Climate change fuelling water poverty in India: Study

New research links rising temperatures to worsening household water access across the country

Across India, a quiet crisis is unfolding. As temperatures climb year after year, many households are finding it harder to access clean, reliable water. A new study published in Nature Climate Change showed that extreme heat — intensified by climate change — is worsening what they call “water poverty”, which is a lack of access to enough safe, affordable water for daily life.

Using household data from the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) and over 30 years of climate records from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the study found a link between hotter days and rising water woes. In particular, days where temperatures rise above 33°C have the most damaging effect.

Heatwaves and water stress go hand in hand

India has been warming steadily since the 1970s, with average annual temperatures rising by about 0.012°C each year. More heat means faster evaporation, lower spring flows, drier soils, and more pressure on already stretched water systems.

For instance, in the eastern Himalayan state of Sikkim, rising temperatures have caused a noticeable drop in spring water discharge during the dry season. This has left communities with fewer natural water sources, especially during off-monsoon months.

The researchers developed a Water Poverty Index that looks at multiple aspects of water access — including how far people have to travel for water, the quality of their supply, and whether it’s enough for daily needs. They found that with each additional hot day — especially those above 33°C — water poverty scores rise. The effect may seem small per day, but over weeks and across millions of households, it adds up.

A patchy map of vulnerability

The impact isn’t uniform across the country. The study mapped temperature shocks and water poverty across 379 districts in India and found major differences. Between 2004 and 2011, parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and regions in Eastern and Northeastern India shifted from relatively low to high exposure to temperature shocks. These same areas saw growing water poverty.

Meanwhile, Northern and Central India continued to suffer from high levels of temperature stress and water deprivation. Districts in these zones showed limited improvement in water access, reinforcing the link between heat and household vulnerability, according to the study.

Interestingly, places that have historically seen greater variation in climate — meaning more ups and downs in temperature over the years — were more resilient, the study stated. The researchers suggested that people in such areas may have developed better ways to cope with unpredictable weather, like using rainwater harvesting, check dams, or multiple water sources.

What this means for policy

The study pointed to some clear steps. Investment in local, climate-resilient infrastructure — especially in rural areas — is critical. This includes simple but effective solutions like rainwater harvesting systems and community-managed water storage tanks. These are already being used successfully in countries like Australia and Kenya.

At the same time, policymakers should pay special attention to areas that have historically had stable climates — like parts of eastern India — because these areas may not be as well adapted to sudden shifts in temperature and water availability, the report stated.

Programmes that support low-income families — with cash assistance or microloans for water-saving devices — can also make a difference. The study pointed to successful examples like Water.org’s partnership with AWS, which helped over 2 lakh people in three Indian states gain access to water infrastructure through small loans.

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