Hyderabad’s water supply system is facing an estimated 100 million gallons per day (MGD) shortfall from the Singur and Manjeera sources as reservoir levels decline ahead of summer, with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) preparing alternative arrangements to protect supply to consumers.
The shortage could affect more than 3.5 lakh connections across Hyderabad’s western corridors, including areas from Patancheru to Narsingi. HMWSSB supplies around 580 MGD from all drinking water sources to the Core Urban Economy Region, which includes the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Cantonment Municipality Corporation and Municipal Municipal Corporation areas, according to a senior official quoted by Telangana Today.
The Water Board had been assured of about 120 MGD from Singur and Manjeera, but officials have warned that the two sources are no longer able to meet that level as their storage declines. Telangana Today reported that HMWSSB currently draws nearly 100 MGD from Singur. The report also said groundwater depletion is adding pressure to the city’s water-supply system as summer approaches.
HMWSSB is preparing a plan to draw an additional 60 MGD from the Godavari, Krishna, Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar sources. The water is expected to be moved through the existing supply network to areas affected by the reduced availability from Singur and Manjeera. This would partly offset, but not fully cover, the estimated shortfall.
A senior HMWSSB official handling the water-supply network for the wider urban region said contingency strategies were being deployed to maintain uninterrupted supply. The official also said supplies from sources other than Singur and Manjeera could be managed until the end of summer based on their available storage capacities.
Storage data reported by Telangana Today for November 5 showed Singur at 1,685 feet against a full tank level of 1,717 feet, while Manjeera stood at 1,642 feet against an FTL of 1,651 feet. Osman Sagar was at 1,782 feet against 1,790 feet, and Himayat Sagar at 1,760 feet against 1,763 feet. Krishna’s Akkampally reservoir was reported at 244 metres against 245 metres, while Godavari storage stood at 482 metres against 483 metres.
The proposed diversion from alternative sources is intended to maintain supply to affected neighbourhoods while HMWSSB manages the reduction in its two stressed sources. The Water Board’s next operational step is to finalise the blueprint for transferring the additional 60 MGD through the existing network.
