Bengaluru faces critical groundwater depletion, water crisis looms

Bengaluru is facing an alarming groundwater crisis, with both urban and rural districts reaching a 100% extraction rate in 2024, according to the Central Groundwater Board’s report. This means the city is using as much groundwater as it replenishes, creating a severe sustainability issue. While Karnataka’s overall groundwater extraction remains within safe limits at 68.4%, experts are warning that the trend is worrying as the state's dependency on groundwater steadily rises.

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For over a decade, Bengaluru has been drawing nearly twice the amount of groundwater it can replenish. The city's reserves have been categorized as “over-exploited” for several years, with some areas, such as Mahadevapura and Whitefield, expected to see further significant dips in water levels.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has raised alarms about the growing risk of water shortages this summer. A recent study identified 80 wards and 110 villages as heavily dependent on groundwater, urging residents to avoid relying on it. The BWSSB has also recommended switching to Cauvery water connections as part of a more sustainable solution, especially with the Cauvery Phase 5 Project enhancing the water supply.

With the city’s groundwater situation becoming increasingly unsustainable, the need for alternative water sources has never been more urgent.