Hyderabad’s water tankers will face a Rs 5,000 fine from November 1 for wasting purified water through faulty lids, leaks, overfilling or defective taps, with repeat violations potentially leading to registration cancellations, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has said.
The enforcement action follows findings that tanker operators are losing water during braking, turns and while crossing speed breakers. The board said some vehicles were operating with broken, ill-fitting or open-top lids, while others had leaks or lacked proper seals. The spilled water is reaching roads and, in some cases, leaving consumers with less water in their sumps despite paying for deliveries.
HMWSSB operates a fleet of around 1,200 to 1,500 tankers and supplies purified water daily to consumers who book deliveries through Metro Customer Care. The fleet includes 5,000-litre tankers for domestic users, 10,000-litre vehicles for commercial and bulk consumers, and 20,000-litre to 25,000-litre tankers for heavy commercial supply, according to the board’s standard tariff arrangements.
A senior HMWSSB official said the board supplies between 2 million and 4 million gallons of water daily in the Core Urban Region Economy area, in addition to regular tap-water supplies. Each tanker makes about 10 to 12 trips a day, while officials estimate that two to three litres can be lost per trip because of unsecured lids, leaks or faulty taps.
The wastage is taking place even as HMWSSB spends Rs 48 per kilolitre on the water and supplies it to consumers at subsidised tariffs. The board’s licence and renewal conditions already require tanker operators to use lids during delivery. Officials said non-compliance was undermining the “Every drop Counts” campaign and increasing inconvenience for residents who may already wait several days for a tanker.
HMWSSB Managing Director K Ashok Reddy has directed the General Managers of the Operations and Maintenance divisions to enforce the requirements strictly. Filling-station managers and those in charge of filling points have been instructed to inspect every tanker for leaks and ensure that lids are secured before allowing vehicles to load water.
Vehicles found to be defective will be stopped from loading until repairs are completed. The board has also asked tanker associations to cooperate with the enforcement drive and prevent water loss during transportation. The Rs 5,000 penalty will apply from November 1, while repeat offenders face cancellation of their tanker registrations.
