Ahmedabad water use crosses 200 litres per capita daily; some western wards touch 250 litres

Ahmedabad’s average per capita daily water consumption has crossed 200 litres, exceeding the prescribed norm of 150 litres per person. In several western wards, usage has gone beyond 250 litres per day, even as parts of the old city report irregular and contaminated supply.

The rising consumption has increased pressure on the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), which is also grappling with mounting dues for bulk water sourced from the Narmada canal. The civic body currently pays ₹5.02 per kilolitre to the state government for Narmada water.

Per capita use well above 150-litre norm

According to a survey, the city’s total daily water consumption stood at 1,579 million litres per day (MLD) in November 2023. At present, the AMC receives around 1,750 MLD of raw water daily from the Narmada canal.

Western and north-western localities reporting over 250 litres per capita daily include:

1. Paldi
2. Navrangpura
3. Vasna
4. Wadaj
5. Ranip
6. Chandkheda
7. Thaltej
8. Bodakdev
9. Gota

 The citywide average crossing 200 litres per capita daily—despite the 150-litre benchmark—has raised concerns over long-term sustainability and equitable distribution.

Old city residents flag irregular, contaminated supply

In contrast, residents in the central zone of the old city—particularly Khadia, Sarangpur, Raipur and Jamalpur—often struggle to receive even one full supply cycle.

Although the corporation provides water for two hours daily, complaints received through the civic complaint redressal system indicate that for 15 to 20 minutes, the supply is frequently contaminated during the distribution window.

The contrast between high-consumption western wards and supply-strained central areas has highlighted zone-wise disparities in access and quality.

Water meter policy may return

Following the AMC’s general elections and the formation of a new term, there is a strong possibility that the water meter policy introduced nearly 14 years ago may be re-implemented in coordination with the ruling party.

Officials are examining whether reviving metering could help regulate consumption in high-use wards and improve accountability under the current supply framework.

₹2 crore daily spend, mounting Narmada dues

To supply water to a population of around 8 million, the corporation spends nearly ₹2 crore per day. Narmada water is distributed through 235 water distribution stations across the city. The annual expenditure on water supply exceeds ₹725 crore.

Even as the civic body considers administrative measures, the widening gap between prescribed norms and actual consumption underscores a broader challenge: ensuring equitable distribution while encouraging water conservation in a rapidly expanding city.