Hyderabad's current system of providing water on alternate days in most areas is not just an inconvenience but a significant health risk, according to water management specialists. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) is now actively working to shift the entire city to a daily water supply model, a move experts say is crucial for ensuring safe, potable water for all residents.
The Science Behind Safer Water: Pressure is Key
Water experts explain the critical link between supply continuity and public health. When a pipeline system maintains a continuous, 24x7 water supply, it stays under constant positive pressure. This pressure acts as a shield, preventing polluted groundwater or sewage from seeping into the drinking water through any cracks, weak joints, or leaks in the network.
In stark contrast, the existing intermittent supply creates a dangerous vacuum. During shutdown periods, negative pressure develops inside the empty pipes. This suction effect can actively draw in contaminants from nearby drains and sewer lines, leading to cross-contamination. This fundamental engineering principle makes a daily supply a non-negotiable requirement for a safe water system.
Bridging the Growing Demand-Supply Gap
The push for daily supply comes against a backdrop of massive urban growth that has strained resources. HMWSSB officials revealed a startling statistic: while the city has expanded rapidly, the total volume of water supplied has remained almost unchanged for the past ten years. During this same period, the number of consumer connections has skyrocketed from 8 lakh to nearly 14 lakh.
This widening chasm between demand and available supply has forced the utility to stick with the intermittent distribution model. Simply put, there hasn't been enough water to provide to every household every day.
Augmentation Projects Pave the Way for Change
The solution lies in major new water sources. The HMWSSB has pinned its hopes on large-scale augmentation projects currently underway. A board official highlighted that the completion of Godavari Phase II and Phase III is expected to be a game-changer.
These projects are projected to bring an additional 300 million gallons of water per day (MGD) to Hyderabad. Once this new water is integrated into the system and becomes operational, it will provide the necessary volume to support a reliable daily supply. The official stated that this enhancement would enable the board to provide daily water to almost 13.4 million residents across the metropolitan area.
The transition from an alternate-day to a daily water supply system in Hyderabad is, therefore, a dual-purpose mission. It aims to address both the pressing issue of public health by reducing contamination risks and to finally catch up with the city's exploding population and its fundamental right to clean, accessible water.
