Exploring Inequalities in Access to Improved Drinking Water Sources: An Inter-District Analysis of Odisha, India

Abstract

This study explores the extent of spatial differences in access to improved drinking water in Odisha, India, by assessing district-level variation in improved drinking water sources, rural-urban disparities, and household accessibility based on distance from the premises. While the 2011 Census of India remains the major source of data for the analysis, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019-21, is used to depict the more recent scenario. The statistical analysis is complemented by choropleth mapping and global Moran’s I to assess spatial variation and autocorrelation. The findings reveal moderate inter-district variability in access to improved sources, alongside a persistent rural disadvantage in both source quality and accessibility. Urban areas consistently exhibit better access, while a substantial proportion of rural households remain dependent on sources located outside the premises. A district-level comparison between Census 2011 and NFHS-5 (2019-21) indicates a decline in inter-district variability in access to improved drinking water sources over time, with the coefficient of variation decreasing from 19.5% to 10.3%. Global Moran’s I indicates weak positive spatial autocorrelation in Census 2011 (I=0.1598, p=0.098), while the NFHS-5 results show very weak and statistically insignificant spatial autocorrelation (I=0.0992, p=0.238). These findings indicate limited spatial clustering of similar drinking-water access conditions across districts. Overall, the findings indicate that drinking-water access in Odisha is shaped by both settlement type and local spatial context. The results underline the need for targeted, district-specific interventions to improve water infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and to expand reliable in-premises water access.