By Subham Gupta, Water Resources Correspondent
Subham Gupta is an environmental journalist with over a decade of experience covering urban water security and infrastructure resilience.
Key Takeaways
- Reservoir Status: Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir has dipped to 514.3 ft (FRL: 590 ft), nearing dead storage at 510 ft. sakshipost.comnewsmeter.in
- Supply Impact: Gravity-fed transfers to Akkampally balancing reservoir risk suspension; emergency pumping plans are underway. sakshipost.comnewsmeter.in
- Expert Insight: Urban water systems worldwide face a 40% supply–demand gap by 2030, underscoring Hyderabad’s vulnerability. documents.worldbank.org
- Action Required: Residents urged to conserve water and stay updated via the HMWSSB portal.
Reservoir Levels and Supply Warning
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) issued an official warning on June 22, 2025, as water levels in the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir fell to 514.3 ft, perilously close to the 510 ft threshold that sustains gravity-based transfers to the Akkampally balancing reservoir. If levels dip below this point, daily supply of 0.179 TMC via gravity will halt, compelling round-the-clock pumping of Krishna River water to meet the city’s needs. sakshipost.comnewsmeter.in
“We are monitoring inflows daily and have accelerated preparations for emergency pumping,” said an HMWSSB official.
Additional pressure comes as levels in Srisailam and Singur reservoirs have also receded, with Singur at 1,708 ft versus its full level of 1,717 ft. telanganatoday.com
Why This Matters
- Growing Demand: Hyderabad’s daily demand stands at 650–670 MGD, projected to surge to 820 MGD by 2030 amid rapid urbanization. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- Aging Infrastructure: Leakages account for nearly 20 MGD losses, the equivalent of 4% of non-revenue water, pointing to urgent upgrade needs. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- Global Context: According to the World Bank’s 2022 “Water Scarce Cities” report, urban areas must diversify sources and invest in storage to avert crises—Hyderabad’s reliance on a single reservoir exemplifies this risk. documents.worldbank.org
What Residents Should Do
- Adopt Conservation Measures: Limit outdoor watering, fix household leaks, and use water-efficient fixtures.
- Store Safely: Keep at least two days’ supply in clean containers.
- Stay Informed: Track HMWSSB advisories via their official website and social media channels.
- Report Issues: Notify local authorities of pipeline leaks or low-pressure zones.
Daily Digest
Stay on top of unfolding developments with our 3-day forecast for Hyderabad:
Currently 85° · Cloudy
Hyderabad, India
| Today | 87°75° | Cloudy and breezy |
 Tuesday | 90°75° | Cloudy and windy; an afternoon thunderstorm or two |
| Wednesday | 90°75° | Cloudy and breezy |
Fact-Check
| Claim | Source |
|---|---|
| Nagarjuna Sagar at 514.3 ft on June 22, 2025 | HMWSSB statement via Sakshi Post sakshipost.com |
| Gravity transfer unfeasible below 510 ft | NewsMeter report newsmeter.in |
| Hyderabad demand growing from 550 MGD to 820 MGD by 2030 | Times of India data timesofindia.indiatimes.com |
| Global urban water gap could hit 40% by 2030 | World Bank report documents.worldbank.org |
