From Buckets to Better Meals: Piped Water Access and Household Food Consumption in Pakistan

This paper investigates the relationship between piped water access and food consumption in Pakistan utilizing the nationally representative Household Integrated Economic Survey. Access to piped water reduces exposure to waterborne illness, improving health and labor productivity, which can raise household income and food purchasing power. When households have access to piped water they spend less time collecting water from distant sources, freeing up time for other activities, including food production and preparation. The analysis employs a control function approach to address potential endogeneity, with piped water access as the treatment and weekly per adult equivalent food expenditure as the outcome. Results show that, on average, households with piped water spend PRs21 or 3.54% more per adult equivalent on food consumption per week. This finding suggests that improved water infrastructure enhances household food security through increased economic access, improved health, and the reallocation of women’s time from water collection toward more productive uses.