Delhi turns to recycled water to quench a thirsty future

Solutions beyond the ordinary is the need of the hour for the growing daily water demand of the national capital. In addition to potable water, treated wastewater could be supplied for non- drinking usage such as flushing, gardening and industrial operations.

The ever-growing Delhi population, which is estimated to reach 30 million by 2041 would increase the drinking water requirement to about 1,500 million gallons per day (MGD) from the present 1,250 MGD for a population of 25 million, as reported in Economic Survey 2025-26.

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The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) in an effort to meet the growing requirement is planning a multi-pronged approach. The plan envisages reducing per capita potable water supply to about 40 gallons per capita per day (GPCD), while non-drinking needs would be met through waste water supplied via dual piping network.

The survey, tabled on Monday, highlighted that inspite of Delhi expanding the water treatment capacity over the years, the growing population has outpaced the development. DJB’s installed treatment capacity rose by about 21.6% over the past 16 years, from 790 MGD in 2009 to 961 MGD in 2025. For peak summer season, the city produced 1,000 MGD through 15,700 km of pipelines and more than 123 underground reservoirs.

To cater for water shortages about 900 hired and 150 departmental water vehicles are regularly employed.

Delhi govt. has continued its policy on providing free water upto 20 kilolitres per month to 18.9 lakh residents. Presently, about 93.5% of households have access to piped water supply, underlining improvements in distribution coverage.

Delhi generates around 3,632 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage. Treatment capacity has risen sharply, from 402.4 MGD in 2001 to 764 MGD in 2025. At present, about 117 MGD of treated wastewater is reused for irrigation, power plants and other non-potable purposes, with plans to scale this up.

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Despite recent progress, a new survey reveals that over 52% of the city's water is lost to leaks and inefficiency—a rate far higher than global standards. Home RO systems worsen the problem by wasting up to 60% of water, while nearly 18% of the city still lacks sewer connections.

To fight these losses, the DJB replaced 184 km of old pipes in 2025-26 and installed 3,000 flow meters to track usage. They also launched a high-tech center to monitor the network in real-time. To improve honesty and service, the DJB now uses GPS to track water tankers and has introduced the m-Seva app for customers.

Financially, the DJB is seeing higher revenue thanks to a 10% price hike for non-subsidised users and a push for more metered connections. They are also earning extra income through solar power, Water ATMs, and renting out property.

The ultimate goal is to slash water waste to just 15% by upgrading major hubs like Chandrawal and Wazirabad. To ensure safety, the board is using mobile labs and digital sensors to monitor water quality across the city.


With TOI inputs