Appropriate technology:

As discussed earlier, supplying adequate quantity of quality water even to the weakest section of the society is the duty and social obligation of the government. This is achieved by a system of water boards, municipalities and corporations. In some states the responsibility lies with Public Health Engineering Departments. The funding requirement is met by outright budgetary allocations, soft loans, and long term loans from national and international agencies, e.g. UNESCO, World Bank, WHO, etc. The loan repayment schedule is sought to be achieved by leving water tax or consumer charges. The demand of water can be controlled under some conditions by pricing policy. It is observed that following relationship may be valid in general conditions:

QP = k P^e       or        QP α P^e

where Q_P is consumption at price P percent of consumption and e represents the measure of elasticity of demand. k is constant of proportionality.

Any increase in price P will thus tend to reduce the consumption, hence the demand. If e = 0 or P^e = 1, the demand is constant, whatever may be the price. This situation indicates that elasticity of demand is zero. Either the price of water is so low that it has no effect on consumption or the demand is so high that water must be had at whatever cost (in draught conditions). When e is - ve (Q = 1/P^(e)) the demand reduces with increase in cost.