixes surface, groundwater and local borewells across neighbourhoods.
- Municipal piped networks with treatment and storage are the backbone but often run intermittently, not 24x7.
Indore Case: Sewage Seeped Into Empty Pipes
- In Indore a leaking drinking pipeline sat adjacent to a newly built toilet with no septic tank and liquid waste saturated the soil.
- Intermittent supply let sewage seep into the empty pipe and contaminated water reached residents for weeks.
Intermittent Supply Is A Governance Problem
- Intermittent supply is not always due to source scarcity; governance, revenue and operation gaps cause it.
- Lack of sustained O&M funding and municipal capacity creates a vicious cycle of poor service and low consumer trust/payment.