India, June 22 -- Even as the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has imposed stringent water conservation measures amid concerns over a deficient monsoon and looming water scarcity, nearly 90% of the city's public toilets continue to use potable water.

The civic body operates around 1,081 public toilets across the city, including 668 community toilets and 412 public toilet blocks, with a total of 13,664 seats. Civic records show that nearly 90% of these facilities connect directly to the potable water supply network.

Apart from using treated drinking water, poor maintenance of several toilet facilities compounds the problem. Leakages in overhead tanks, theft and vandalism of taps, and damaged plumbing infrastructure at unattended faciliti...