A study on accessibility of portable drinking water and its Quality in the State of Karnataka

Ensuring universal access to safe drinking water is an urgent public health priority and human right across India, including the state of Karnataka. This proposed mixed-methods study aims to conduct an in-depth assessment of the accessibility, availability, and quality of drinking water resources across urban and rural communities in Karnataka. The research will utilize an immersive ethnographic approach to illuminate ground realities, investigating community perspectives and relationships with increasingly precarious water sources through interviews, focus groups and observations. Quantitative analysis of government data on water infrastructure and contamination risks will concurrently create evidence-based insights into gaps and deficiencies. Initial findings already indicate issues like dependence on hard groundwater alongside water scarcity and pollution concerns. By consolidating community experiences with granular diagnostic metrics, the study can inform targeted, inclusive, and culturally-conscious policies to enhance water security. Potential solutions encompass infrastructure upgrades, conservation initiatives, decentralized systems, and pollution mitigation - guided by localized, disaggregated data reconciling sustainability with social equity. This timely investigation thus aims to uplift marginalized voices while generating actionable evidence across the rural-urban continuum to empower administrations and secure universal access to reliable, affordable drinking water as a fundamental necessity for public welfare.