Water theft, leaks and wastage aggravate Delhi's water crisis

People queuing up with empty vessels, buckets and pots; crowds clamouring around and climbing over water tankers; and desperate residents cutting valves open to collect water from pipelines have become common sights in a parched Delhi, reeling under a severe water crisis.

The origins of this crisis can be traced back to the national capital's water sources, and how this scarce resource is transported to homes.

Delhi's water sources

Almost 90% of Delhi's water comes from the rivers Yamuna, Ravi-Beas, and Ganga.

The city gets roughly 269 million gallons per day from the Ganga, through the Upper Ganga Canal in Uttar Pradesh, according to the DJB. Nearly 404 MGD comes from the Yamuna and 267 MGD from Ravi-Beas, that enter Delhi from Haryana through the Carrier Lined Channel and the Delhi Sub Branch. The Delhi Jal Board also draws water directly from the Yamuna.

Groundwater drawn from tube wells and ranney-wells contributes more than 100 million gallons a day to Delhi's water supply.

Climate change and pollution

Climate change, global warming and inadequate rainfall has led to dipping water levels in the Yamuna, and therefore Delhi's water reservoirs. The water that remains is polluted with the discharge of toxic waste from small and medium industries in the area. This limits Delhi's ability to draw water directly from the river.

However, scorching heat and changing rainfall patterns are not problems exclusive to Delhi. Several states, especially those in Northwestern India, are getting drier by the year.

Inter-state water disputes

Delhi and Haryana have a long-running dispute over Yamuna water. The national capital is often accused of drawing more water than allocated under various agreements. Delhi, in turn, accuses its neighbours of not cooperating with it during a crisis.

The Supreme Court last week disposed of Delhi's plea seeking water from Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, and asked the Upper Yamuna River Board to resolve the issue expeditiously.

But, that did not stop the political slugfest between the AAP and the BJP.

Delhi's water minister Atishi accused the BJP of "stopping water supply to Delhi through its government in Haryana. You go to Wazirabad Barrage, there is not a drop of water… If the BJP will not provide water to Delhi, if water will not reach the treatment plant, then how will water be supplied?"

The BJP hit back suggesting the AAP leaders are indulging in "melodrama" over the water crisis in Delhi instead of fixing the issues of water theft by tanker mafia and leakages that account for more than half of the water produced in the city.

Water leakage and theft

Delhi pumps out over 900 million gallons of water from its water treatment plants, but less than half of this reaches homes. While some of the water is lost in transit due to evaporation, there's a significant amount of seepage because the pipelines are old.

Then, there's the issue of theft. Locals crippled with water shortage, often loosen screws of pipelines to release some water. But the bigger culprit is the tanker mafia -- private tanker owners who puncture the lines or cut valves to steal water, that they in-turn sell to parched residents at a high cost.

The Delhi government has, now, sought police protection for the main pipeline network, and has redoubled its efforts to repair damaged lines.

Inadequate capacity

Even if river water is released to Delhi, and the government stops pilferage, the national capital would still be short of water.

Delhi has nine water treatment plants with a combined capacity of around 1000 million gallons a day. Even at full capacity, the Jal Board cannot meet the city’s peak-summer demand of 1290 MGD, according to the Economic Survey for 2023-24.

The water department has attempted to plug this gap by steadily increasing groundwater extraction. But, with the shortage of rainfall, this could lead to depletion of the water table and poses a threat future water supplies.

Long-term solutions must involve sustainable practices like water conservation, recycling and rainwater harvesting.

In the meantime, the AAP government must confront shrill cries from the opposition -- BJP and Congress alike -- and scramble for stop-gap arrangements to quench Delhi's thirst.