Bengaluru is unlikely to face a drinking water shortage over the next four months despite the delayed southwest monsoon, according to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). The assurance comes amid growing concerns over below-normal rainfall across Karnataka and memories of the severe water crisis the city endured in 2024.
BWSSB Chairperson Dr N. Manjula said the combined storage in the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) and Kabini reservoirs is currently sufficient to meet Bengaluru’s monthly water requirement of nearly 2.3 thousand million cubic feet (tmc).
While officials say there is no immediate cause for alarm, they have also initiated long-term preparedness measures by monitoring groundwater levels with support from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). Residents have been urged to conserve treated drinking water and avoid using it for non-essential activities such as gardening, washing vehicles or cleaning driveways.
The utility maintains that reservoir storage is adequate for now, but continued rainfall and responsible water use will determine the city’s water security beyond the current four-month buffer.
Reservoirs Offer Immediate Relief
The BWSSB’s assurance follows internal reviews of Bengaluru’s water preparedness after the southwest monsoon arrived later than usual and rainfall remained below normal across several parts of Karnataka.
Dr Manjula said the city currently requires around 2.3 tmc of water every month, and the available storage in the KRS and Kabini reservoirs is sufficient to meet this demand for the next four to five months. She noted that while reservoir levels remain adequate, BWSSB is closely tracking the evolving weather situation and expects further inflows if monsoon activity improves in the coming weeks.
Alongside reservoir monitoring, the utility has intensified efforts to assess the city’s groundwater reserves. Dr Manjula directed senior engineers to obtain a comprehensive report from the Indian Institute of Science on Bengaluru’s groundwater status and the condition of existing borewells.
Explaining the ongoing exercise, she said, “IISc is monitoring groundwater levels through observation wells. If groundwater depletion is detected, we will have to identify new locations to augment groundwater sourcing. Nothing alarming has been reported as of now.” The scientific assessment is expected to help the water board identify vulnerable areas well before any shortage emerges and strengthen long-term planning.
BWSSB has also appealed to citizens to play an active role in conserving water. The board has requested residents not to use treated Cauvery water for non-essential purposes such as watering gardens, washing vehicles or cleaning outdoor spaces. Households with access to borewell water have been encouraged to use it for such activities instead, reducing pressure on the city’s treated drinking water supply.
Lessons From Last Year’s Crisis
The reassurance comes against the backdrop of Bengaluru’s unprecedented water crisis in 2024, when prolonged dry weather and falling groundwater levels forced thousands of residents to depend on expensive private water tankers after many borewells ran dry. The experience exposed the city’s growing dependence on groundwater and highlighted the challenges posed by rapid urbanisation, shrinking lakes and increasing demand for water.
Experts have consistently warned that Bengaluru’s long-term water security cannot rely solely on the Cauvery river system. Previous studies by IISc have identified several localities experiencing groundwater stress due to excessive extraction and declining recharge capacity.
These findings have prompted BWSSB to strengthen groundwater monitoring, improve infrastructure planning and seek scientific guidance for future water management. Officials believe that regularly tracking observation wells will allow early identification of areas where groundwater levels begin to decline, enabling timely interventions before shortages become critical.
Although the present reservoir storage provides short-term relief, officials acknowledge that the city’s water outlook will depend significantly on how the remainder of the southwest monsoon performs. Weak rainfall could reduce inflows into Karnataka’s reservoirs and place additional pressure on groundwater sources later in the year. By combining reservoir management with scientific groundwater assessment and public participation in water conservation, BWSSB hopes to build greater resilience against future climate uncertainties.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Bengaluru’s current water reserves offer reassuring news for millions of residents, but they should also serve as a reminder that urban water security cannot depend solely on favourable reservoir levels. Climate variability, rapid urban growth and groundwater depletion are increasingly becoming interconnected challenges that require long-term planning rather than seasonal responses.
The BWSSB’s decision to seek scientific inputs from IISc and monitor groundwater proactively reflects the importance of evidence-based policymaking, while its appeal for responsible water use underscores that sustainable resource management is a shared responsibility between authorities and citizens.
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