India has the most people in the world without clean water, report shows

India has the world’s highest number of people without access to clean water — imposing a major financial burden for some of the country’s poorest people, according to a report released Tuesday. The international charity Water Aid says 75.8 million Indians — or 5%t of the country’s 1.25 billion population — are forced to either buy water at high rates or use supplies that are contaminated with sewage or chemicals. That accounts for more than a tenth of the 650 million people worldwide without clean water access — more than any single country in Africa or China, where 63 million have no access.

…a world where one in 10 people are trapped in a cycle of poverty and disease for want of a safe, affordable water supply of their own.

Water Aid

Poor Indians without water access are forced to spend an average of about 72 cents to buy 50 litres (13 gallons) of water a day, the amount recommended by the World Health Organization, according to the report. That’s nearly 20% of their typical daily income, according to the report. By comparison, people in Britain spend about 10 cents a day for 50 litres. Within 15 years, the country is expected to have only half the water it needs to meet competing demands from cities, agriculture and industry. Experts worry the water crisis could exacerbate community conflicts or regional tensions, and have urged authorities to impose strict regulations on water pumping and water use.

The government really has to pay attention. Water is the one thing that can tear this country apart.

Court advocate Satya Tripathi

Water Aid