India’s top 6 water self-sufficient cities
march 21, 2025
Image: Canva
India is one of the world’s most water-stressed regions, with 18% of the world’s population but only 4% of its water resources.
Image: Shutterstock
While most Indian cities suffer from water scarcity, there are some that have ensured self-sustaining water supply even during summers.
Image: Shutterstock
In 2021, Puri became the first Indian city to achieve 24/7 quality piped drinking water sourced mainly from the Bhargavi River, along with surface water and groundwater zones.
Puri, Odisha
Image: Pixabay
The district’s 37 lakes, dams and reservoirs supply 585 million litres of water daily (MLD). However, with a growing population, the supply must reach 1,116 MLD by 2055.
Thane, Maharashtra
Image: X/Varshan
Also called the ‘City of Lakes’, Bhopal has 18 waterbodies of different sizes. As per an estimate, 90% of its water is sourced from surface water.
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Image: wikipedia.org/Bernard Gagnon
Its administration maintains 76 reservoirs and water tanks across the city to ensure water supply to 2.5 million people. It is also building four new reservoirs.
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
Image: Pixabay
The city has rejuvenated 100 water bodies and revived the Choral River. It is also India’s first “Water Plus” city i.e., it treats wastewater before releasing it into the environment.
Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Image: imcindore.mp.gov.in
The city, located in the water deficit region of Vidharba, maintains the quality of its reservoirs over the Kanha and Pench Rivers, making it a water surplus city.
Nagpur, Maharashtra
Image: wikipedia.org/Ganesh Dhamodkar
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