Water is the essence of life. It gives meaning to everything else. And its superabundant on Earth. Yet, water for human consumption and use is not meeting the needs of several countries—mostly in the developing world. According to a World Bank study, over 80 countries with 40 per cent of the world’s population are facing water shortages. Over one billion people lack safe drinking water and three billion lack sanitation. In India, no city has a 24x7 water supply.So, what can be done?

Many experts believe that the water problem can be tackled through a combination of solutions, including bringing in modern technology, allowing big companies to set up water projects, turning water boards more efficient, but above all, rationalising water tariffs. Uneco-nomic supply of water, often given free, has led to a myriad of problems.

Water utilities in most developing countries, including India are chronically underfunded because of low tariffs and the non-existence of sanitation tariffs. Added to that is India’s low billing efficiency and rampant illegal tapping. In addition, wastewater treatment is a process within municipalities that receives the least attention.

The Central Pollution Control Bo-ard has estimated that wastewater treatment in areas covered by almost 70 per cent of the Indian urban population is only 27 per cent. Its 2005 report said there was an “urgent need to give thrust to policies giving equal weight to augment water supplied and develop wastewater treatment facilities.”

The problem is often poor use of technology. By not easily allowing multinationals — who have the expertise and investible resources — into the sector, the governments in most states are left to manage the growing problem with shrinking budgets. It’s not as if the global companies are not interested. It’s that the policy on allowing them in is not clear.

“If the government comes out with a clear policy framework, our company would consider taking up projects in India,” Vinod Singh, vice president and director water business strategy and technology at CH2M Hill told Financial Chronicle during the Singapore International Water Week. “There should be a renewed focus on improving the infrastructure for the availability of water,” said Daniel W McCarthy, president and CEO of Black and Veatch Water, a global engineering company said.

One of the first international companies to venture into water supply in India is Ranhill Utilities (Malaysai). In a tie-up between Ranhill and Jamshedpur Utilities and Services, a Tata group company, the joint venture Haldia Water Management Ltd, is building a water treatment plant in Haldia on a build-own transfer basis.

An official of the Haldia Development Authority, the principal overseeing agency, said that after the joint venture finishes building the Rs 100 crore plant in April 2010, it will be entrusted with its operation and maintenance for the next 25 years. The uniquely structured public-private partnership, chosen from a shortlist of 12 proposals from foreign companies, provides annual guaranteed income along with revenue sharing. The guaranteed income over the concession period is Rs 1,220 crore, a path-breaking initiative.

But not all efforts to bring in big companies have succeeded. A 2005 attempt to introduce foreign management contracts in Delhi’s jal board led to protests in the street and cancellation of the programme.

The World Bank says that government attempts to subsidise water or supply it free are frought with problems. The water utilities require subsidies to cover their costs or they neglect mainenance work which leads to poor service. The poor, who don’t have access to piped water, pay five to 16 times the metre rates to buy it from vendors. Underpricing also leads to excessive consumption and wastage. There was mounting evidence, a November 2007 World Bank newsletter said, that even the poor were willing to pay significantly higher rates for water, provided they could be guaranteed improved service.

But not all are the convinced. “Before we adopt any technology we must consider our specific needs,” says Rajendra Singh, recipient of Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2001 for Community Leadership.

“Our country is privileged and is endowed with enough water which can be made available to everyone. The issue is proper management. Rather than investing in waste water treatment our priority should be to effectively tap the rain water and reduce surface run offs,” he said. Singh has been instrumental in reviving in Rajasthan the forgotten concept of Johad – small earthen reservoirs to store and collect rain water.

Because of a lack of quality supply, several companies have moved in to bridge the gap, at least for those who can afford it. This includes those who sell water purifiers. “As long as the municipal water distribution system is not efficient, the growth of purifiers will increase,” says Mahesh Gupta, chairman of Kent RO systems. Newer technologies like reverse osmosis or ultraviolet lights in water tanks are becoming available in India. But they can cost between Rs 9,000 and Rs 12,000 for a home system, but because of need for realiable electricity, may not be feasible in many parts of the country.

Last year, researchers at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai, said carbon nanotubes being developed could substantially improve the filtration efficiency, thus helping in setting up modern, but cheaper, desalination plants.

But technology is one thing. Policy another. Unless India moves quickly to bring in investment and large scale management of water, the poor quality of water management is likely to become worse. The situation is so fluid that mere tinkering with the system will not meet the needs of a growing population.

(Vivek Sinha attended the Singapore International Water Week where he was hosted by the organisers.)

With inputs from Ritwik Mukherjee in Kolkata and Meenakshi Dwivedi in New Delhi