Delhi turns to recycled water to quench a thirsty future
The ever-growing population of Delhi, estimated to reach 30 million by 2041, will increase the drinking water requirement to around 1,500 million gallons per day (MGD) from the current 1,250 MGD for a population of 25 million, as reported in the Economic Survey 2025-26.
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Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is planning a multi-pronged approach to meet the growing need. The plan envisages reducing the amount of drinking water per capita to approximately 40 gallons per person per day (GPCD), while non-drinking needs are expected to be met through wastewater provided through a double pipe network.
The survey, presented on Monday, highlighted that although Delhi has expanded its water purification capacity over the years, a growing population has outpaced development. DJB’s installed treatment capacity increased by approximately 21.6% in the last 16 years, from 790 MGD in 2009 to 961 MGD in 2025. During the peak summer season, the city produced 1,000 MGD through 15,700 km of pipelines and more than 123 underground reservoirs.
Approximately 900 rental and 150 ministry water vehicles are used regularly to alleviate water scarcity.
Delhi government. It continued its policy of providing up to 20 kiloliters of free water per month to 18.9 lakh residents. Approximately 93.5% of households now have access to piped water supply, underlining improvements in distribution coverage. Delhi produces around 3,632 million liters per day (MLD) of sewage. Purification capacity increased sharply from 402.4 MGD in 2001 to 764 MGD in 2025. Currently, around 117 MGD of treated wastewater is reused for irrigation, power plants and other non-potable purposes, with plans to increase this.
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Despite recent advances, a new study reveals that more than 52% of water in the city is lost through leakage and inefficiency; This rate is well above global standards. RO systems in homes exacerbate the problem by wasting up to 60% of water, while almost 18% of the city still lacks sewer connections.
To combat these losses, DJB replaced 184 km of old pipe in 2025-26 and installed 3,000 flow meters to monitor usage. They also set up a high-tech center to monitor the network in real time. To improve integrity and service, DJB now uses GPS to track water tankers and offers customers the m-Seva app.
Financially, DJB is generating higher revenue thanks to a 10% price increase for unsubsidized users and a push for more metered connections. They also earn extra income through solar energy, Water ATMs and property rentals.
The ultimate goal is to reduce water wastage to just 15% by improving major centers like Chandrawal and Wazirabad. To ensure safety, the board uses mobile laboratories and digital sensors to monitor water quality in the city.
With TOI entries
