Nagpur Considers Alternate-Day Water Supply Amid Drought
As reservoir levels decline, Nagpur may reinstate alternate-day water supply, a measure last seen during the 2019 crisis.
Nagpur's water reservoirs are currently at 58% capacity, raising concerns about future supply.
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation plans to review water reserves next week amid state directives.
Officials suggest implementing alternate-day supply from January 1, 2027, to conserve water.
In response to dwindling reservoir levels, Nagpur officials are contemplating the reintroduction of alternate-day water supply, a strategy last employed during the severe water crisis of 2019. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is scheduled to assess the city's rapidly diminishing water reserves next week, driven by an urgent directive from the state government to prioritize drinking water availability.
The last instance of alternate-day water supply occurred in July 2019, when the NMC had to resort to extracting water from the dead storage of reservoirs to manage acute shortages. Currently, with reservoir levels under significant strain and the Maharashtra water resources department mandating that civic bodies ensure drinking water access until August 31, 2027, the NMC is proactively evaluating conservation strategies to prevent a recurrence of the 2019 crisis.
An NMC official noted that the warning comes even before the peak summer season, with reservoir stocks supplying Nagpur currently at approximately 58%. With temperatures already mirroring those of March, officials are concerned that rising heat and evaporation could further deplete available water in the upcoming months. Presently, NMC is supplying around 770 million liters per day (MLD), slightly below the nearly 780 MLD typically provided during peak summer.
Divya Dhurde, chairperson of the Water Works Committee, emphasized the necessity for early planning given the current situation. She reported that the water stock across five reservoirs in Nagpur district stands at 70.45%, a significant drop from last year's 85.71%. The water resources department anticipates that around 121 million cubic meters of the available stock will be lost to evaporation.
Vijay Zalke, vice-chairperson of the Water Works Committee, has proposed that the NMC initiate alternate-day water supply starting January 1, 2027, rather than waiting for a crisis to escalate. He recalled the summer of 2019 when the NMC was compelled to implement alternate-day supply for about a month. Zalke also urged for immediate restrictions on water-intensive activities, including new construction, to ensure that available potable water is reserved for drinking purposes. He highlighted the need to take decisive action to reduce potable water usage and address illegal connections to the water supply. Concerns have also been raised regarding the extremely low flow of the Kanhan river, further jeopardizing Nagpur's water supply sustainability as summer approaches.
