Hyderabad’s key drinking water sources’ levels hit record low, HMWSSB hopes for the ensuing monsoon

All six major drinking water sources, including Godavari, Krishna, Manjira, Singur, Osman Sagar, and Himayat Sagar, have dipped below their Full Tank Levels

Hyderabad: There is a drop in the water levels at all the major drinking sources that provide drinking water to Greater Hyderabad while the groundwater reserves in most parts of the city have depleted drastically. Given the scenario, to sustain a comfortable availability of water, copious rains this monsoon is a key factor.

All six major drinking water sources, including Godavari, Krishna, Manjira, Singur, Osman Sagar, and Himayat Sagar, have dipped below their Full Tank Levels (FTLs).

The water levels in the reservoirs were comfortable up to the last week of January but dipped since the beginning of March. “The live storage position of the drinking water reservoirs is revealing lower than that of last year,” according to the latest statement of water levels released by the HMWSSB.

For instance, the Godavari drinking water reservoir, where water is tapped from Sripada Yellampally, supplies 172 million gallons of water per day (MGD) to Greater Hyderabad. Currently, the water level of the reservoirs is 467 meters as against its FTL of 485 meters.

Then Krishna water, which is tapped from Akkampally, an offshore point, supplies 270 MGD to the city. The HMWSSB statement shows the water level to be 244 meters as against 245 meters, its FTL.

Regarding Singur and Manjira drinking water sources, the water board is supplying 120 MGD to meet the GHMC periphery area and certain parts of the city. Singur’s water level is 1708 ft as against 1717 ft, its FTL. In Manjira, however, the water level dipped up to four feet. Its FTL is 1651 ft, and the recorded water level was 1647 ft.

The water board is drawing a total of 171 million litres per day (MLD) from twin reservoirs, Osmansagar (123 MLD) and Himayat Sagar (48 MLD), for city and adjoining areas of the old city. The water level of the Osman Sagar was 1784 ft as against its 1790 ft FTL, and in Himayat Sagar, the current water level was 1758 ft as against 1763 ft FTL.

Meanwhile, the unchecked exploitation of the groundwater in most parts of the city is reflected in the depleting reserves and in the increased demand in water tankers.This summer, the HMWSSB was delivering nearly 2 lakh tanker trips per month!

A Amarender Reddy, HMWSSB Director-Operations-I, told ‘Telangana Today’, “The water levels in the drinking water sources dipped is true, but seen a little rise due to incessant rains. The southwest monsoon 2025 has advanced, and the HMWSSB hopes that water levels in all the drinking water reservoirs will rise satisfactorily in this monsoon.”