Widely available clean water is a fundamental need for India’s population of over 1.2 billion people. According to UNESCO 2012, India has improved its water supply tremendously, now reaching an estimated 97% of urban areas and 90% of rural communities. Several local, state, national, international, and institutional water management programs have implemented a wide range of applications, including drinking water supply, hand-pumps, latrines, and sanitation units to address communities’ water needs.

Yet not all of these approaches have been consistently successful and several are not sustainable for the long-term. The Tata Center is analyzing water issues in India to produce technologies and policies that will improve clean water access and management.