Hyderabad’s vital water resources, Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs, are once again stepping up to meet the city’s increasing water demand amid soaring temperatures.
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) is leveraging these reservoirs to address consumers’ needs, drawing water to alleviate the effects of the ongoing heatwave. Initially planning to extract 40 million gallons of water, comprising 25 million gallons from Osman Sagar and 15 million gallons from Himayat Sagar, the water board is currently drawing 19 million gallons from Osman Sagar and 7 million gallons from Himayat Sagar. However, to enhance water extraction capacity, the HMWS&SB is undertaking the construction of three vertical water treatment plants at strategic locations: Gandipet, Kokapet, and Puppalaguda, each with a capacity of three million liters. Once operational, these plants will enable the board to draw the targeted 40 million gallons from the twin reservoirs, ensuring sustained water supply to meet the city’s needs.
Despite ongoing water extraction from other sources, such as Krishna (270 million gallons) and Godavari (172 million gallons), the necessity of additional drawals from Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar has become inevitable to cater to escalating demand. In April, water supply from the board increased from 566 million gallons to 575 million gallons within a fortnight, mirroring the rising water demand. Similar adjustments were made in March, with water supply rising from 537 million gallons to 568 million gallons over the month. Moreover, the recent decrease in tanker bookings indicates a positive trend in water availability. To further bolster water distribution infrastructure, the HMWS&SB has initiated the fabrication of 72 mini tankers, with plans for their deployment scheduled for the upcoming week. The development of additional water treatment capacity at Osman Sagar underscores Hyderabad’s commitment to enhancing water security and resilience in the face of growing demand and climatic challenges. As the city continues to expand, such infrastructure investments play a pivotal role in ensuring sustainable water management for its residents.
