Suchandra Chatterjee

Abstract Access to safe drinking water remains a critical public health challenge in many parts of rural India. People’s perceptions of water quality, often based on sensory cues, may not align with laboratory evidence, leading to gaps in protective behaviour. This study examines the divergence between perceived and measured water quality in a southern district of West Bengal. A mixed-method study was conducted in four villages of North 24 Parganas.