By modernising operations through central command systems, network mapping, and targeted upgrades, the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board has reduced unaccounted-for water from nearly 51 per cent to 26.5 per cent across a metropolitan region of 14 million people.
A decade ago, Bengaluru was losing more than half the water entering its distribution network. Leakages, illegal connections, faulty meters, and ageing pipelines created major inefficiencies in a city already dependent on water drawn from the Cauvery river over 100 kilometres away.
For a rapidly growing city of more than 14 million people, the issue went beyond infrastructure, affecting supply reliability, groundwater dependence, operational costs, and long-term water security. Over the past several years, the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has steadily modernised its operations through better monitoring systems, network mapping, advanced metering, and centralised operational management.
The city’s experience is increasingly being seen as an important example of how Indian urban utilities can improve efficiency and service delivery while managing large and complex infrastructure networks.
Managing Water at Metropolitan Scale
BWSSB is one of India’s largest integrated urban water utilities, serving a metropolitan region spread across nearly 800 square kilometres. The utility currently operates six major water treatment plants with a combined installed capacity of 2,293 MLD sourced primarily from the Cauvery river system. Bengaluru receives nearly 150 litres per capita per day, in line with national urban water supply benchmarks.
In October 2024, BWSSB commissioned Cauvery Water Supply Scheme (CWSS) Stage V, adding 775 MLD of additional capacity with financial assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Plans for CWSS Stage VI, expected to add another 500 MLD, are also under consideration.
While expanding supply remains important, BWSSB’s larger challenge has been improving efficiency within the distribution system. For years, Bengaluru struggled with high levels of Unaccounted-for Water (UFW), the gap between water supplied and water billed, which stood at nearly 51 per cent in 2013.
According to BWSSB Chairman Dr Ram Prasath Manohar, the utility reduced this figure to 26.5 per cent by 2025 through improved monitoring systems, bulk flow metering, and targeted infrastructure upgrades. The reduction helped save nearly 200 million litres of water per day, improving supply efficiency without creating additional water capacity.
The Command Centre Behind the Network
At the centre of BWSSB’s operational modernisation is the Integrated Intelligent Water and Sewerage Management Centre located at Shimsha Bhavan in Jayanagar. Developed with JICA support and implemented by Yokogawa India Ltd., the facility is among the largest SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems deployed for urban water management in Asia.
The command centre continuously monitors Bengaluru’s water supply and sewerage infrastructure, integrating data from treatment plants, pumping stations, reservoirs, sewerage systems, and distribution networks into a unified operational platform. The system manages more than half a million operational data points across the network, backed by redundant communication systems, secondary servers, cybersecurity safeguards, and emergency power systems to ensure uninterrupted operations.
The upgraded platform supporting Cauvery Stage V now includes advanced forecasting and monitoring tools capable of estimating demand across distribution zones and identifying pressure anomalies or potential leakages much faster than conventional monitoring systems. Officials have described the initiative as an important step towards creating a digital representation of Bengaluru’s water network, enabling utilities to analyse infrastructure behaviour, monitor operational conditions, and improve planning decisions.
BWSSB has also connected sewage treatment plants across the city to the same operational centre, allowing continuous monitoring of treated water quality in line with National Green Tribunal (NGT) standards. Biogas generation from sewage treatment infrastructure is also tracked through the integrated system.
Improving Energy Efficiency
One of the most significant outcomes of BWSSB’s operational upgrades has been improved energy efficiency across pumping stations. The utility has deployed advanced pump monitoring systems across 78 pumping stations along with a sensor-based platform called iPumpNet, which continuously tracks pump performance and operational conditions.
These systems help identify inefficiencies such as excessive electricity consumption, declining pump performance, pressure instability, and early signs of equipment deterioration. Based on operational analysis, BWSSB has gradually replaced low-efficiency pumps with higher-efficiency alternatives.
According to the utility, these measures have resulted in annual electricity savings of more than Rs 40 crore. Energy efficiency is especially important for Bengaluru because pumping water from the Cauvery river system to the city requires enormous electricity consumption due to elevation differences and long transmission distances. Reducing energy demand therefore improves both financial sustainability and operational efficiency.
Smart Metering and Network Visibility
At the consumer level, BWSSB has started deploying smart meters for bulk users under a phased rollout programme. Unlike conventional meters, the new systems provide continuous consumption data, improve billing accuracy, and help utilities identify unusual usage patterns, potential leakages, or tampering.
The project is being implemented through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in which a private operator installs and manages the metering infrastructure while recovering costs through rental-based arrangements. This reduces upfront capital expenditure for both the utility and consumers.
BWSSB has also completed Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping across its network, covering pipelines, pumping infrastructure, reservoirs, and treatment facilities. The mapping exercise has significantly improved network visibility and asset management capability, allowing utilities to identify operational anomalies more quickly and prioritise maintenance activities more effectively.
The same data systems are also being used to identify probable illegal Cauvery water connections. In 2025, BWSSB announced plans to integrate data from multiple civic agencies to detect unauthorised connections across Bengaluru. Alongside these systems, dedicated field enforcement teams called “Blue Force” units have been established in different subdivisions to support inspections and compliance monitoring, reflecting a broader shift in utility governance where technology supports field operations rather than replacing them.
Expanding Wastewater Reuse
Alongside supply management and distribution efficiency, BWSSB is increasingly focusing on wastewater reuse and circular water management. In November 2025, the utility partnered with startup Boson Whitewater at the Kadubeesanahalli Sewage Treatment Plant to pilot an advanced recycling system that converts treated sewage water into industrial-grade reusable water.
The pilot currently supplies nearly 70,000 litres of recycled water per day to commercial buildings and IT parks along the Outer Ring Road for cooling tower applications. BWSSB provided operational space for the project, while the startup invested in the treatment infrastructure.
On a larger scale, VA Tech Wabag secured a World Bank-funded contract worth Rs 380 crore in 2025 to develop four advanced wastewater treatment plants in Bommanahalli. The facilities will include tertiary treatment systems, industrial reuse infrastructure, sludge drying systems, and biogas generation components.
The broader objective is to reduce dependence on freshwater sources by expanding the use of treated wastewater for industrial operations, landscaping, lake rejuvenation, and non-potable urban applications. According to BWSSB, nearly 90 per cent of treated sewage is now reused for various non-potable purposes. Projects such as the Cubbon Park STP and the KC Valley initiative have demonstrated how treated wastewater can support government facilities, groundwater recharge, and lake restoration activities in neighbouring districts.
International Recognition and Partnerships
BWSSB’s initiatives have also received international attention. In October 2025, the utility became the first Indian water board to join the Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN), an international non-profit organisation focused on data-driven water management.
The announcement was made during IFAT India 2025, where BWSSB presented its “Utility of the Future 2026” roadmap. The utility has also received recognition at the Water Digest World Water Awards 2025, organised in collaboration with UNESCO, for its work in urban water management and sustainability.
These developments have positioned Bengaluru as an important example for other Indian cities attempting to modernise ageing utility systems while addressing rising urban demand.
What Bengaluru’s Experience Shows
Bengaluru’s water challenges are far from resolved. The city continues to face groundwater depletion, seasonal stress, and infrastructure pressure linked to rapid urban growth. Despite major improvements, over a quarter of supplied water still remains unaccounted for before reaching billing systems.
The 2024 water crisis also highlighted the vulnerability of rapidly expanding cities dependent on limited freshwater sources. Yet BWSSB’s experience demonstrates that large public utilities can gradually modernise complex infrastructure systems through better monitoring, operational coordination, and long-term planning.
The shift from reactive maintenance to predictive operations, from fragmented monitoring to integrated command systems, and from single-use consumption to circular reuse frameworks has taken place within a relatively short period.
For India’s urban local bodies facing similar pressures of population growth, ageing infrastructure, and climate stress, Bengaluru’s experience offers important operational lessons. The city’s approach shows that improving water security is not only about creating new supply infrastructure, but also depends on how effectively utilities manage losses, monitor networks, reuse treated water, and improve operational efficiency across the entire urban water cycle.
Written by Nandini Jha | Elets News Network
