Bengaluru Discusses Water Security, Pushes for Reuse and Groundwater Recharge at Public Talk

With the city staring at another summer and mounting pressure on its water resources, experts, civic authorities and apartment associations came together on Saturday to deliberate on practical solutions for urban water management at a public discussion in the city.

The event, held under the Public Talk Series 2026, was organised by the Bengaluru Science and Technology Cluster in collaboration with the Bangalore Apartments' Federation. Episode 2 of the series focused on the theme "Water Security: Reuse, Recharge, Resilience."

The session brought together representatives from government, research institutions and citizen groups to discuss science-backed, scalable approaches to managing Bengaluru's water challenges - from wastewater reuse to groundwater recharge and sustainable practices within residential communities.

Summer Preparedness and Cauvery Supply

Dr. Rajiv K N, Chief Engineer (Projects) at the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), assured citizens that the city is better prepared this summer compared to previous years. He highlighted that the recently commissioned Cauvery Stage V project has enhanced supply capacity, with additional water available as a buffer if required.

He urged apartment complexes and peripheral layouts to obtain BWSSB connections where pipelines are already laid, instead of relying heavily on borewells. He also pointed to the board's online tanker booking system and regular water quality monitoring across the city, stating that Cauvery water supplied to households meets BIS standards.

Apartments at the Centre of the Water Debate

A significant portion of the discussion centred on the role of apartment communities, which account for a large share of urban water demand.

Rajesh Ramamoorthy from the Bangalore Apartments' Federation noted that while many residential complexes have installed Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) as mandated, operational challenges persist. These include high maintenance costs, lack of trained operators and difficulties in reusing treated wastewater.

Experts emphasised that STPs should be viewed not merely as compliance requirements but as assets that reduce dependence on freshwater and tanker supply. Properly managed systems can treat wastewater at lower costs than purchasing tanker water, they said.

Decentralised Solutions and Wastewater Reuse

Vishwanath S, Founder of Rainwater Club and Director at Biome Environmental Solutions, advocated for decentralised water management, including rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge. He stressed that separating greywater and blackwater streams in buildings can reduce treatment costs and improve reuse efficiency.

Panelists discussed the need to create viable markets for treated wastewater - for construction, industrial use and non-potable applications - instead of discharging it back into already stressed sewer networks.

There was also debate on whether smaller apartment STPs should eventually integrate with larger municipal treatment systems, balancing economies of scale with the practicality of decentralised management.

Groundwater Monitoring and Data-Driven Planning

Prof. Lakshminarayana Rao from the Centre for Sustainable Technologies at the Indian Institute of Science shared insights from ongoing groundwater monitoring initiatives in the city. Thousands of monitoring devices have been installed in various wards to track groundwater levels and predict stress zones in advance.

He underscored the importance of measurement - installing water meters on borewells, conducting seasonal quality testing and tracking per capita consumption - to prevent overextraction and manage resources more effectively.

Gayathri Muraleedharan of WELL Labs highlighted the need for better governance, training for STP operators and clearer regulatory pathways to support apartment communities in complying with environmental norms while ensuring water resilience.

The overarching message of the discussion was that water security cannot be addressed through emergency measures alone. Instead, a combination of infrastructure upgrades, policy reforms, technological innovation and behavioural change is required.

Speakers called for reducing excessive per capita consumption, strengthening rainwater harvesting systems, improving recharge structures and building trust in treated wastewater reuse.

Concluding the session, speakers reiterated that Bengaluru's water future will depend not just on large-scale infrastructure projects but on everyday decisions taken within homes and apartment complexes. While authorities continue to expand Cauvery supply and upgrade treatment systems, citizens too must play an active role in conserving water, reusing treated wastewater and investing in recharge measures.

The panel emphasised that water security is no longer a seasonal concern triggered by summer shortages, but a long-term governance challenge that requires coordinated action between government agencies, researchers, resident associations and industry stakeholders. From measuring groundwater extraction to improving STP operations and embracing decentralised solutions, sustained effort will be key.

As the city heads into the summer months, the discussion served as both a reassurance and a reminder - Bengaluru has the knowledge, technology and institutional frameworks to manage its water sustainably, but collective responsibility and consistent implementation will determine whether that potential translates into lasting resilience.