HYDERABAD: Many areas of Hyderabad are facing water shortages, so municipal officials are taking strict measures to conserve and reuse water. Approximately 25% of the city is currently facing water shortages. Officials have warned that if people don’t start saving water immediately, the situation will worsen by next summer.
According to HMWSSB officials in early 2026, Hyderabad is facing a serious water shortage. The city gets about 575-576 million gallons of water daily (MGD), but needs nearly 150 MGD more than that to meet demand. Next year, this shortage is expected to get worse, with the deficit growing to 230 MGD. This places heavy pressure on city water tanks and causes groundwater levels to drop, leading to high reliance on water tankers.
To address water shortages until the Godavari project is completed in 2028, the Water Board has launched a major plan to recharge the city’s groundwater supply. 50,000 rainwater harvesting pits are being built along the Outer Ring Road. The aim is to replenish the groundwater level by 5 to 10 TMC feet. Officials say this will exceed the total capacity of the Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs. 20,000 locations, such as schools and parks, have already been identified for the project.
This plan uses four ways to save rainwater: rooftop rainwater harvesting, using old wells to store it, digging recharge pits, and building community systems in public areas. Officials believe this will make us less dependent on4 large, costly water projects.
HMWSSB officials also highlighted successful local models already functioning within the city. A residential apartment complex in Madhapur reportedly became nearly self-sufficient in water usage after adopting an injection borewell recharge system, which is now being viewed as a model for community-led water conservation.
Alongside recharge efforts, the water board is increasingly focusing on treated wastewater reuse. Recycled water is now being supplied at a nominal cost of ₹20 per 1,000 litres for non-drinking purposes such as construction and landscaping. Authorities say the initiative is intended to reduce misuse of potable water and curb excessive groundwater extraction.
The city is also working on a long-term proposal to establish a 2,000 MLD greywater bank, which would store and distribute treated wastewater to industries, data centres, and construction projects instead of releasing it into rivers and drains. Officials believe the move could significantly reduce freshwater demand across Hyderabad.
Experts warn that emergency fixes won’t solve Hyderabad’s water shortage for good. To ensure enough water for the growing city, they say we must fix lakes, clear blocked water channels, stop illegal building on water spots, and help rainwater soak into the ground.
