TERI and Toyota Foundation. The study undertaken in 3 settlements of Delhi concluded that water supply availability and quality was extremely unreliable. Water had dissolved particles, bacteria etc. beyond desirable and sometimes extended limits as well, from high levels of leaching, old and damaged pipeline networks and faulty practices of water storage and use. Poor environmental conditions in the settlements were exacerbated by poor wastewater disposal, which posed a serious health threat to the residents. Poor people paid for poor quality water through a recursive cycle of poverty and ill health. Daily demand for potable water in the area for both cooking and drinking was estimated to be between 2 and 13 kilo liters. Between 11% and 30% residents could afford to pay for water.

CURE, in partnership with TERI and with financial support of Toyota Foundation, a private sector partner has helped set up a water kiosk in one low-income water deficient settlement of Delhi, and mobilize women to manage and operate the kiosk as a paid and commercially viable model. The objective of the project was to improve access of safe water supply to poor communities, reduce high health costs of poor quality drinking water borne by residents and create an enabling environment and willingness among people to pay for good quality water.