Ahmedabad's Looming Water Crisis: Borewells Hide Shortage, Threaten River
While residents of Ahmedabad have not yet experienced dry taps, the city is grappling with a significant and unsustainable gap between its official water supply and actual consumption. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) supplies approximately 1,850 million litres per day (MLD) to the public. However, sources indicate that thousands of homes and commercial buildings are supplementing this with an additional 700 MLD drawn from private borewells, a practice that is straining the city's water resources.
Unmeasured Groundwater Use Exacerbates Sewage Overflow
The AMC has uncovered a critical discrepancy in its water management calculations. Official records reveal a gap of nearly 700 MLD between the water supplied and the sewage received. This mismatch points to a substantial volume of groundwater extracted via private borewells, which subsequently enters the drainage network without being accounted for in initial supply estimates.
The situation is further aggravated by unmeasured sewage discharge into the stormwater system, suggesting that actual groundwater usage could be even higher than currently estimated. In July 2024, a tender exposed that 786.49 MLD of untreated sewage was being bypassed and released directly into the Sabarmati River, highlighting a severe environmental threat.
AMC's Response and Future Planning
To address this pollution, the corporation plans to treat the excess wastewater using bioremediation methods. However, the scale of the problem underscores how unchecked groundwater extraction is contributing to river contamination. City officials acknowledge that while water supply remains a critical issue, the widespread reliance on borewells has so far averted an immediate shortage. They warn, however, that this growing dependence is unsustainable and could precipitate a serious crisis in the coming years.
In preparation for long-term needs, the AMC has initiated several measures. Six months ago, approval was granted to draw 467 MLD of raw water daily from the Narmada main canal to serve western Ahmedabad. Additionally, the Jaspur water treatment plant is undergoing an expansion that will add 200 MLD of capacity, bringing its total to 600 MLD.
Demographic Projections Drive Infrastructure Development
Planning efforts are guided by robust demographic forecasts. "Ahmedabad's population is expected to reach 14 million by 2040," states a senior AMC official. Surveys in emerging western areas such as Bopal, Ghuma, and affordable housing zones beyond the Sardar Patel Ring Road project that the population in these belts will rise to 3.4 million by 2030 and 5.6 million by 2045. This growth is anticipated to push daily water demand to over 1,022 MLD.
To meet this escalating demand, the AMC has acquired land for a new 400 MLD treatment plant. Furthermore, a Rs 91-crore main water pipeline has been laid to serve areas along the Ring Road and SG Highway, ensuring better distribution to rapidly expanding neighborhoods.
