Drinking water quality perspectives in rural India through the integration of Participatory Rural Appraisal, Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Actor-Response-Framework, and Water Quality Index

Abstract

Access to safe drinking water remains a critical challenge in many rural regions of India despite the proliferation of national water supply schemes. This study presents an integrated assessment of rural drinking water quality using a mixed-methods approach in three villages across Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) was employed to identify community-perceived challenges and stakeholder roles. Water samples were analysed using standard physicochemical parameters and the Water Quality Index (WQI), and findings were interpreted through an extended Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Actor-Response (DPSIAR) framework. Results revealed significant disparities in water quality across sites. Ebra village in Rajasthan showed elevated levels of chloride (800 ppm), calcium hardness (655 ppm), nitrate (50 ppm), and total dissolved solids (TDS: 889 ppm), all exceeding WHO and national standards. PRA findings confirmed community concerns over water-related health issues and a lack of institutional monitoring. The DPSIAR analysis highlighted geogenic contamination, agricultural runoff, groundwater overexploitation, and fragmented governance as key drivers of degradation. The study recommends the deployment of decentralised filtration units such as Jivamritam and proposes an Integrated Rural Water Supply and Management Policy (IRWSMP) emphasising community ownership, groundwater conservation, and multi-level coordination. The integrated methodology offers a replicable model for rural water assessment and governance, aligning with India’s SDG 6 targets.