Hyderabad’s water tanker bookings jump from 87,000 in October 2025 to 2.2 lakh in October 2026

A workshop on El Nino contingency was organised by the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) Telangana and CREDAI Hyderabad on Thursday, November 5.

Water tanker bookings in Hyderabad have more than doubled in a year, rising from around 87,000 in October 2025 to approximately 2.2 lakh in October 2026, indicating mounting pressure on the city’s water resources ahead of the summer months.

With concerns over groundwater depletion and declining availability of surface water, civic authorities have called upon real estate developers and residential communities to increasingly use treated wastewater for construction, landscaping and other non-drinking purposes to conserve freshwater for essential domestic requirements.

The issue came up at a workshop on El Nino contingency organised by the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) Telangana and CREDAI Hyderabad on Thursday, November 5. Senior officials from civic bodies, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) and the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), along with real estate developers, discussed measures to prepare Hyderabad for potential water stress during the coming summer.

HMWSSB Managing Director K. Ashok Reddy said the sharp increase in tanker bookings reflected the pressure on both surface water sources and groundwater. He said nearly 20% of water consumption could be saved through behavioural changes and by preventing the misuse of water. Mr. Reddy said the Board’s green tanker initiative was making treated water available for such requirements. He also flagged concerns over private STPs that were either non-functional or not being utilised to their full capacity.

Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) Commissioner G. Srijana said the prevailing water situation should be viewed as an opportunity to bring about long-term changes in water management rather than merely as a crisis requiring temporary interventions. Pointing to a 25% rainfall deficit, she said that against an expected 200 TMC of water at Srisailam, only around 50 TMC was available.

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner R.V. Karnan urged builders to use treated water supplied by the Water Board for construction and landscaping instead of relying on groundwater. Large developers with existing STPs should also reuse treated water generated at their facilities, including surplus water that might otherwise enter the sewerage network.

Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) Commissioner T. Vinay Krishna Reddy said shifting construction activities to treated wastewater could significantly reduce the demand for freshwater. Urging builders to voluntarily adopt treated water before it became mandatory, he said the necessary government framework was already in place.

HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath called for preparations to begin well ahead of the summer months rather than waiting for the water situation to deteriorate. He said HYDRAA had been taking enforcement action against unauthorised groundwater extraction, including closing borewells, taking action against equipment, seizing vehicles and handing them over to the police. With groundwater levels declining in densely populated areas, he stressed the need to protect available resources for domestic requirements.

NAREDCO Telangana president K. Sreedhar Reddy said early preparedness and continued collaboration between the government, civic authorities and the real estate industry would be critical to protecting Hyderabad’s water resources.

CREDAI Hyderabad president N. Jaideep Reddy said the workshop had provided developers with practical guidance on treated-water reuse and responsible water management, which could be incorporated into sustainable practices across real estate projects.