Hyderabad’s water board has imposed a Rs. 5,000 fine on a Jubilee Hills resident after confirming that drinking water was being used to clean a residential premises, signalling stricter enforcement against the misuse of treated water in the city.
The action was taken by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) after local residents complained through the board’s WhatsApp number. The complaint alleged that drinking water was being used to clean the premises at Road No. 57, Plot No. 1152, within the Jubilee Hills Circle and Jubilee Hills Ward limits.
Following receipt of the complaint, Water Board officials carried out a field investigation. The board said the misuse was confirmed during the inspection and that the fine was subsequently imposed on the concerned resident under applicable regulations.
The case sets out the enforcement sequence being followed by HMWS&SB: a public complaint, a field-level inquiry, confirmation of the violation and action under the relevant rules. The board said it was reviewing complaints received from residents and would not overlook the misuse of drinking water after a violation was established.
HMWS&SB has advised residents to use drinking water sparingly and only for drinking and household needs. It has specifically warned that using drinking water to clean house premises or roads can attract regulatory action. The advisory places water conservation within the board’s routine enforcement responsibilities rather than treating wastage only as a public-awareness issue.
The complaint mechanism also gives residents a formal role in reporting suspected misuse. HMWS&SB has asked members of the public to send information to its WhatsApp number, 99499 30003, along with relevant photographs or videos, details of the individual or organisation involved, the location of the incident and the complete address.
The board has said that complainants’ details will be kept confidential. It has also provided customer care number 155313 for registering complaints. According to the board, every complaint will be reviewed, followed by a field investigation where necessary, and action will be taken if the alleged violation is confirmed.
The enforcement comes as Hyderabad’s public water system seeks to reinforce the distinction between treated drinking water and water used for cleaning or other purposes. The available information does not specify the volume of water allegedly wasted, the precise regulation under which the fine was imposed or whether further penalties will apply in repeat cases.
For now, the Jubilee Hills action is the clearest publicised example in the supplied report of HMWS&SB moving from a citizen complaint to a monetary penalty. The board has urged residents to report further instances and said conserving drinking water is a shared responsibility.
