One-third of poor households spend 15% of income on clean water: Audit

A rapid water audit across Delhi's informal settlements has revealed that more than a third of low-income households are spending as much as 15% of their monthly earnings just to secure drinking water, exposing stark inequities in the capital's supply system.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi

The survey, conducted among 500 households in 12 resettlement and slum clusters—including Savda Ghevra, Kusumpur Pahari and Sangam Vihar—found that 34% of families earning between ₹6,000 and ₹10,000 a month spend ₹500 to ₹1,500 solely on water.

For many, this comes at the cost of food, healthcare and education. Nearly 70% of respondents said rising expenses have forced them to cut back on essentials, while 14% reported reduced access to healthcare, and 8% noted an impact on their children's schooling.