Delhi is bracing for a potential water crisis as a rainfall deficit impacts water treatment plants, leading to reduced production. The city, already grappling with rising temperatures and increasing demand, faces a challenging summer ahead. Several factors, including deficient rainfall, high pollution levels in the Yamuna River, and infrastructure limitations, contribute to the impending water shortage.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported a significant rainfall deficit in the region, impacting the water levels in the Yamuna River, a crucial source for Delhi's water supply. With reduced water flow, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is struggling to draw sufficient water for treatment. The Wazirabad reservoir, a key source, has seen its water levels dip below normal, exacerbating the problem. Reduced rainfall across Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi between May 1st and May 24th resulted in the Yamuna River not having enough water for the DJB to draw from the Wazirabad reservoir, according to a DJB official.
Adding to the woes, high levels of ammonia and other pollutants in the Yamuna River are forcing water treatment plants to cut production. Several plants, including Wazirabad, Chandrawal, and Sonia Vihar, have been impacted by the elevated pollution, reducing their operational capacity. The DJB's plants are unable to treat raw water with ammonia levels exceeding 0.9ppm, but levels at the Wazirabad Barrage have reached five times that limit. This contamination has become a recurring problem, with officials reporting spikes in ammonia levels multiple times this year. The pollution is often blamed on industrial waste being discharged into the river from neighboring Haryana, leading to political tensions between the two states.
Delhi's water demand is constantly increasing. The city's current population of over 2.5 crore requires approximately 1,250 million gallons per day (MGD), but the current supply hovers around 990-1,000 MGD. This gap is met by extracting water from neighboring states. The city relies on supplies from neighboring states, with the Yamuna, Ganga, and Ravi-Beas rivers, and groundwater contributing major shares. However, the total supply of 953 MGD falls short of the estimated demand of 1,380 MGD, creating a deficit of 427 MGD.
The DJB has been taking measures to address the water shortage. In the short term, efforts are being made to optimize the use of available water and manage supply. The DJB is diverting raw water from the CLC and DSB canals to the Wazirabad plant to dilute the contaminated water. Furthermore, the Delhi government has launched the Summer Action Plan 2025, an aggressive strategy aimed at ensuring the city’s residents have access to reliable water.
In the long term, the DJB is working on several projects to augment the city's water supply. Three new water treatment plants are planned for Iradat Nagar, Najafgarh, and Chhatarpur, which will add a combined capacity of 235 MGD. To ensure raw water supply for these new plants, the DJB is looking to source water from dams in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. A dam proposed on the Giri River in Himachal Pradesh is expected to supply 275 MGD of water to the capital. In addition, a new 11-kilometer pipeline will be laid from the Haiderpur Water Treatment Plant to the Wazirabad barrage to mitigate intermittent water supply issues stemming from high ammonia levels in the Yamuna.
The water crisis in Delhi highlights the urgent need for sustainable water management practices. Efforts to reduce pollution in the Yamuna River, improve water infrastructure, and promote water conservation are crucial to ensure a reliable water supply for the city's growing population.
