BWSSB sets drinking water supply record

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced an ambitious plan to provide drinking water to two crore citizens in Bengaluru. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), under the leadership of Ram Prasad Manohar, is working on innovative projects to address the city’s growing water demands.

As part of a public awareness campaign during Water Conservation Week held from March 21 to 28, 5,33,642 people took a water-saving pledge, earning BWSSB a place in the Guinness World Records. The initiative aimed to highlight how potable water is being misused in India for non-essential purposes like car washing and gardening.

The Deputy CM noted that nearly 35% of consumers don’t pay their water bills, resulting in massive revenue loss. Despite this, the board continues operations, incurring annual losses of ₹400–₹500 crore. Water rates had not been revised for over a decade, but after consultation with the Chief Minister, the government approved a tariff revision to recover at least part of the deficit.

He also revealed that Bengaluru’s population exceeds 1.4 crore within the city and another 50 lakh in surrounding areas, including 110 newly added villages. Plans are in motion to extend water supply to these regions and declare Greater Bengaluru. The BWSSB is now focused on improving treated water reuse, including redirecting processed sewage into lakes. The Deputy CM stressed that sustainable solutions and reforms in pricing—modeled after the transport sector—are crucial for meeting the city’s future water needs.