Delhi’s ongoing water crisis intensified on Wednesday as the national capital continued to face a severe supply deficit despite Haryana increasing water flow through the Munak canal system.
Officials said the city is currently grappling with a shortfall of nearly 90 to 100 million gallons per day, leaving several neighbourhoods struggling with low water pressure, irregular supply, and rising contamination complaints.
The situation is expected to remain difficult unless more raw water is released into the Yamuna River channel, government officials said.
Delhi relying heavily on neighbouring states
According to the Hindustan Times, Delhi depends significantly on neighbouring states for its drinking water needs. Around 61 percent of the city’s raw water comes from Haryana, while Uttar Pradesh supplies roughly 25 percent through the Ganga system. The remaining requirement is met through groundwater extraction.
Under normal conditions, Delhi receives nearly 1,002 million gallons daily from various sources against a demand of approximately 1,250 million gallons. Authorities bridge the gap using tankers and tubewells.
However, officials said current supply levels have dropped to nearly 904 to 905 million gallons per day because of reduced water availability in the Yamuna channel.
A senior government official said Haryana had increased water flow through the Munak canal by about 55 cusecs but added that the increase was insufficient to compensate for the sharp decline in Yamuna water reaching Delhi.
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Yamuna channel drying up worsens situation
According to the Hindustan Times, officials said Delhi typically receives around 210 cusecs of water through the Yamuna River channel, feeding major treatment plants at Wazirabad and Chandrawal.
That flow has now almost completely dried up, severely impacting treatment and distribution systems.
Authorities are reportedly urging Haryana to release additional water from the Hathnikund Barrage and the Somb tributary to stabilise supply levels in the capital.
Government sources also noted that the Munak canal system has limited carrying capacity and cannot fully replace water normally received through the river course.
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Residents report low pressure and contamination
According to the Hindustan Times, the worsening shortage is now being felt across several parts of Delhi, especially in tail-end colonies where residents reported dry taps, reduced supply timings, and low water pressure. Complaints emerged from areas including Patel Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Vishnu Garden, Model Town, Palam, Raj Nagar, and Mahavir Enclave.
Officials from the Delhi Jal Board said falling water pressure often increases the risk of contamination as household pumps begin drawing polluted water through leakage points in pipelines.
Contamination complaints were also reported from parts of Dwarka, Rohini, Rajinder Nagar, and Pitampura.
Students living near the University of Delhi North Campus areas, including Vijay Nagar, Roop Nagar and Kamla Nagar, also reported irregular and contaminated water supply as the crisis deepened across the city.
