Groundwater plunges 6.85m in core Hyderabad as tanker bookings surge

With borewells running dry, the city turns to treated water at full STP capacity from today — and farmers are being asked to skip a crop cycle.

The 6.85-metre drop in the Core Urban Region — which covers GHMC, Cyberabad and Malkajgiri — reflects the compounding effect of the El Niño-linked rainfall deficit that has left Telangana well short of normal monsoon rain. With borewells running dry, households and commercial users are turning to private tankers, and bookings are climbing steeply.

The government's answer is treated water: the Chief Minister said the city will run its sewage treatment plants at 100% capacity from November 1, pushing recycled water for non-drinking uses. The city has also been expanding green water stations to supply tankers with treated water instead of groundwater.

The stress extends beyond the city — farmers in districts like Nizamabad are being asked to defer a crop cycle to conserve drinking water. With the northeast monsoon offering little relief so far, Hyderabad's water managers face a long, dry season ahead.