Access to Clean Water Is a Basic Human Right - IELTS Task 2 Band 9 Model Essay

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Model Essay 1

Access to safe drinking water is widely recognised as fundamental to human dignity and survival. Consequently, some argue that governments should supply water to every household entirely free of charge. I disagree with this view. While a minimum level of water access should indeed be guaranteed as a right, making all domestic water free is economically unsustainable and environmentally counterproductive. This essay will argue that pricing mechanisms are necessary for infrastructure maintenance and responsible consumption.

The first reason I oppose completely free water provision is that water systems require enormous and continuous financial investment. Treating, storing, and distributing clean water involves costly infrastructure, skilled labour, and energy-intensive processes. If households paid nothing, governments—particularly in developing countries—would struggle to maintain pipes, prevent contamination, or expand coverage to underserved areas. For example, in cities where utilities are underfunded, leakage and water loss often exceed 30%, depriving poorer communities of reliable supply. Charging users, even modestly, creates a stable revenue stream that can be reinvested in maintenance and quality control. Therefore, far from violating human rights, reasonable water fees can actually safeguard long-term access by ensuring that systems remain functional, safe, and resilient.

A second, equally important argument is that free water risks encouraging wasteful and irresponsible consumption. When a resource is perceived as unlimited and costless, people are less likely to use it efficiently. This is particularly dangerous in an era of climate change, groundwater depletion, and increasing urban demand. For instance, countries that heavily subsidise water often report excessive household use for non-essential purposes such as over-irrigation or car washing, even during droughts. By contrast, tiered pricing systems—where basic needs are affordable or free, but excessive use is charged—promote conservation without denying access. Such models balance social justice with environmental stewardship, ensuring that water is treated as a precious, finite resource rather than an inexhaustible entitlement.

In conclusion, although access to clean water is undeniably a basic human right, providing unlimited domestic water entirely free of charge is neither practical nor desirable. Sustainable funding and responsible usage are essential to protect water systems and the environment. A balanced approach, combining guaranteed basic access with fair pricing, best fulfils both human and ecological needs.

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Model Essay 2

Access to potable water is increasingly recognised not merely as a utility but as an essential condition for life itself. From this perspective, the claim that every household should receive a free water supply is both logical and morally compelling. I fully agree with this view. Water should be provided at no cost because it is indispensable to human health and dignity, and because universal free access ultimately strengthens public welfare and economic productivity. These arguments will be developed below.

The foremost reason for fully endorsing free household water is that clean water is inseparable from basic human survival and public health. Without reliable access, people are exposed to disease, malnutrition, and chronic vulnerability, regardless of their willingness to pay. Charging for water effectively turns a biological necessity into a market commodity, disproportionately harming low-income families. For instance, in communities where water fees consume a significant share of household income, residents often ration usage, compromising hygiene and increasing the spread of preventable illnesses. By guaranteeing free water at the household level, governments can dramatically reduce healthcare costs, improve sanitation, and ensure that no individual’s health is contingent on their financial capacity. In this sense, free water is not charity but a preventative investment in human capital.

Equally important is the fact that free water provision can generate long-term social and economic benefits that outweigh its immediate costs. When households are freed from the burden of paying for basic water needs, disposable income can be redirected toward nutrition, education, and small-scale enterprise. Moreover, universal access supports gender equality, as women and children in many societies are relieved from the time-consuming task of fetching water from distant sources. Countries that treat water as a public good—funded through progressive taxation rather than user fees—often experience higher productivity and social stability. Thus, free water is not fiscally reckless; rather, it reflects a strategic choice to prioritise collective well-being over short-term revenue.

In conclusion, providing free household water is a justified and necessary policy. It protects public health, upholds human dignity, and produces broad social and economic gains. Treating water as a universal right rather than a paid service ultimately creates healthier, more equitable, and more resilient societies.

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