Household water insecurities and willingness to pay in Karachi

Abstract

This study highlights various challenges faced by households in accessing safe and reliable water in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city. Using data collected from a stratified random sample of 990 households across Karachi's six districts in 2021–2022, our findings reveal disparities in pipeline coverage, sewage mixing, and water supply. Pipeline coverage is the highest in high-income neighborhoods (99%) and the lowest in low-income areas (71%). Low-income households experience more sewage mixing (76%) than high-income households (55.38%). Overall, 60% of households report frequent sewage mixing, and 30% have had someone in their household contract a water-borne illness in the last 6 months. Approximately half of the households are dissatisfied with water service, with a median daily water supply of just 8 min (equivalent to 56 minutes per week). We find that households that received some water supply in the past month are 11% more likely to pay their bills. Nevertheless, households demonstrate a substantial willingness to pay (WTP) for improvements in the piped water system. The median monthly WTP is PKR 500 for low-income households, PKR 1,000 for middle-income households, and PKR 1,700 for high-income households. Our analysis emphasizes the importance of income-sensitive interventions in urban water supply management in the Global South.