Predicting significant urban attributes based on elevated water stress using K-Means clustering

Rapid urbanization and population increase in India put enormous strain on water resources, potentially leading to water shortages and impeding sustainability efforts as cities struggle to deliver adequate water to families. The lack of knowledge on the specific population clusters responsible for this issue underscores the importance of this study, which aims to assess water stress in two regions of the Kolkata Urban Agglomeration. It is vital for identifying urban challenges aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 11. New HH water stress and water consumption efficiency indices were created to address this issue using data-driven methodology and R programming for K-Means clustering. The results show that between 2011 and 2031, there would be a projected rise in water stress of 36–69% and a decrease in total water usage efficiency of 148%. Therefore, this study offers a comprehensive strategy to improve urbanization, sustainability, and water consumption in emerging economies.