Hyderabad is on the brink of a water crisis, as alarmingly low water levels in key reservoirs like Nagarjunasagar, Srisailam, and Sripada Yellampally threaten to disrupt the city’s water supply in the coming weeks.
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) is on high alert, urging the state irrigation department to take immediate steps to preserve water levels in these crucial reservoirs, which provide drinking water to the city and surrounding areas. As of April 6, the water level at Nagarjunasagar — one of the primary sources for the city’s water supply — had dropped to 516 feet, far below the full reservoir level (FRL) of 590 feet. This marks a steady decline from 552 feet on February 1, 2025, and signals an increasingly dire situation. Similarly, the Srisailam reservoir, another vital source of water for Hyderabad, saw a drop from 853 feet on February 1 to just 819 feet by April 6. The situation at the Sripada Yellampally reservoir, located on the Godavari river, is slightly better but still concerning, with its current water level at 469 feet, just short of the FRL of 485 feet.
The falling water levels are attributed to a combination of hot weather, the depletion of groundwater, and the heavy demand for water for irrigation purposes. These factors have resulted in a rapid decline of available water, with officials warning that Hyderabad could run out of drinking water within the next 20-25 days if the situation does not improve.
The city currently relies on around 580 million gallons of water per day (MGD) to meet the needs of its population, including surrounding areas up to the Outer Ring Road. Of this, 270 MGD is sourced from Nagarjunasagar, while 163 MGD comes from the Godavari basin. This supply is critical to the daily functioning of the city, with the Hyderabad Water Board drawing a total of 1.38 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) from Nagarjunasagar each month, and 0.84 tmcft from Godavari.
To avoid a complete breakdown in water supply, the HMWS&SB is preparing for emergency pumping once the Nagarjunasagar water level reaches the critical 510 feet mark — a level at which water can no longer be drawn by gravity. At that point, water from Puttamgandi, an off-take point in Nalgonda district, may be used to extend the supply for another 10-15 days, although this will only delay the inevitable. The Telangana irrigation department has reportedly taken steps to address the situation. The Andhra Pradesh government has agreed to cease agricultural use of water from Nagarjunasagar to reserve water for drinking purposes, and efforts are underway to maintain the water level at 515 feet, which would provide approximately 131 tmcft of water. However, there are still concerns that delayed rains could worsen the situation, forcing the water board to rely heavily on emergency pumping.
While officials insist there is no immediate need for panic, they acknowledge that the situation could worsen during the peak summer months, particularly in May. With limited water supply, the residents of Hyderabad and its suburbs may face significant challenges unless immediate action is taken to conserve water and manage resources effectively.
As the water crisis looms, the need for sustainable water management and better climate resilience has never been more urgent. This situation serves as a stark reminder of the increasing pressure on urban water systems in the face of climate change and growing demand. It is clear that more must be done to secure Hyderabad’s water future, ensuring that both current and future generations have access to clean, reliable water sources.
Hyderabad Faces Water Shortage as Reservoir Levels Plummet
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