Ahmedabad will face reduced water distribution across all five municipal zones on October 25 after fluctuations in the Narmada main canal level affected the expected supply of raw water to the Kotarpur Water Works, according to a report citing the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. More than 60 lakh residents could be affected, and the civic body has asked households to use available water carefully.
The reduction is expected to affect areas in eastern, central, southern, northern and western Ahmedabad. The AMC said water treatment and distribution would be managed according to the quantity of raw water available at the Kotarpur facility, meaning supplies will be lower than on a normal day.
In eastern Ahmedabad, affected areas are expected to include Nikol, Odhav, Naroda, Amraiwadi, India Colony and Vastral. Central and southern parts of the city, including Jamalpur, Khadia, Dariyapur, Shahibaug, Asarwa, Behrampura, Narol, Danilimda and Maninagar, are also expected to see reduced distribution.
The western zone may see lower water supply in Vasna, Paldi, Navrangpura, Naranpura, Sabarmati, Wadaj and Chandkheda. The report said the impact would extend across the five municipal zones rather than being limited to a single neighbourhood or distribution network.
The immediate operational issue is the availability of raw water for treatment. The AMC said fluctuations in the water level near its head regulator on the Narmada main canal could prevent Kotarpur Water Works from receiving sufficient raw water. The facility will therefore treat and send water to the city’s distribution stations based on the volume available.
The disruption illustrates the dependence of a large urban water network on conditions upstream of the treatment plant. Although the reported shortage is linked to a fluctuation in canal water levels rather than a stated failure of the treatment facility, the effect will be experienced at household level through lower distribution across multiple parts of the city.
The AMC has appealed to residents to take note of the reduced distribution scheduled for October 25 and use water economically. It said supplies would be adjusted according to the raw water available at Kotarpur Water Works. The civic body’s stated next step is to continue treatment and distribution in line with the quantity received at the plant.
