Bangalore Water Challenge Part 2

This post is in  continuation of my earlier post related to bangalore water situation. I happened to come across some new and valuable informations and felt it should be shared.

Bangalore Water Source

Source	Established During	Potential MLD [Million Litres a Day]	Present Withdrawl MLD [Million Litres a day]
Hesarghatta	1896	36	6
T.G.Hally	1933	148	36
Cauvery(100Kms from the City)
Stage-1	1974	135	135
Stage-2	1982	135	135
Stage-3	1993	270	270
Stage-4	2002	270	270
Total		994	852

Source: http://www.bwssb.org , http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org

At present bangalore city population is around 90 lakhs or 9 million. If we take an average consumption of 150 litres per person. Then 1350 million litres required per day. So a short fall of  498 MLD per day.
Apart from domestic consumption you also have non domestic consumption like industrial usage, garden watering etc. Lets say these usage come up to 12% of domestic consumption. In which case overall water requirement per day would close to 1500 MLD.
Table below lists the situation in terms of demand , supply and shortage

Consumption	Per Day
Domestic	1350 Million Litres
Non Domestic	150 Million Litres
Total Demand	1500 Million Litres
Per Day Supply	852 Million Litres
Shortage %	43%

BWSSB is planning to increase Cauvery Stage-4 supply to 500 MLD is coming years. Even if that were to happen the situation wouldn't greatly change. If BWSSB uses the total potential MLD of 994 + additional 230 MLD from Cauvery stage-4, supply would be 1224 MLD. Still a short fall of 276 Million litres per day.

Considering that the MAX supply possible from BWSSB in the next couple of years is only 1224 MLD, an increase in population would only increase the shortage further.

A very serious situation is unfolding in the city. In about 5 years time whooping 40% of the population living in the suburbs wouldn't receive  cavery water. Once the bore well water dries up, you are at the mercy of private tanker water supply. God Bless! everyone in bangalore.

Water Challenge for Bangalore

Water, Water and Water. Most of us are familiar with the normal out cry in bangalore about traffic and infrastructure. In years to come the most important issue that would haunt us is electricity and water. Most valued Cauvery water connection is consistently giving lesser water. In year 2000 we were getting 3000 liters on alternate days. Today on an average we get 2000 liters on alternate days. A short fall of almost 33% in about 12 years.


Let me list why water shortage would finally quell Bangalore story:
 i) Water source near bangalore like lakes are fast vanishing because of encroachment.
ii)  No major river is passing through the city
iii) Most parts of the city is at 2800 feet above sea level. Bore well cannot be dug at this altitude. Chances of finding water at this height very remote.
iv) City is in rain shadow region and gets average rain of 98 cms unlike mumbai whcih gets 250 cms per year.


As you know 30% of the city's population lives in the outskirts like sarjapur road, whitefield, ram murty nagar,
Ecity, yehlanka etc. There is no cavery water connection in these area. They are all dependent on Bore water . Pretty soon water from the bores would get exhausted. So people here have no choice but get water from outside.


Private water providers are charging 200 Rs for every 1000 litres. A family of 3 would require 400 to 500 litres every day. So you would end up spending 100 Rs every day. Thus a family of 3 would spend 3000 Rs every month to purchase water. As you know price of water from private agencies cannot  be regulated. Every year the price is going up by  20%.  So in about 5 years , you would have to spend nearly 200% more for water. With most projects coming up in the outskirts  situation would get more precarious.


Quote " Civilizations have always prospered  in habitations close to water source"

Kindly also visit my another posting related to water issue at:
http://vijayderebail.blogspot.in/2012/02/bangalore-water-challenge-part-2.html

[Issues Related to Bangalore water source and water availability depth for Bangalore has been added]