Bengaluru has water reserves for only 4 months

People collect drinking water from a water tanker (PTI Photo)BENGALURU: Even though the southwest monsoon has been delayed this year, Bengaluru residents need not worry about water shortages for the next four months, according to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).The utility said the combined storage in the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) and Kabini reservoirs is sufficient to meet the city's monthly demand, while officials are also monitoring groundwater levels to prepare for any long-term challenges.Bengaluru requires nearly 2.3 thousand million cubic feet (tmc) of water every month.To strengthen long-term planning, the BWSSB chief directed officials to monitor groundwater levels across the city and asked senior engineers to obtain a comprehensive report from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) on Bengaluru's groundwater status and the functioning of existing borewells.“IISc is monitoring groundwater levels through observation wells. If groundwater depletion is detected, we will have to identify new locations to augment groundwater sourcing. Nothing alarming has been reported as of now,” she said.The BWSSB chairperson also urged residents to conserve water and avoid using treated drinking water for non-essential purposes.“Residents should avoid using BWSSB water for washing doorsteps, gardening and other non-essential activities. Those with access to borewell water can use it for such purposes,” she added.According to the Central Public Health and Environment Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the benchmark for domestic water supply in Indian cities with sewerage systems is 135 litres per capita per day (LPCD).The guideline covers water required for drinking, cooking, bathing, toilet flushing, laundry, utensil washing and household cleaning.