Bengaluru water crisis: Here’s BWSSB's new solution!

As temperatures in Bengaluru remain consistently high despite forecasts of rain, residents are growing increasingly concerned about a potential water crisis, reminiscent of last year’s situation when the city faced severe groundwater depletion. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) recently highlighted that 80 out of the city’s 200 wards are now at heightened risk of water shortages due to the ongoing decline in groundwater levels.

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Areas on the periphery of the city, particularly in southeast Bengaluru and around Whitefield, are most at risk, with many of these regions relying on communal, private, or government-owned borewells. These areas have witnessed a worrying drop in groundwater levels — by up to 20 to 25 meters — compared to previous years. This has led to an increased dependence on borewells and tankers, further straining already limited resources.

Many high-rise buildings in Bengaluru have opted out of the municipal water supply, citing high upfront costs imposed by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), which charges Rs 400 per square meter for a connection. As a result, these apartment complexes rely heavily on borewells and private water tankers to meet their daily needs. However, as groundwater levels continue to decline, the demand for private water supplies is expected to soar, exacerbating the issue.

In response to this growing concern, the BWSSB is launching a new mobile application aimed at streamlining and monitoring tanker water distribution. Expected to be launched soon, the app will allow residents to request water deliveries from BBMP tankers, using OTP verification and GPS tracking to ensure efficient distribution. Additionally, the app will track individual water use, helping bring accountability to the system and ensuring that resources are used more responsibly.

In the long term, the Cauvery Stage V project aims to provide 3.5 lakh new piped water connections, with 90,000 already installed. Expanding the piped water network is seen as a crucial step toward reducing the city’s reliance on borewells and easing pressure on its groundwater resources, providing a more sustainable solution for Bengaluru’s water needs.