Bengaluru Faces Potential Water Crisis Amid Rainfall Concerns

Bengaluru is at risk of a drinking water shortage in the next few months if rainfall does not improve, according to BWSSB Chairperson Dr. N. Manjula. The Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir currently holds limited water for drinking purposes, and the city requires significant monthly water supply. The BWSSB has initiated measures to supply water via tankers and is urging residents to conserve water. Concerns are rising over below-normal rainfall in Karnataka, and the situation is further complicated by political tensions regarding water distribution to Tamil Nadu. The community is advised to monitor the situation closely as forecasts predict potential rainfall in the coming weeks.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 30, 2026, 14:30 IST

Bengaluru's Water Supply at Risk

Representational Image

Bengaluru, July 30: The capital of Karnataka may encounter a drinking water shortage in the next five to six months if sufficient rainfall does not occur, warned Dr. N. Manjula, Chairperson of the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), on Thursday.

During a press briefing, Manjula indicated that the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir currently contains a gross storage of 20 TMC of water, with only 14 to 15 TMC available for drinking purposes.

"Bengaluru typically requires around 2.2 TMC of water monthly. If we reserve the available water solely for the city, it would last approximately five to six months. However, we must consider that KRS also supplies water to other towns and cities," she explained.

Manjula cautioned that a continued lack of rainfall during the current monsoon season could lead to a significant water crisis in Bengaluru.

"Without adequate rainfall, Bengaluru will face a water shortage. We are actively monitoring the situation," she stated.

To address the issue, the BWSSB has initiated the "Sanchari Cauvery" program, which facilitates water supply via tankers to areas facing shortages. Currently, the board is conducting around 150 to 200 tanker trips daily, with the capability to increase this to nearly 1,000 trips if necessary.

"We have been observing the situation for the last two months. At present, the demand for tanker water is not excessively high," she noted.

Manjula urged residents to use water judiciously, emphasizing the importance of conservation and minimizing waste as a precautionary measure.

She expressed hope regarding weather forecasts that predict moderate rainfall in the Western Ghats and the Cauvery catchment areas, which could enhance inflows into the KRS reservoir.

"Predictions indicate moderate rainfall in the Cauvery basin, and inflows are ongoing. We will need to monitor how the situation evolves in the upcoming weeks," she added.

Her comments come amid rising concerns about below-average rainfall in various regions of Karnataka and growing worries about drinking water availability in Bengaluru if monsoon inflows into key reservoirs remain insufficient.

Additionally, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) has instructed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, totaling approximately 4 TMC, starting from July 29.

Karnataka has contested this directive before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) due to significant storage shortages. The situation has also taken a political dimension, with the BJP accusing the Congress government of inadequately representing Karnataka's interests before the CWRC.