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Watch | Why is Bengaluru staring at a severe water shortage?

In this video we explain why households in Bengaluru, dependent on water supply from the Cauvery river or water tankers are staring at a water shortage

Updated - March 20, 2024 11:25 am IST

K.C. Deepika,K.V. Aditya Bhardwaj

Households in Bengaluru, dependent on water supply from the Cauvery river or water tankers, are preparing for the situation to worsen as the city stares at a severe summer.

Whitefield and Varthur, which house the Information Technology corridor in eastern Bengaluru, are some of the worst-affected areas by the drinking water crisis.

As the city stares at a long, hot summer. K.C. Deepika and K.V. Aditya Bharadwaj report on the worries of the people at a time of drought.

Read more here

Reporting: K.C Deepika, K.V Aditya BharadwajVideo and Production: Ravichandran N

Published - March 03, 2024 11:53 am IST

Related Topics

bengaluru / Karnataka / water supply / water / water harvesting

Series - 75 stories

Residents collect water from a tanker in Bengaluru.
Is the urban water system breaking?
K.C. Deepika
Sankey tank in Bengaluru was built in response to the drought of 1874.
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Water woes | Drought hits Sankey Tank in Bengaluru, most parts of the lake dry 
The Hindu Bureau
Doddanekundi lake dried up due to a lack of rain last year in Bengaluru.
Can a reversion to the kere-bavi system help ease Bengaluru’s water woes?
Shilpa Elizabeth
Lucknow Super Giants team celebrates after defeating Royal Challengers Bengaluru at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (KSCA), in Bengaluru on April 2, 2024.
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Water woes | BWSSB responds to NGT notice on water supply for IPL matches
The Hindu Bureau
A resident of Kadugodi complains that in Ambedkar Nagar, 43 PGs were illegally using Cauvery water and sewage lines. 
Bengaluru water crisis
Water woes | BWSSB to take action against PGs obtaining Cauvery water supply illegally
The Hindu Bureau
BWSSB convened a meeting with them in the first week of March and ensured adequate water supply to the Peenya Industrial Area even amidst the water crisis, says president of the Peenya Industrial Association.
BENGALURU WATER CRISIS
Bengaluru water woes | BWSSB mulls laying new pipeline to supply treated water to Peenya Industrial Area
The Hindu Bureau
BWSSB will supply treated water from apartments to customers in tankers within a 5 km radius and in the next stage, will even consider dedicated pipelines up to 500 metres if the demand is high and consistent. 
Water woes: 127 out of 714 bulk consumers request for treated water supply
The Hindu Bureau
the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has made it mandatory to install aerators or flow restrictors to all public taps in the city and has even appealed to households to install them voluntarily.
Water woes: Slight bump in sales of aerators
Tenzin Yangkey, K. Sowmya
View of Peenya Industrial area, in north west Bengaluru.
bengaluru water crisis
Water woes | BWSSB to use Japanese tech to treat chemical wastewater in Peenya Industrial Area
The Hindu Bureau
Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board has made aerators compulsory in taps for bulk users, in Bengaluru on Thursday, April 04.
Bengaluru water crisis
BWSSB installs over 4,000 aerators in government offices
The Hindu Bureau
Bulk of water supply in rural areas of Mysuru is through borewells. Villages that could face water scarcity have been mapped.
karnataka water crisis 2024
105 villages in Mysuru district likely to face water scarcity in next two months
The Hindu Bureau
Concerns about the space and cost of the RWH systems have kept many customers from getting these systems installed on their premises.
Bengaluru water crisis
Water woes | Demand goes up for RWH systems in Bengaluru
K. Sowmya, Nikita Maria Jino
The new round of supply cut will be targetted at commercial establishments, apartment complexes and industries that consume between 20 lakh and 2 crore litres of water a day. There are nearly 20,000 such consumers across Bengaluru. 
Bengaluru water crisis
BWSSB to save nearly 60 MLD water through supply cut to big consumers in Bengaluru
K. V. Aditya Bharadwaj
Water recharge wells at Cubbon Park in Bengaluru.
SPOTLIGHT
Bengaluru’s battle for water continues, now with consumption cuts
K. V. Aditya Bharadwaj
BWSSB has partnered with Bangalore Apartments’ Federation allowing them to sell 50% of treated water generated in their over 3,500 Sewage Treatment Plants. 
bengaluru water crisis
Water woes | BWSSB to supply treated water for construction in Bengaluru from April 3
The Hindu Bureau
A woman collects potable water from a temporarily-installed 1,000-litre tank on a road side in Bengaluru. BWSSB has put up many such 1,000-litre water storage tanks, which are filled by tankers once in two days.
BENGALURU WATER CRISIS
10% water supply to be cut for those consuming 40 lakh to 2 crore litres a day from April 10 in Bengaluru
The Hindu Bureau
In the long run, Jalamitras will act as the eyes and ears of BWSSB on the ground.
BENGALURU WATER CRISIS
8,198 Jalamitras to act as force multipliers for water conservation in Bengaluru
The Hindu Bureau
The supply of treated water for construction is an initiative of the BWSSB along with the Bangalore Apartment Federation and the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India. 
Water woes: BWSSB to lay 500 metre pipelines and use tankers up within 5 km radius to supply treated water to construction projects  
The Hindu Bureau
The atmospheric water generator (AWG) at Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, in Bengaluru. The AWG extracts water from humid ambient air to produce potable water.
BENGALURU WATER CRISIS
Water woes | How some institutions in Bengaluru are harvesting water out of thin air 
Jahnavi T.R.
The ban, accompanied by a hefty fine of ₹5,000 for every violation, has left many car washing centers grappling with financial losses and operational constraints. 
Water woes: Scarcity threatens Bengaluru’s car wash business
The Hindu Bureau
The data of groundwater levels for last December and this January and February shows that Bengaluru East taluk, which houses one of the major IT corridors of the city, where the water crisis is most severe and groundwater exploitation unbridled, has seen the most dip in groundwater levels this summer. 
bengaluru water crisis
Water woes | Bengaluru East taluk worst affected in depleting groundwater levels this summer
K. V. Aditya Bharadwaj
A file photo of rain water dripping from the Namma Metro viaduct on M.G. Road.
Bengaluru water crisis
Water woes | Namma Metro calls tender to implement rainwater harvesting for Purple and Green lines in Bengaluru
Darshan Devaiah B.P.
BWSSB had said the board would get accredited plumbers to install aerators after March 31, and make the establishments pay for it. 
bengaluru water crisis
Water woes | Supply will be cut 50% to establishments that don’t install aerators by March 31: BWSSB
The Hindu Bureau
A sewage treatment plant in an apartment complex. In 2016, the Karnataka government issued an order mandating an in-situ STP in all group housing projects above 20 units across Bengaluru and even made it retrospective. This led to widespread protests and forced apartment communities to unionise for the first time.
bengaluru water crisis
Water woes | Karnataka amends law, makes in-situ STP mandatory for residential complex in Bengaluru with over 120 apartments
K. V. Aditya Bharadwaj
Environmentalists have said that one of the reasons for the water shortage in Bengaluru is the rampant and unchecked commercial land conversions and urbanisation of Kodagu.
bengaluru water crisis
Water woes | Don’t issue NOCs for commercial land conversion in Kodagu district, ask environmentalists 
The Hindu Bureau
A file photo of a sewage treatment plant (STP) in an apartment complex.
BENGALURU WATER CRISIS
Water Woes | Apartments in Bengaluru can now sell 50% of treated water from in situ STPs
K. V. Aditya Bharadwaj
A woman drinking potable water from a temporary 1,000-litre storage tank installed on the roadside at Bangarappanagar, Rajarajeshwari Nagar zone, in Bengaluru.
Bengaluru water crisis
Water woes | BWSSB imposes over ₹1 lakh fine in 21 cases for using potable water for non-essential purposes in Bengaluru
The Hindu Bureau
An aerial view of Bengaluru. BWSSB launched a Green Star Rating Challenge for apartment complexes in the city on March 22, 2024.
bengaluru water crisis
Water woes | BWSSB collating water usage data in all apartments in Bengaluru, promises to meet minimum requirement 
The Hindu Bureau
Many of those demanding work-from-home option believe that allowing them to work from their home towns will result in depopulating Bengaluru, which will ease the situation.
Water woes
As demand for WFH grows, companies in Bengaluru say status quo remains for now
K.C. Deepika
At least three borewell-drilling firms that The Hindu spoke to on Saturday said they were not aware of such a ban on digging new borewells in the core city areas
BWSSB imposes three-month moratorium on new borewells in areas served by Cauvery
K. V. Aditya Bharadwaj
In furtherance of this move, BWSSB has commandeered all borewells at construction sites above 20,000 sqft.
Bengaluru water crisis
Water woes | BWSSB commandeers all borewells at construction sites of projects of over 20,000 sqft built-up area in Bengaluru
The Hindu Bureau
Owing to a long dry spell in the midst of the monsoon, Bengaluru is likely to be heading towards a drinking water crisis, which is already apparent in the outer zones. file photo file photo
How can Bengaluru achieve water resilience? | In Focus podcast
G. Sampath
The district administration has capped the price of 12,000 litres of water tanker load at Rs. 1,200. k. murali kumar
No using potable water for pool and rain dance during Holi events: BWSSB 
The Hindu Bureau
Work to fill Kengeri, Nayandahalli (in picture), Hosahalli, Dubasipalya, and Alagevaderahalli lakes with treated water are under way.
BWSSB makes aerators for all public taps mandatory, appeals to households to use them as well
The Hindu Bureau
A model of a rainwater harvesting system at Sir M. Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Theme Park in Bengaluru.
BWSSB plans green star rating for effective implementation of rainwater harvesting 
The Hindu Bureau
A file photo of Cauvery river. Farmers have been insisting on release of water from KRS and Kabini dam for irrigation.
Farmers in Cauvery basin districts upset over restrictions imposed on use of water
Darshan Devaiah B.P.
Ram Prasath Manohar, BWSSB Chairman
Interview
Water situation is of concern, but not as alarming as it is being projected: BWSSB Chairman
K.C. Deepika
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar launching a save water campaign of the BWSSB, in front of the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Thursday.
BWSSB launches four apps to help Bengaluru navigate water crisis
The Hindu Bureau
According to the match schedule, three IPL matches will be held in Bengaluru on March 25, March 29, April 2.
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Water woes | Crisis won’t affect IPL matches in Bengaluru
The Hindu Bureau
The projects that BWSSB now wants corporates to work on under their CSR funds are new technologies that will remediate and treat sewage water to some extent in the SWDs itself before they reach the lake. Image for representation purposes only. File
BWSSB seeks CSR funds for innovative water projects in Bengaluru to combat water crisis
The Hindu Bureau
A file photo of Holi celebration in Bengaluru.
Hotels, resorts offer pool parties and rain dance for Holi amid water crisis in Bengaluru 
Jahnavi T.R.
Women and children standing in the scorching heat to collect potable drinking water from a public tap, supplied by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), at Nayandahalli off Mysuru road.
Water woes of Bengaluru: Think long term, go beyond knee-jerk reactions, say experts
Rasheed Kappan
Expert says that even when you drill down to 1,800 feet there is still no water.
water woes
From 100 to 1,800 feet: Bengaluru’s depleting groundwater level 
The Hindu Bureau
Victoria hospital in Bengaluru. BWSSB has decided to exempt hospitals, like Victoria Hospital, NIMHANS, and Command hospital, from the rationing.
water woes
Water woes | BWSSB to cut 20% supply to bulk users in Bengaluru
The Hindu Bureau
In the Bannerghatta Biological Park, in Bengaluru, only a few species, like the hippopotamus, use a lot of water.
water woes
Bengaluru water crisis | Bannerghatta Biological Park mostly unaffected by water crisis in Bengaluru
The Hindu Bureau
The price cap has had little effect on water tanker prices on the ground and enforcement has been almost nil, complain residents. 
Despite Karnataka government’s price cap, water continues to cost over ₹2,000 per tanker load
K. V. Aditya Bharadwaj
A long queue of people waiting to collect drinking water at an RO plant in Bengaluru.
WATER WOES
As underground water levels drop, several RO plants go dry in Bengaluru
Darshan Devaiah B.P.
A multi-village water supply scheme has been designed for villages in Tirthahalli taluk of Shivamogga district in Karnataka under the Jal Jeevan Mission of the Union Government. As per the scheme, water will be lifted from Bheemeshwara Sangama (in pic), where rivers Tunga and Malathi join.
karnataka water crisis 2024
Residents of villages on banks of Tunga river in Karnataka oppose multi-crore water supply scheme
G T Sathish
The Vrushabhavathy river in Bengaluru city.
Ground Zero
Bengaluru, the parched IT capital of India
K. V. Aditya Bharadwaj ,K.C. Deepika
Watch | Why is Bengaluru staring at a severe water shortage?
K.C. Deepika,K.V. Aditya Bhardwaj
You're in this story
Women and children standing in the scorching heat to collect water in Bengaluru.
A possible solution for Bengaluru’s water crisis: Data
Shashank Palur, Rashmi Kulranjan
Arkavathi river which originates from Nandi hills is a tributary to Cauvery has dried up due to failed monsoon as seen in Ramanagara.
A river runs dry
The Hindu Bureau
In the absence of any regulatory mechanism for pricing of water tankers, the prices are random and extremely variable. 
WATER WOES
Water tanker prices breach ₹2,000 mark in some parts of Bengaluru
K. V. Aditya Bharadwaj
The Karnataka government has made registration of water tankers in Bengaluru mandatory. File
WATER WOES
BBMP makes registration of water tankers mandatory in Bengaluru
The Hindu Bureau
Costumers at hotel in Ganganagara in Bengaluru. file photo
WATER WOES
Hospitality sector becomes prudent with water usage  
Jahnavi T.R.
Apartments and gated communities framing several new regulations for the conservation of water. While many communities are resorting to rationing, some have taken up steps like closure of pools and water pressure adjustment. 
WATER WOES
Apartments take up conservation measures amid water crisis in Bengaluru
Jahnavi T.R.
Image used for representative purpose only.
WATER WOES
How is the Garden City maintaining its parks and gardens?
Jahnavi T.R.
A residential water tank being filled in Bengaluru.
water woes
Suction pumps being used to take water from pipelines illegally
Jahnavi T.R.
The swimming pool at Basavanagudi in Bengaluru. Swimming instructors, who play a crucial role in imparting swimming skills and ensuring safety, are also taking a hit.
water woes
Swimming pools, car washing centres hit by Bengaluru’s water crisis
Darshan Devaiah B.P.
Watch | Decline in El Niño could bring rains to Bengaluru
Jahnavi T.R.
Crisis of time: On parched Karnataka and its water woes
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the State Government has taken “things under its control” and arranged tankers to supply water. File
Bengaluru water crisis | ‘Karnataka has not seen such a severe drought in 30-40 years’
The Hindu Bureau
A file photo of KRS reservoir in Karnataka.
karnataka water crisis 2024
Water level at KRS dam in Karnataka at five-year low for February
R. Krishna Kumar
Bengaluru cityscape.
How Bengaluru forgot its geography and what it means for its residents
Preeti Zachariah
A businessman supplying water in a tanker to residents on Hesargatta Main Road in Bengaluru on March 5, 2024. The rates fixed by the Bengaluru district administration will be applicable for four months.
Karnataka water crisis 2024
Water tanker price capped at a maximum of ₹1200 within a 10 km radius
The Hindu Bureau
A private tanker selling water for a nominal rate at Hesargatta main road in Bengaluru.
karnataka water crisis 2024
Tanker owners say they travel over 15 km one way to fetch water, making price limit rules redundant
The Hindu Bureau
A private water supply tanker selling water for a nominal amount at Hesargatta main Road in Bengaluru on Tuesday, March 5.
Among 600 registered tankers, only 167 express willingness to work with the government 
The Hindu Bureau
In some areas of Bengaluru, residents are dependent entirely on tankers for delivery of water for drinking and domestic purposes.
karnataka water crisis 2024
Bengaluru water supply body bans use of drinking water for non-essential purposes, fine of ₹5,000 for violators
The Hindu Bureau
While apartment dwellers have access to water from a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), which is reused for gardening and washing vehicles, independent houses have no such option.
karnataka water crisis 2024
Residents of independent houses in Bengaluru raise concerns about BWSSB ban on using potable water for non-essential purposes
The Hindu Bureau
A person fills a glass with water from a dispenser in Bengaluru.
karnataka water crisis 2024
Private school in Bengaluru closes down for want of water
The Hindu Bureau
Public borewells will be accorded priority, while private borewells will be considered after a site inspection by concerned officials, BWSSB said.
BWSSB to crack the whip on unauthorised borewells
The Hindu Bureau
Water from the borewells will be treated and scientifically tested by IISc scientists and then supplied for non-consumption purposes.
water woes
BWSSB to tap into groundwater resources in Bengaluru  
The Hindu Bureau
The conversion of wetlands, illegal tree felling, mass tourism, and commercialisation are exacerbating the situation in the Cauvery river belt.
‘Save Coorg’ calls trend as water crisis takes centre stage in Karnataka
K.C. Deepika
A representational photo of people trying to get water from a river.
karnataka water crisis 2024
Yadgir district in Karnataka is facing severe drinking water crisis
The Hindu Bureau
Residents of Dandur village fetch drinking water from a tanker.
Karnataka water crisis 2024
Many villages in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka face shortage of drinking water
G T Sathish

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