Water is the foundation of life and a prerequisite for sustainable development. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) commits to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030. Among its many dimensions, the idea of a continuous, safe, and universal 24×7 water supply is particularly ambitious.

Globally, 2.2 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water services (UNICEF/WHO, 2022). In India alone, while 88% of the population now has access to basic drinking water, only about 60% of rural households have access to piped water (Jal Jeevan Mission, 2023).

This article examines whether the aspiration of 24×7 water supply for everyone is realistic, considering technical, economic, environmental, and governance factors. Drawing on international and Indian case studies, it argues that while universal 24/7 supply is possible in theory, achieving it in practice will require major systemic reforms, technological upgrades, and behavioural changes.

The 24×7 Water Supply Model: What It Means

Traditionally, many developing countries, including India, have relied on intermittent water supply (IWS) systems, where water is delivered for a few hours per day or even just a few days per week. This approach reflects both resource scarcity and infrastructure constraints. However, intermittent systems come with serious disadvantages:

• Contamination risk due to negative pressure in pipes allowing sewage intrusion.
• Inequity in access as households with storage tanks capture more water at the expense of others.
• Water wastage through overflow and leakage.

A 24×7 (continuous) supply system avoids these inefficiencies by maintaining constant pressure, reducing leakage, and ensuring round-the-clock access. Pilot projects in cities like Nagpur (India), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), and Manila (Philippines) have shown that continuous supply improves both water quality and equity of distribution.

Global Case Studies: Lessons from Successes and Failures

1. Phnom Penh, Cambodia

In the early 1990s, Phnom Penh suffered from 72% non-revenue water (NRW) losses and irregular supply. By 2010, reforms by the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority reduced NRW to 6% and achieved near-universal 24×7 supply. Critical steps included:

• Full metering of connections.
• Professionalized billing and collection.
• Investment in leak detection and repair.

2. Manila, Philippines

Privatization in the late 1990s transformed Manila’s water supply. One of the concessionaires, Manila Water, managed to expand 24×7 supply to 99% of its East Zone service area, serving over 7 million people. Strong regulatory oversight and public-private partnerships were central.

3. Indian Pilots

• Nagpur became India’s first city to implement a full 24×7 pilot project in select zones, reducing NRW from 55% to 25%. Residents reported higher satisfaction and health benefits, but scaling citywide faced challenges of cost and resistance from vested interests.
• In Karnataka (Hubli-Dharwad, Belgaum, Gulbarga), World Bank-supported projects achieved improved continuity in selected demonstration zones. Evaluations showed residents willing to pay 30–40% higher tariffs for reliable supply.

Comparative Analysis of Global Experiences

The following table compares performance indicators across different water supply systems:

Key Insights from the Table

1. Hours of Supply: Only Singapore and Phnom Penh have achieved universal 24×7 coverage. India, by contrast, still averages 4–6 hours/day.
2. Efficiency (NRW): Efficient systems like Phnom Penh (6%) contrast sharply with Indian urban systems (40% losses).
3. Tariffs: Indian tariffs are among the lowest globally, leading to poor cost recovery and underinvestment.
4. Coverage: While India has improved coverage (75% urban piped households), quality and continuity lag far behind.

The evidence demonstrates that countries which combined governance reform, cost-reflective tariffs, and infrastructure modernization were able to transition successfully to continuous supply.

The Challenges of Achieving Universal 24×7 Supply

1. Resource Constraints

• Global freshwater availability is limited: only 0.5% of Earth’s water is usable for human consumption.
• In India, per capita water availability has declined from 5,200 cubic meters in 1951 to 1,486 cubic meters in 2021 (Central Water Commission).
• Climate change intensifies droughts and floods, making reliable year-round supply more difficult.

2. Infrastructure Gaps

• India loses ~40% of its treated water through leakage and theft (Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, 2022).
• Many cities lack district metered areas (DMAs) or smart systems for monitoring usage.
• Rural piped supply, though expanding rapidly under Jal Jeevan Mission, still struggles with last-mile coverage.

3. Financial Viability

• Continuous supply requires capital-intensive upgrades: replacing old pipes, installing meters, and reducing NRW.
• Tariffs in most Indian cities are far below cost recovery. For instance, average urban water charges in India are ₹5–10 per kiloliter, compared to ₹40–50 in developed countries.
• Without tariff reform, utilities cannot finance continuous supply.

4. Governance and Equity

• Political resistance to tariff hikes undermines reform.
• Informal settlements often lack legal connections, creating inequitable access.
• Women and children, who often bear the burden of fetching water, remain the most disadvantaged in intermittent systems.

Analytical Perspective: Is 24×7 Feasible for All?

From a purely technical standpoint, 24×7 supply is possible — as demonstrated in Phnom Penh, Singapore, and parts of Manila. However, scaling globally faces three trade-offs:

1. Quantity vs. Quality – Many developing countries struggle to ensure any water, let alone continuous safe water. A stepwise approach (8-hour → 16-hour → 24-hour supply) may be more realistic.
2. Equity vs. Efficiency – Urban elites already enjoy near 24×7 supply through storage tanks and private borewells, while the poor face scarcity. Reforms must prioritize equitable distribution.
3. Cost vs. Sustainability – Universal continuous supply demands higher tariffs. Evidence shows households are willing to pay if service is reliable, but governments must design pro-poor subsidies.

Conclusion

So, can everyone get 24×7 water supply? The analytical answer is yes, but with qualifications. Universal continuous supply is technically feasible, but achieving it requires bold reforms in governance, financing, and infrastructure, along with community participation.

The pathway lies not in promising immediate 24×7 water everywhere, but in incremental improvements coupled with systemic reforms. As India and other developing countries progress on SDG 6, the focus should be on building sustainable, equitable, and financially viable systems.

Ultimately, the question is not just about engineering solutions but about political will and social equity. A world where everyone enjoys safe, reliable 24×7 water supply is possible — but only if we treat water not as an unlimited commodity, but as a shared and carefully managed resource central to sustainable development.