Self-supply as a safely managed water service: comparative analysis and predictors of water service outcomes in rural Nepal

Foster, T; Lala, S; Budhathoki, R; Kohlitz, J

Self-supply as a safely managed water service: comparative analysis and predictors of water service outcomes in rural Nepal

Foster, T

Lala, S Budhathoki, R Kohlitz, J

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Publisher:: IOP Publishing Ltd
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability, 2025, 5, (1)
Issue Date:: 2025-03-31

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Foster, T https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1738-3450
dc.contributor.author	Lala, S
dc.contributor.author	Budhathoki, R
dc.contributor.author	Kohlitz, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4265-1632
dc.date.accessioned	2025-05-29T01:21:09Z
dc.date.available	2025-05-29T01:21:09Z
dc.date.issued	2025-03-31
dc.identifier.citation	Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability, 2025, 5, (1)
dc.identifier.issn	2634-4505
dc.identifier.issn	2634-4505
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/187550
dc.description.abstract	Self-supply is ubiquitous in rural areas of South Asia, including in Nepal, where more than a third of the country’s population obtains their drinking water from private tubewells. However, there has been little research into the service levels delivered by self-supply or its performance relative to public water services. Drawing on data from 1289 tubewells in Sarlahi District in the Terai region of Nepal, this study compared the performance of private and community tubewells in terms of water quality and availability and identified factors that predict service levels. Compared with community tubewells, private tubewells had significantly higher odds of providing water that was free from contamination and available in sufficient quantities when needed (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.19-3.77, p = 0.011). However, inequities were evident among private tubewell users, with marginalized or lower-caste groups having significantly lower odds of accessing a safely managed water service (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.54-0.85, p < 0.001). Among private tubewell users, shallower wells and open defecation were significantly associated with the presence of E. coli. The results show that self-supply is capable of providing a safely managed water service and can contribute to efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6. However, targeted support should be directed towards disadvantaged households to safeguard water quality and strengthen service reliability. In particular, programmes that support the installation of deeper tubewells, prevent open defecation and promote household water treatment may bring water quality benefits in areas where self-supply is practised.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	IOP Publishing Ltd
dc.relation.ispartof	Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1088/2634-4505/ad9d77
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Self-supply as a safely managed water service: comparative analysis and predictors of water service outcomes in rural Nepal
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	5
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF)
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-05-29T01:21:07Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	5
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

Self-supply is ubiquitous in rural areas of South Asia, including in Nepal, where more than a third of the country’s population obtains their drinking water from private tubewells. However, there has been little research into the service levels delivered by self-supply or its performance relative to public water services. Drawing on data from 1289 tubewells in Sarlahi District in the Terai region of Nepal, this study compared the performance of private and community tubewells in terms of water quality and availability and identified factors that predict service levels. Compared with community tubewells, private tubewells had significantly higher odds of providing water that was free from contamination and available in sufficient quantities when needed (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.19-3.77, p = 0.011). However, inequities were evident among private tubewell users, with marginalized or lower-caste groups having significantly lower odds of accessing a safely managed water service (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.54-0.85, p < 0.001). Among private tubewell users, shallower wells and open defecation were significantly associated with the presence of E. coli. The results show that self-supply is capable of providing a safely managed water service and can contribute to efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6. However, targeted support should be directed towards disadvantaged households to safeguard water quality and strengthen service reliability. In particular, programmes that support the installation of deeper tubewells, prevent open defecation and promote household water treatment may bring water quality benefits in areas where self-supply is practised.

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