PSYCHOSOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN URBAN WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT: A STUDY OF WATER QUALITY AWARENESS IN KANPUR, INDIA

Abstract

Kanpur faces severe water contamination due to unchecked industrial effluent discharge from tanneries, textile, and chemical factories, which has critically degraded water quality and posed significant public-health risks. This study examines the psychosocial determinants of public engagement in urban wastewater management, focusing on household awareness, behaviour, and responses to industrial pollution. Evidence from demographic surveys shows that middle-aged males with moderate education and stable occupations dominate participation, reflecting firsthand experiences with contaminated water. Spatial assessments reveal that households relying on shallow wells or hand-pumps near industrial zones face higher exposure to heavy metals and microbial pollutants compared with deeper tube-wells or treated municipal water, highlighting the role of location-specific environmental risk perception. Socioeconomic status strongly influences risk awareness, water-source choices, and adoption of purification methods, indicating that disadvantaged households bear a double burden of higher exposure and limited mitigation capacity. Observed community behaviour demonstrates that fear, stress, and limited knowledge—key psychosocial factors—shape household coping strategies, while participation in local monitoring and reporting remains low. The findings underscore gaps in urban wastewater management and the urgent need for sustainable urban water governance, integrating technical interventions with social measures, education, and community empowerment. This study highlights that effective water-quality management in Kanpur is not merely a technical issue but also a psychological and social challenge. Understanding how psychosocial determinants influence awareness and engagement can guide policymakers and stakeholders to design targeted interventions, enhance public participation, and reduce health risks in industrially polluted urban settings.