Inequality of household water security follows a Development Kuznets Curve
Feng Mao, Joshua D. Miller, Sera L. Young, Stefan Krause, David M. Hannah, Alexandra Brewis, Alex Trowell, Amber L. Pearson, Amber Wutich, Andrea Sullivan, Asher Y. Rosinger, Ashley Hagaman, Cassandra L. Workman, Chad Staddon, Désiré Tshala-Katumbay, Divya Krishnakumar, Ellis Adjei Adams, Ernesto C. Sánchez-Rodríguez, Genny Carrillo, Gershim Asiki, Hala Ghattas, Hassan Eini‐Zinab, Hugo Melgar‐Quiñonez, Farooq Ahmed, Javier Morán‐Martínez, Jonathan Maupin, Jorge Escobar-Vargas, Justin Stoler, Jyoti S. Mathad, Kelly Chapman, Kenneth Maes, Luisa Samayoa-Figueroa, Mahdieh Sheikhi, Mallika Alexander, Marianne V. Santoso, Matthew C. Freeman, Michael J. Boivin, Milton Marin Morales, Mobolanle Balogun, Monet Ghorbani, Nasrin Omidvar, Nathaly Triviño, Nicola L. Hawley, Patrick Mbullo Owuor, Raymond Asare Tutu, Roseanne C. Schuster, Sabrina Rasheed, Shalean M. Collins, Sonali Srivastava, Stroma Cole, Wendy Jepson, Yihenew Tesfaye, Zeina Jamaluddine
Abstract
Water security requires not only sufficient availability of and access to safe and acceptable quality for domestic uses, but also fair distribution within and across populations. However, a key research gap remains in understanding water security inequality and its dynamics, which in turn creates an impediment to tracking progress towards sustainable development. Therefore, we analyse the inequality of water security using data from 7603 households across 28 sites in 22 low- and middle-income countries, measured using the Household Water Insecurity Experiences Scale. Here we show an inverted-U shaped relationship between site water security and inequality of household water security. This Kuznets-like curve suggests a process that as water security grows, the inequality of water security first increases then decreases. This research extends the Kuznets curve applications and introduces the Development Kuznets Curve concept. Its practical implications support building water security and achieving more fair, inclusive, and sustainable development.