Technological changes in drinking water purification technologies at household level in Delhi (India): the sustainability debate

In the case of a technology, sustainability has been understood at different levels, such as the technologybeing sustainable, the processes of production and use of the technology being sustainable or the overallvision of firms being sustainable. Although it is difficult to operationalise and come to a consensus on theboundaries of sustainability in various contexts, it is a highly popular concept, especially in thedevelopment related discourses. The technological choices made by consumers and firms are bothinfluenced by the popularity of RO. This popularity may lead to path dependence or lock-in to RObecause of information contagion. Scientific papers, patent documents, interviews with firms andconsumers, as well as content analysis of firm websites were done to understand the evolution of drinkingwater purification technologies at household level and the influence of sustainability debate on it. Thedebate around sustainability does not seem to influence the technological choices in both the cases.

Keywords:

technological change , sustainability , water purification technologies , household , India