An understanding of Indian Catholicism with a new Pope

Defining Per Capita Standard

• The per capita standard, in litres per capita per day (lpcd), is used to determine a city’s domestic water demand.

• It serves as a reference point to assess adequacy, ‘water shortages’, and ‘over consumption’.

• The standard also determines future investments required for developing and maintaining water supply services.

Prescription of Per Capita Standards

• The standards are prescribed by multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Indian Standards and the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organization (CPHEEO).

• Cities like Mumbai and Delhi follow their own standards.

• The per capita water demand varies based on socio-economic status, climate, geography, and culture.

Cities Applying Multiple Per Capita Standards

• Cities often follow the per capita standards prescribed by the project financing agency.

• The per capita standard influences the overall cost of the scheme.

• Engineers and consultants follow CPHEEO standards unquestioningly to ensure a smooth approval process.

No Monitoring

• The prescribed standards are not monitored during service delivery to ensure water supply according to the design standards.

• Few cities have connections with functional meters and bulk water meters, making it difficult to trace water flows.

• The per capita standard of water supply, a useful metric for planners and engineers, remains a fictitious number for citizens when it comes to actual service delivery.