Rural:urban inequalities in post 2015 targets and indicators for drinking-water

Bain, R., Wright, J.A., Christenson, E. and Bartram, J. (2014) Rural:urban inequalities in post 2015 targets and indicators for drinking-water. Science of the Total Environment, 490, 509-513. (doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.05.007).

Abstract

Disparities in access to drinking water between rural and urban areas are pronounced. Although use of improved
sources has increased more rapidly in rural areas, rising from 62% in 1990 to 81% in 2011, the proportion of the
rural population using an improved water source remains substantially lower than in urban areas. Inequalities in
coverage are compounded by disparities in other aspects of water service. Not all improved sources are safe and
evidence from a systematic review demonstrates that water is more likely to contain detectable fecal indicator
bacteria in rural areas. Piped water on premises is a service enjoyed primarily by those living in urban areas so
differentiating amongst improved sources would exacerbate rural:urban disparities yet further. We argue that an urban bias may have resulted due to apparent stagnation in urban coverage and the inequity observed between urban and peri-urban areas. The apparent stagnation at around 95% coverage in urban areas stems in part from relative population growth – over the last two decades more people gained access to improved water in urban areas. There are calls for setting higher standards in urban areas which would exacerbate the already extreme rural disadvantage. Instead of setting different targets, health, economic, and human rights perspectives, we suggest that the focus should be kept on achieving universal access to safewater (primarily in rural areas) while monitoring progress towards higher service levels, including greater water safety (both in rural and urban areas and among different economic strata).

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Contributors

Author: J.A. Wright

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