Bengaluru – The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has announced a 60-hour citywide water supply disruption between September 15 and 17 due to emergency maintenance at multiple pumping stations under the Cauvery Water Supply Project.

Shutdown of Cauvery pumping stations

According to BWSSB Chairman V. Ram Prasath Manohar, the shutdown is necessary to carry out crucial maintenance at the pumping stations. The work will include:

  • Temporary shutdown of Cauvery Stage V pumping stations.
  • Maintenance at Phase-1 and Phase-2 pumping stations of Cauvery Stages I, II, III, and IV.

The maintenance schedule will run from 6 am on September 16 to 6 am on September 17, while Cauvery Stage V facilities will remain shut for a longer period starting September 15.

“These works are essential to ensure the smooth functioning and sustained operations of pumping stations and major pipelines of the Cauvery Water Supply Project,” Manohar stated.

Dependence on Cauvery water

Bengaluru sources its drinking water from the Cauvery River, stored in a reservoir about 90 km away and nearly 350 metres below the city’s elevation. Pumping this water uphill is an energy-intensive process, costing the BWSSB close to ₹3 crore per day on electricity, yet meeting only half of Bengaluru’s demand.

Currently, the city’s four operational Cauvery project stages deliver about 1,460 million litres per day (MLD). With the commissioning of Cauvery Stage V, an additional 750 MLD will be supplied, though electricity expenses are expected to rise significantly.

Areas and residents to be affected

The board confirmed that the shutdown will impact all areas dependent on the Cauvery project for their water supply. Citizens across Bengaluru have been advised to store sufficient water in advance to manage the two-day disruption.

BWSSB officials also clarified that once the maintenance is complete, operations will resume in a phased manner to ensure supply stability.

Looking ahead

The Cauvery Stage V project is expected to improve Bengaluru’s water supply capacity, but challenges around electricity consumption and rising operational costs remain. Experts note that while this shutdown may inconvenience residents, such large-scale maintenance is essential for reliable water delivery in the long run.

For now, Bengaluru’s 1.3 crore residents must brace for a 60-hour dry spell starting September 15 and prepare accordingly.