Sat Jan 25 16:06:33 UTC 2025: ## Bengaluru Faces Looming Water Crisis: Groundwater Levels Projected to Plummet

**Bengaluru, January 25, 2025** – A joint study by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) reveals a critical decline in Bengaluru’s groundwater levels, potentially leading to a severe water shortage this summer. The study projects a drop of up to 25 meters in some areas, impacting 80 wards, including 110 villages on the city’s outskirts, which heavily rely on groundwater.

The report, the first city-specific study of its kind in India, highlights the alarming dependence on groundwater, estimated at 800 million liters per day (MLD). While central Bengaluru could see a 5-meter drop, areas in the former City Municipal Councils (CMCs) face a 10-15 meter decline. Peripheral villages are at the highest risk, with projections of a 20-25 meter drop by mid-March.

BWSSB Chairman V. Ram Prasath Manohar described the findings as a “wake-up call,” urging residents, especially in high-risk areas such as Jakkur, Nagavara, Horamavu, and others, to switch to the newly operational Cauvery V Stage water supply. This project, according to Manohar, significantly improves water availability and provides a solution to the growing water needs. The BWSSB is also urging residents to connect to the existing pipeline network by paying the stipulated fee.

Last summer, the BWSSB struggled to provide water to these villages using tankers. While sufficient pipeline infrastructure exists, many residents haven’t yet connected to the system. The study emphasizes the urgent need for action to mitigate the impending crisis.

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