Hyderabad water crisis : Tanker bookings hit 8,000 a day as groundwater levels fall

Hyderabad: The city’s drinking water crisis is intensifying, with daily tanker bookings rising to 6,000–8,000 as falling groundwater levels and depleted reservoirs strain supplies. In several neighbourhoods on Hyderabad’s outskirts, residents are receiving water only once every three to four days, raising concerns about water availability in the months ahead.

The crisis reflects a combination of deficient rainfall, excessive groundwater extraction, growing urban demand and the city’s dependence on water transported from distant reservoirs. More than 330 of Telangana’s 600-plus mandals have been reported as drought-hit, while only around 500 of the state’s more than 6,000 lakes reportedly retain water.

Hyderabad recorded a rainfall deficit of about 27 per cent during the 2026 water year through September, according to groundwater department data. The shortfall has reduced replenishment of aquifers, leaving borewells in several residential and commercial areas unable to meet demand. The problem is particularly acute in parts of the city’s expanding outskirts and IT corridor, where apartments and commercial establishments depend heavily on groundwater.

The city receives water from reservoirs including Osman Sagar, Himayat Sagar and Singur, alongside supplies drawn from the Krishna and Godavari river systems. However, declining storage and a growing gap between available supply and consumption have heightened concerns about water security in the months ahead.

According to estimates reported earlier this month, Hyderabad receives around 585 million gallons per day against an estimated requirement of 750 million gallons. Demand could rise further as the city expands.

To reduce pressure on drinking water supplies, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board plans to launch its Dial-a-Green Tanker service on November 1. The initiative will supply treated wastewater for construction, industrial operations, landscaping, road cleaning and other non-potable uses. The board aims to increase the daily use of treated water to 500 million litres.

The government has also announced penalties for wasting drinking water, including a Rs 1,000 fine for first-time offenders. The government is targeting overhead tank overflows and excessive use of potable water for cleaning.

Resident welfare associations are encouraging leak repairs, rainwater harvesting, reduced lawn watering and the reuse of treated wastewater for gardening and cleaning. These measures could help curb unnecessary consumption, but experts have also called for stronger groundwater regulation and coordinated long-term planning.