Groundwater Levels Set to Plummet in Bengaluru – Are we gearing towards another water Crisis?

According to a study conducted by BWSSB & IISc, groundwater level is set to plummet starting this February in 80 wards, including KR Puram and Mahadevapura with some areas facing a drop of up to 25 meters. The previous summer saw unprecedented water shortage in Bengaluru, leading to BWSSB regulating tanker deliveries and prices. With Bengaluru using 800 MLD of groundwater, summer 2025 is also gearing towards severe water shortage in parts of the city. From 80-100feet, some of the borewells now are as deep as 1700feet, demonstrating the severity of the situation.

Why?

• Loss of Wetlands, including lakes

  Wetlands act as giant filters and sponges. Wetlands act as natural water purifiers by removing sediments and other pollutants like excessive nutrients. This enhances the quality of groundwater supplies and mitigates the negative effects of point and non-point sources of pollution. Wetlands have been called “the kidneys of our watersheds.” Wetlands and lakes also absorb, store and release water by recharging the groundwater in the vicinity. However, Bengaluru’s lakes have been severely encroached and the marshes and fields that acted as wetlands are now mostly concrete, exacerbating the water crisis.

• Loss of vegetation cover

  Over the last five decades (between 1973 and 2022), the city has witnessed a 1,078% increase in paved surfaces and an 88% drop in vegetation cover. In 1973, nearly 70% of Bengaluru's geographical area was under green cover, which has now been reduced to less than 3%. Paved surfaces in Bengaluru are mostly non-permeable (concrete or asphalt) resulting in lesser water absorption and resultant water run-off and flooding. Vegetation cover also affects water cycle and surface runoff.

• Overexploitation of groundwater
  

  Due to the unplanned growth of the city due to the IT sector, more and more borewells were dug to meet the water demand. This over-exploitation over the years has led to the lowering of the water table.

What Can We Do?

The crisis is at the doorstep, and immediate action is needed to ensure the quality of life. A permanent solution can only be achieved by collective action to retore groundwater and requires the participation of citizens, official bodies and environmental scientists. Rainwater harvesting should be mandatory and part of it should be used to recharge groundwater along with reuse for other purposes. But there still are things we can do now to ensure that communities don’t run out of water.

• Use treated water for toilet flushing.

  Reusing treated greywater for toilet flushing can save approximately 50L of potable water in an average household every day. Treated water can also be used for gardening reducing the pressure on water resources while maintain the green in summer.

• Aerators and dual flush.

  Aerators save water by reducing the amount of water that comes out of the faucet without affecting the water pressure as they mix the water with air. Aerators can save up to 30% water without reducing performance. Similarly dual flush toilets can significantly save water.

• Individual metering and equitable billing
  

  The first step towards a fair billing is the measurement of water usage in individual flats. When you measure the consumption at an individual flat level, the overall water expenses can be divided according to the actual usage. This leads to:

  • Once people are billed for their usage, they will make sure that unnecessary waste is curtailed. People will pay attention to leaks, overflows, and such.
  • Responsible usage – Once there is a comparison data, people will tend to optimize their water consumption.