A sharp drop in the Yamuna river's water levels has severely disrupted operations at two of Delhi's largest water treatment plants, triggering supply cuts of up to 25% across north, central, and west Delhi. The sudden shortage leaves thousands of residents scrambling for water as the capital endures a punishing summer heatwave.
According to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), falling raw water levels have directly impacted production at the Wazirabad and Chandrawal water treatment facilities. To operate at full capacity, water levels at the Wazirabad barrage pondage area must be maintained at 674.5 feet above sea level.
Currently, levels have plunged well below that threshold."The water levels in the Yamuna are hovering around 669.8ft," a senior DJB official stated. "The water supply from Wazirabad is 25% down, while the Chandrawal supply has been decreased by around 10%.The Wazirabad plant normally supplies roughly 134 million gallons per day (MGD) to north and central Delhi, while Chandrawal produces 98 MGD for north, north-west, and central areas.
With the crisis deepening, authorities are exploring emergency interventions. If water levels continue to recede, the DJB plans to deploy specialized pumps and boats to extract remaining water from the pondage area.
In the interim, officials are attempting to divert raw water from the Carrier Lined Canal (CLC) at Munak to compensate for the shortfall. The Delhi government is also in active talks with neighbouring Haryana to secure an emergency release of water from the upstream Hathnikund barrage.
The immediate fallout has hit central and west Delhi hardest, as these areas sit at the far end of the distribution network. Worst-hit localities include Patel Nagar (J Block and West), Dwarka, Ambica Vihar Society, Paschim Vihar, Ramesh Enclave, and Sudarshan Park.
Residents have expressed deep frustration over the sudden cuts, noting that unlike previous years, the DJB issued no advance advisory to store water. At the Golf View Condo in Dwarka Sector 19B, which houses over 1,000 families, residents reported facing highly irregular supplies for over a week.
This crisis highlights a chronic structural problem that peaks every summer between May and July. Delhi’s standard water demand stands at 1,250 MGD, while the DJB's normal peak supply caps at 1,002 MGD—leaving a baseline deficit of nearly 250 MGD. The city relies heavily on water shared by Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab to bridge this gap.
The water shortage has quickly turned into a political battleground. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal criticized the state of infrastructure on X, posting, "Who would have thought that one day the Capital of the country would be in such a state?"
In response, Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma blamed AAP's decade-long governance. "The truth is that in those 11 years, no real work was done on water, sewers, and water storage, nothing compared to the hype they created," Verma retorted.