Hyderabad faces potential groundwater crisis as water table drops across city

Groundwater levels in several Hyderabad localities have declined sharply ahead of summer, raising fears of a water crisis. Tanker demand and water supply complaints have also increased, signalling rising pressure on the city’s water resources.

Hyderabad: Hyderabad may face an acute groundwater crisis this summer, with monitoring data indicating a steady fall in water table levels across several parts of the city even before the summer months begins to peak.

Officials from the Telangana Groundwater Department said groundwater levels have declined sharply in multiple localities, raising concerns about water availability as temperatures are expected to rise in the coming weeks.

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According to groundwater monitoring data collected through aquifer piezometers, several areas recorded a significant drop in groundwater levels between January and February this year.

The groundwater table declined by between 1.94 metres and 2.57 metres below ground level (BGL) in key localities including Asif Nagar, Bandlaguda, Bahadurpura, Charminar, Saidabad, Musheerabad, Ameerpet, Khairatabad, Marredpally and Tirumalagiri.

Among these, Asifnagar and Marredpally recorded a sharp fall of about 2.5 metres in groundwater levels within a month. Other areas such as Bandlaguda, Bahadurpura, Saidabad, Ameerpet and Khairatabad witnessed groundwater depletion of more than one metre during the same period.

Officials say such rapid depletion at the beginning of the summer season is a cause for concern as groundwater extraction typically rises significantly between March and June due to increased domestic and commercial demand.

A senior official from the Groundwater Department said more than 80 percent of commercial establishments in the city depend on groundwater through borewells, while the remaining rely on tanker supply from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB).

Though Hyderabad received substantial rainfall during the last monsoon season, groundwater monitoring through piezometers showed the water table starting to decline from December itself.

Piezometers:

Piezometers are instruments used to measure groundwater levels and track changes in aquifers. The Groundwater Department has installed these devices at different locations such as educational institutions, public parks and government offices to monitor groundwater depth on a monthly basis.

Officials said the data collected through these monitoring systems helps assess aquifer stress and identify areas where groundwater levels are falling rapidly.

Tanker demand rises across the city:

Even as groundwater levels continue to fall, tanker demand has begun increasing across Hyderabad earlier than usual.

According to data from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, consumers started booking water tankers in February itself, nearly a month ahead of the typical summer demand cycle that usually begins in late March.

In February alone, the Water Board’s Metro Customer Care (MCC) received around 96,000 requests for tanker bookings. To meet this demand, the HMWSSB delivered approximately 1.42 lakh tanker trips to consumers across the city. Each tanker typically carries between 5,000 and 10,000 litres of water depending on vehicle capacity.

Officials said the surge in tanker demand is closely linked to falling groundwater levels, particularly in areas where borewells have started yielding less water or have dried up completely. Tanker dependency has become increasingly common in several residential and commercial pockets of the city where groundwater extraction has intensified over the years.

Complaints of water supply disruptions:

Alongside the rise in tanker demand, the Water Board has also recorded an increase in complaints related to water supply disruptions.

During February, nearly 2,000 complaints were registered regarding the absence of water supply, while more than 2,500 complaints were related to low water pressure in pipelines.

Officials attributed many of these complaints to pipeline bursts, leakages and maintenance work in the city’s extensive water distribution network, which spans thousands of kilometres.

Summer months likely to worsen situation:

Water supply officials expect tanker demand to rise further between April and June if groundwater levels continue to decline.

Hyderabad’s water supply system relies on multiple sources, including river water from the Krishna and Godavari projects, groundwater extraction through borewells and supplementary tanker supply.

Experts say sustainable groundwater management, including rainwater harvesting and improved recharge systems, will be critical to addressing the city’s long-term water security challenges.

With temperatures expected to climb in the coming weeks, authorities are closely monitoring groundwater levels and water demand patterns across the city.

Groundwater levels (in metres below ground level)

Area	Jan 2026	Feb 2026
Asif Nagar	6.80	7.80
Bandlaguda	11.83	13.21
Bahadurpura	8.90	9.04
Charminar	9.32	9.62
Saidabad	7.60	9.00
Ameerpet	13.20	14.31
Khairatabad	7.19	9.13
Marredpally	9.85	12.42
Musheerabad	6.20	7.13
Tirumalagiri	7.00	8.63