How High Thresholds for Water Quality Can Hide Poor Service
The limitations of traditional water quality testing methods, which often focus on measuring the presence of specific contaminants rather than assessing overall water quality and service delivery.
Water quality standards are important, but they can be misleading if they are not accompanied by measures of service quality. In many cases, water utilities may meet water quality standards but still provide poor service in terms of reliability, accessibility, and affordability.
Service quality can be measured using a variety of indicators, including water pressure, frequency of service interruptions, and customer satisfaction. By measuring service quality in addition to water quality, utilities can identify areas for improvement and ensure that they are meeting the needs of their customers.
Improving service quality requires a holistic approach that involves not only technical improvements but also changes in management, governance, and financing. This may include investing in infrastructure, improving customer service, and strengthening regulatory frameworks.
