On Wednesday—the occasion of World Water Day—Union minister for rural development, drinking water and sanitation and panchayati raj, Narendra Singh Tomar, reiterated the government’s commitment to providing tap water on a sustained basis to every household by 2030. It is a laudable goal, but a difficult one. Currently, India has the highest number of people in the world without access to safe water. This has a substantial economic and social cost. For instance, the World Bank estimates that 21% of all communicable diseases in India are linked to unsafe water and the lack of hygienic practices.