Informal settlements, however, usually lack access to these services, located predominantly on risky lands including floodplains, ravines, and steep slopes, and/or in close proximity to damaged or toxic sites including sewer canals, industrial establishments and landfills. Inadequate sanitation, garbage disposal and drainage facilities are routine. The few toilets that exist are not connected to the sewer, and aqua-privy systems and line drains block regularly. Settlements are physically separated from city-wide infrastructure such as roads, drains and storm-water management and subsequently, suffer from routine flooding and become ideal receptors of diffused pollution from the catchment/ drainage area.

Examining both ecosystem services and disservices and their institutional dimensions will be central, therefore, to this research.