1. Tanker demand soars: Bookings crossed 9,000/day in March; expected to hit 12,000/day in May.
2. Massive spike: 7.15 lakh tankers delivered  in Jan–Mar 2025 vs 3.68 lakh in 2024.
3. Hotspot areas: Alwal, Malkajgiri, Kukatpally, Jubilee Hills among worst affected. 
4. HMWSSB efforts: 1,094 tankers delivering water from 138 filling points; 98% orders being met in 24 hrs.
5. Private players cash in: Residents turn to costlier private tankers due to delays.

metro india news  I hyderabad

Hyderabadis seem to be bottled in a deep water crises resulting in an unprecedented demand for water tankers. During non-summer months, the number of daily bookings typically ranges between 2,000 and 3,000 but this year, thanks to the rising temperatures and plummeting groundwater levels, citizens have no other option but to book water tankers from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB).

However, this year the demand has skyrocketed. In January 2025, daily bookings rose to 3,800, up from 2,600 in January 2024. February 2025 saw a further jump to 6,574 bookings per day, compared to 3,700 the previous year. March 2025 recorded an average of 9,100 bookings per day—almost 4,000 more than the 5,800 seen in March 2024. Officials predict that the number could cross 10,000 per day by the end of April and touch 12,000 in May.

From January to March this year, HMWSSB delivered a total of 7.15 lakh tankers—nearly double the 3.68 lakh delivered during the same period last year. To manage the overwhelming demand, the board is operating with 1,094 tanker lorries from 138 water filling points spread across 85 filling stations in 22 O&M zones.

Despite the pressure, HMWSSB claims to fulfill 98% of all booking requests within 24 hours. However, delays—even for a day—are proving difficult for many households, particularly those in high-rise apartments, pushing some residents to turn to private water suppliers, who are now charging a premium.

High-demand Areas and needed measures

Certain areas are experiencing the worst of the crisis. Divisions such as Alwal, Malkajgiri, and Asifnagar have reported the highest booking numbers. Groundwater depletion is being observed across Ameerpet, Maredpally, Bandlaguda, Trimulgherry, Medipally, Kukatpally, Alwal, Ramachandrapuram, and Ibrahimpatnam, with similar conditions in Nampally, Secunderabad, and Hayatnagar mandals. Even affluent localities like Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, and Serilingampally are heavily dependent on tanker water.

Currently, HMWSSB is supplying around 555 million gallons of water per day to Greater Hyderabad and nearby municipalities within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits. With reservoir levels also dipping, the board is preparing for emergency pumping operations to handle the crisis. To support the increased demand, 24x7 tanker operations have been initiated and additional resources are being deployed in water-stressed zones.

Officials cite inadequate rainfall and dwindling groundwater reserves as the primary reasons for the surge in demand. The authorities are now urging citizens to conserve water and comply with rationing measures to ensure fair and sufficient distribution until the monsoon season arrives.