Lessons for Sustainable Urban Water Systems in Bengaluru, India

Bangalore has pushed for the implementation of several innovative strategies to increase retention of rainwater, wastewater, and halt the use of borewells. However, many of these plans fall by the wayside when regulation is spotty and fines become too small or unenforced (Parween, 2022). Below we will discuss some of the needed pushes for avoiding a Bangalore Day Zero. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) The city of Bangalore is reaching a tipping point for its issues surrounding water scarcity, urban flooding, and the persistent problem of pollution as well. The novel idea of integrated water resources management (IWRM) ecompasses different social, environmental, and economic approaches to water management (Parween, 2022). Bangalore has struggled on all of these fronts in the past, and would benefit greatly from urgent implementation of regulations that cover: Rainwater Harvesting - As of 2023, even with rainwater harvesting mandates for larger buildings over 30 ...

With around 14 million residents and growing, perhaps one of the most desperate problems facing Bangalore is the fast depletion of groundwater supplies. The city’s rapid expansion over the last few decades, with little regard for water management, has led to hundreds of thousands of private, unregulated wells popping up across the city. Even these private wells have become unreliable due to dropping water tables, so many are drilled to depths of 1500 feet or more. The unchecked pumping of groundwater from these wells, little to no groundwater infiltration from compaction and impervious surface expansion, and irregular monsoon patterns occurring due to climate change have all contributed to depletion of water supply for Bangalore (Cave, 2024). The above graphic shows the land use change throughout Bangalore over the past five decades. Almost all of the city has been converted to the built, urban environment, leaving little to no surface area for water infiltration, and no fl...

The Impact of Rapid Urbanization on Water Management in Bangalore: Challenges and Solutions Bangalore, once known as the "City of Lakes," now faces severe urban flooding and an acute water crisis due to unchecked urbanization. This transformation from a landscape rich with interconnected water bodies to a densely built urban area has significantly strained the city’s water management systems. In this blog post, we delve into the historical context, the current challenges, and potential strategies to address Bangalore's water management issues. Historical Context and Current Challenges: Urban Flooding and Loss of Water Bodies Bangalore's historical water management system was a marvel of engineering, featuring numerous lakes connected by a network of canals, designed to manage rainwater and support agriculture. However, rapid urbanization has led to a dramatic reduction in these water bodies. From having around 400 lakes in the early 20th century, Bangalore ...

Bengaluru, India is grappling with a severe water crisis. Bengaluru, India’s bustling tech hub and the country’s very own "Silicon Valley," is facing a serious water crisis. Once known for its lush gardens and plentiful lakes, the city now finds itself grappling with severe water shortages, driven by rapid urbanization, groundwater depletion, and climate change. Let’s break down the current state of Bengaluru’s water supply, environmental water, and wastewater management, and explore the urgent measures being taken. Water Scarcity: Bengaluru is in the midst of a serious water scarcity issue. Recent months have brought unusually high temperatures and little to no rainfall, pushing water levels dangerously low . The city needs around 2 billion liters of water daily for its nearly 14 million residents. But right now, supplies are down to just half of that, creating a crisis situation. In areas like Bandepalya, residents are feeling the affects, with water tankers...