What is water equity? The unfortunate consequences of a global focus on ‘drinking water’

Abstract

In recent years, ‘equity’ has become a goal of water governance. Yet, the indices and policy guidelines for household water, published by the WHO and UNICEF and adopted globally, focus on either ‘drinking water’ or a limited interpretation of the ‘human right to water’. We examine ideas of equity in household water and argue that the dominant focus on improving the potability of water has muted attention to the wider consideration of domestic water and its impact on livelihoods and poverty. A focus on the many capabilities enabled by domestic water illuminates some of these issues.

Keywords:

• water equity
• capabilities
• domestic water
• improved water sources

Notes

1. A JMP task force began to discuss some of these questions in 2011, and post-2015 goals have emerged from large-scale consultation (WHO, 2013). We discuss this below.