Brace up for a relatively parched summer, as drinking water supply is likely to take a nosedive with both Osmansagar and Himayatsagar fast drying up. According to officials, water available in the two reservoirs will be sufficient for supply only up to May, after which reserves will reach dead storage levels, forcing use of high-power motors to pump water.

But the quality of water at dead storage level is hardly satisfying, given the experience. Residents had earlier complained of ‘stinking and discoloured water’ supplied from these two reservoirs.

The city’s drinking water distribution network consisting of Krishna, Manjira, Singur, Osmansagar and Himayatsagar and the proposed Godavari will be interlinked. Interlinking is crucial as water from any source can be diverted to areas facing shortage. For example, there were complaints of foul smelling water from Osmansagar and Himayatsagar two years back as the water level had reached dead storage levels. Krishna water was then diverted to the areas that were fed by these two reservoirs as they were interlinked.

Complaints are still pouring in of foul-smelling, yellow coloured drinking water being supplied to residents of various localities in the Old City. This is despite the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board claiming that measures have been taken to ensure that the water is potable.

Hyderabad, Sept.

Hyderabad, Aug. 20: Thanks to the copious inflows into the reservoirs that feed the city, the prospects of resumption of daily water supply have brightened.

Hyderabad, July 20: Despite a good monsoon so far, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board is yet to resume drawing water from the Osmansagar, popularly known as Gandipet. As a result many areas in the city are still suffering from drinking water shortage. Officials had stopped supplies from Gandipet two months back following complaints of foul smell in the water.

Hyderabad, Feb. 1: The Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University-Hyderabad will organise a three-day international conference on climate change and its impact on water, food and environment in the city from Wednesday. About 300 delegates from various universities are expected to attend.

Hyderabad, Sept. 19: The government has decided to punish those who built illegal constructions upstream of Osamansagar and Himayatsagar.