People's access to water and sanitation is primarily determined by social inequality. Social status and power allow some groups to insulate themselves from crises, while others suffer. For example, richer farmers in Kutch exploit groundwater, leaving poorer villagers with dry wells.

Furthermore, property relations and social organisation shape resource distribution. Private ownership of water sources restricts access for others. Gender also plays a role, as women are responsible for fetching water but often lack control over resources, experiencing scarcity more acutely. Thus, class, ownership, and gender are key social factors affecting access.