India’s water crisis isn’t just about scarcity – it’s also about storage and delivery

India’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, and the water crisis could lead to a potential loss of 6% to GDP by 2030.

By Yashovardhan Agarwal

India has long grappled with water scarcity, but the crisis is deepening. As per NITI Aayog’s Composite Water Management Index, India faces extreme water stress — by 2030, India’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, and the water crisis could lead to a potential loss of 6% to GDP by 2030. Government data suggests per capita water availability has plunged from 1816 cubic meters in 2001 to 1486 cubic meters in 2021 and projected to plummet below 1,341 cubic meters today — placing India perilously close to being classified as “water stressed”.

India’s water crisis is typically discussed in the context of scarcity — declining groundwater tables, dried-up reservoirs, and erratic monsoons. But what often slips through the cracks is this: even in places where water exists, it doesn’t always reach people in a secure, safe, or timely manner. The problem isn’t just availability — it is also access to safe water.

From floods during heavy rains to acute shortages during summer, India swings between extremes. This paradox points to a deeper structural flaw: our inability to store, transport, and distribute water efficiently. While India receives around 3,070 billion cubic meters (BCM) (2024 data) of rainfall annually, less than a fifth of it is effectively stored or reused. Most of it runs off, wasted, while communities brace for the next dry spell.

The reasons are well known: population growth, rapid urbanisation, agriculture’s overdependence on groundwater, climate change, and inadequate investment in water-related infrastructure. Yet, the impact plays out unevenly — rural India suffers from under-supply, while urban areas grapple with over-demand. In states such as Punjab and Haryana, groundwater extraction significantly exceeds natural recharge rates, pointing to the need for more sustainable practices — according to the Central Ground Water Board. Meanwhile, drought-prone regions such as Maharashtra and Telangana face recurring water stress, not solely due to infrastructure gaps, but also due to uneven rainfall, suboptimal usage patterns, and challenges in large water projects.

As a highly populated country aiming for equitable development and climate resilience, we need to urgently rethink how we manage water — not just as a natural resource, but as an essential service that demands planned infrastructure, investment, and innovation.

The takeaway is clear: this is not just a supply issue — it’s a challenge of planning, storage, and delivery systems.

If we peel back the layers, what becomes evident is that India’s water infrastructure isn’t keeping pace with its needs. A huge volume of water is lost or contaminated between the source and the tap. In urban areas, a lot of treated water is lost due to leaky pipelines and poor infrastructure. In rural belts, the lack of safe storage solutions means harvested rainwater or supplied drinking water often goes to waste.

Storage — both at the community and household level — is a blind spot. Many rural homes still use uncovered or outdated storage tanks, leading to contamination and health risks. Urban households often rely on tanks made from recycled plastic, which are economical but may compromise on safety and pose health risks as compared to 100% food-grade virgin plastic. Institutions, schools, hospitals, and small businesses face similar challenges — storing water unsafely or insufficiently, especially during peak demand periods.

Then comes delivery. Poor last-mile connectivity means water doesn’t reach where it’s needed most, or arrives with low pressure and irregular timing. This not only affects consumption but also damages trust in the system. If we had stronger delivery networks and better-designed storage solutions, even limited water could go further — safely and equitably.

Fixing this requires a shift in how we frame the water crisis. We must look at storage and delivery as core parts of water management — not afterthoughts. Local governments and urban planners should further prioritise water infrastructure, including rooftop rainwater harvesting, underground storage, and thermally insulated tanks for safe household use. These aren’t futuristic solutions — they’re practical, scalable, and already available.

Second, the focus needs to shift to access to safe water. This calls for the use of technology and innovation in design. India needs tanks and storage solutions that protect against microbial and viral contamination, algae formation, and UV degradation. We also need digital tools to monitor storage hygiene and detect leakages in delivery lines. This is where public-private partnerships can play a big role — combining the reach of government with the agility of enterprise.

Equally important is awareness. Water hygiene during storage and distribution isn’t just a plumbing issue — it’s a public health issue. Campaigns that educate families, civil engineers, contractors, plumbers, and community leaders about the long-term benefits of clean water storage can lead to behavioural change. If we care about the quality of the water we use and drink, then how and where we store it should matter just as much.

Third, we need to consider the longevity aspect while planning water-related infrastructure — be it for cities, households, buildings, commercial establishments, or institutions. Water may be a natural resource, but access to it is a man-made system. Given the pace of urbanisation, it is crucial to invest in the right quality of water distribution solutions. If we want to secure our water future, we need to build our delivery systems better — not just deeper borewells, but smarter networks. Not just more taps, but safer distribution through pipes and safer storage solutions.

To conclude, the water crisis cannot be solved with supply-side solutions alone. We must adopt a smarter and holistic approach — one that considers efficiency, delivery, design, and storage all at the same time. For communities to gain and the Indian economy to progress, it is time we prioritised access to safe water at every stage — and this requires a shared commitment between government and industry to work together towards a common goal.

Ultimately, water security isn’t just about what we have — it’s about how wisely we manage this natural resource.

(Yashovardhan Agarwal, MD – Welspun BAPL and Director – Sintex.)

Views are personal, and do not represent the stance of this publication.