No Indian city has a 24-hour domestic water supply, though efforts are under way to provide it in Mysore and a few other places.

ECONOMIST: It must also be clean

So far as the supply of water for domestic purposes is concerned, there is plenty to go around: domestic uses such as drinking, cooking and cleaning make relatively tiny demands on available supplies, and are generally given first call in any case.

ECONOMIST: Economics focus

Although the company has won some juicy concessions to supply water internationally, its domestic business is under attack (see box).

ECONOMIST: Suez and Lyonnaise des Eaux