Why is Shimla facing water crisis?

The town’s every day water requirement is 42 million litres as against the supply of 36 MLD. As per MC, the supply has fallen to 22 MLD this summer, primarily due to low water discharge at local sources. Normally during summers, the water supply falls to about 30 MLD but this year very less snowfall and less rainfall has added to the woes.

HOW OLD IS THE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM IN SHIMLA?

Shimla got its first piped water supply in 1875 -- 4.5 million litres from the Dhalli catchment area. The supply was augmented in 1914 from Gumma, giving the city 12 MLD of water supply. In 1924, a system was introduced to lift the water 4,000 feet to ensure regular supply at higher points in the city. The manual valve system used at the time helped increase supply and water pressure in case of fires and other emergencies. After Independence, the supply was improved by adding two more sources, giving the city 36 MLD.

WHERE DOES SHIMLA GET ITS WATER FROM?

More than half of Shimla’s water is still lifted from Gumma, about 15km away from the city, and Ashwini Khad, 7km away. In 1920, British engineer AF Anderson was deputed to set up two pumping stations to lift water from these places through an intricate system of pipelines and meters to ensure proper water pressure to each household. There are 800 such pumping points in Guma. The water from Ashwini Khad has been reduced following a leakage in a treatment plant that led to mixing of sewage with drinking water.

HAS THE SUPPLY BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH GROWTH?

Shimla’s water supply was planned for a maximum of 16,000 people. The water available this summer is only five times of what the city got in 1875, when first water line was laid, even though the population has increased more than tenfold to 1.7 lakh people. In addition to locals, the city receives an average of 20,000 tourists per day during the summer months.

HOW MUCH WATER DOES A SHIMLA LOCAL GETS DAILY?

As per a recent CAG report, the per capita average water supplied in Shimla between 2009 and 2014 was 110 litres, as against the prescribed level of 135 litres per day. This summer, it has fallen below 50 litres per capita per day.