Study finds cities growing more compactly can improve people’s access to clean water, sanitation

NEW DELHI: Cities growing more densely rather than expanding outward could help 220 million people gain access to piped water and 190 million to sewage systems, according to a new analysis of 100 cities across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Findings published in the journal Nature Cities show that water bills are 75 per cent higher in sprawling cities compared to compact ones, and access to piped water drops by 50 per cent in more dispersed urban areas.

Researchers from Austria’s Complexity Science Hub and the World Bank also found that residents in outer neighbourhoods have 40 per cent less access to critical infrastructure, compared to those living closer to the city centre.

Source: PTI News

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