Ahmedabad sees surge in water demand as summer sets in, consumes 200 L per capita daily

The onset of summer has led to a sharp rise in water demand in Ahmedabad, with authorities urging residents to exercise caution over excessive consumption.

Official data indicates that the city’s daily water supply increased from 1,752.51 million litres per day (MLD) in February to 1,796.05 MLD by mid-March, reflecting an early seasonal rise of around 44 MLD in consumption.

Ahmedabad receives its water through 235 distribution stations connected to treatment facilities at Kotarpur Water Treatment Plant, Jaspur Water Treatment Plant and Raska Water Treatment Plant. Despite the prescribed benchmark of 150 litres per capita per day, consumption in several areas has exceeded 200 litres.

Amdavad Municipal Corporation spends approximately ₹725 crore annually on water purification, chlorination and distribution. However, revenue from water tax remains significantly lower, with over 19 lakh residential and 6.53 lakh commercial properties collectively contributing only ₹264.79 crore each year.

Efforts to introduce water metering in parts of the city have also faced setbacks. A pilot project launched in Jodhpur and Stadium wards around 14 years ago was discontinued following issues such as meter theft and related disputes, preventing its expansion citywide.

Experts suggest that the installation of water meters could reduce consumption by up to 50%. With water demand expected to rise further in the coming months, there are indications that the proposal to reintroduce metering may be revived in the upcoming term of the civic body as part of broader conservation measures.

Among the city’s seven zones, the central zone, dominated by traditional pols and chawls, is most vulnerable to water shortages due to the absence of adequate storage infrastructure. Unlike other areas equipped with underground or overhead tanks, residents in this zone have limited capacity to store water during supply disruptions.