WaterSupply – Delhi Plans Major Overhaul to Improve Fair Water Distribution

WaterSupply –The Delhi government has begun work on a comprehensive initiative aimed at ensuring a fairer distribution of water across the national capital. Announcing the move on Tuesday, Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said the proposed Water Rationalisation Project is designed to address long-standing disparities in water supply that affect several parts of the city, especially during the summer months.

Rising Demand and Reduced Availability

According to the minister, complaints related to water shortages have increased in recent days due to an extended dry period in the Yamuna River. The reduced river flow has lowered water production by nearly 100 million gallons per day (MGD), placing additional pressure on the city’s supply system.

Delhi’s water requirement reaches approximately 1,250 MGD during peak summer. However, limited availability of raw water has disrupted supply in multiple localities over the last 10 days, leading to growing concerns among residents.

Addressing Long-Standing Supply Imbalances

Singh stated that a significant share of summer water complaints consistently comes from a limited number of Assembly constituencies, while some areas receive comparatively better supply. He noted that this uneven distribution has existed for years and requires a structured solution.

The proposed project will examine factors such as population concentration, local demand trends, existing supply levels and available infrastructure. Based on this assessment, authorities plan to develop a more balanced distribution framework that can improve access to water for residents across all parts of Delhi.

Ageing Pipeline Network Under Scrutiny

A major challenge identified by the government is the condition of Delhi’s ageing water pipeline system. The city currently operates a distribution network spanning 16,634 kilometres. Of this, nearly 5,500 kilometres of pipelines are more than three decades old.

Officials say these older pipelines are more vulnerable to leaks and contamination, resulting in substantial losses of treated water before it reaches households. The issue has contributed to inefficiencies within the distribution network and increased operational challenges for water authorities.

Infrastructure Upgrade Mission Launched

To tackle these concerns, the government has launched a focused programme to replace deteriorating pipelines and modernise key sections of the distribution system. The initiative also aims to reduce leakages and strengthen overall water infrastructure.

The minister said several infrastructure improvements that should have been undertaken years ago are now being prioritised. By upgrading critical components of the network, authorities hope to improve reliability and minimise losses within the system.

Efforts to Reduce Water Losses

Alongside pipeline replacement, the Delhi Jal Board is advancing projects intended to reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW). This category includes water that is produced but never generates revenue due to leaks, illegal connections, theft and operational inefficiencies.

Reducing NRW has become an important focus area for urban water management, as it can significantly improve supply without requiring additional water sources. Officials believe that addressing these losses will help improve service delivery across the city.

Canal Modernisation Proposal Under Review

Another key proposal being evaluated involves converting the existing open DSB Canal into a closed pipeline-based network. Authorities estimate that nearly 40 to 45 per cent of water is currently lost while moving through the canal system.

To assess the feasibility of the project, the government has assigned a study to IIT Roorkee. If implemented, the conversion could help reduce transmission losses, improve efficiency and strengthen Delhi’s overall water distribution framework.

The government expects that a combination of infrastructure upgrades, scientific planning and loss-reduction measures will help create a more dependable and equitable water supply system for the city in the years ahea