Contribution short abstract

The study ventures neighbourhood level water consumption and its resilience to water scarcity in the semi-arid metropolitan city of Jaipur using household survey and in-depth interviews. It concludes that individual resistence to community resistence and community co-production shapes resilience.

Contribution long abstract

The erratic rainfall and over-exploited groundwater intensify the water security challenges in the semiarid metropolis of Jaipur. Thus, this study evaluates household water consumption and explores neighbourhood-specific adaptive strategies in urban, peri-urban, rural, and slum areas of Jaipur, situated in vulnerable aquifers under different socio-economic conditions. Using mixed methods of household surveys and in-depth interviews, it reveals spatial variations in domestic water use and resilience mechanisms.

The primary household survey estimated that per-capita consumption of water for domestic use varies between 110 lpcd in peri-urban areas to 73 lpcd in slum areas which reflects the spatial (in) that drives inequitable water access through formal supply and poor groundwater governance, particularly in slums. The negotiation strategies for securing water for households vary from individual resistance to community mobilisation. However, long-term resilience relies on extending safe, reliable and formal water services, yet current governance often fails to address spatial inequities and govern the groundwater resources.

Neighbourhood co-production emerges as a critical resilience strategy, with communities engaging in water sharing and alternative arrangements to cope with shortages. The water negotiation with the state for the neighbourhood is influenced by tenure and socio-economic status, illustrating that socio-spatial contexts shape adaptive capacities.

The study frames resilience as negotiation between households and the state, mediated by socio-spatial factors reflecting interplay of agency and deeper structural constraints. By integrating spatial justice and neighbourhood co-production, it advocates for adaptive governance that prioritises and supports community-driven resilience to ensure water security in the face of climate change.