Bangalore is running out of water

It’s time to look up and pray because Bangalore is running out of water. The water levels of Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) and Kabini reservoirs—the major sources of water to Bangalore—are depleting. The city is on the  brink of a major water crisis.

“We have stopped drawing drinking water from KRS dam to Bangalore as the water levels there have dropped to 85-ft as compared to 103-ft in July 2009 last year.

Now the source of water is Kabini where the water levels (2,277.41 ft compared to 2,280 in July 2009) are fast depleting due to the decreased inflow,” said a senior official from the Water Resources Department (WRD).

The Cauvery makes up almost 80% of the city’s water supply. This is 900 million litres daily (MLD) of all the water supplied to Bangalore through the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).

The water to Bangalore is being lifted from Shiva Anicaut, which is located downstream of KRS and Kabini dams. It reaches Bangalore after passing through pumping stations at Torekadanahalli, Harohalli and Tataguni.

Another WRD official said that due to lack of sufficient rains in Kodagu and Kerala, the inflow to KRS and Kabini has decreased, resulting in a dip in water levels.