Hyderabad: The ‘Motor Tap Free’ drive recently launched by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has come as a rescue for the residents who are facing a tough time storing drinking water due to low-pressure supply.
Despite that, Hyderabad has been adjusting its water supply to the same 10-year-old allocations, low pressure has become a major problem every summer. As a result, approximately 40 per cent of connection holders are facing water problems.
20% increase in water-related complaints
According to HMWSSB officials, the Metro Customer Care (MCC) has been receiving a flood of complaints about low pressure for the past four months. The number of complaints this time has increased by an additional 20 per cent compared to last year. The water board MCC statistics show that more than 12,000 complaints were received from January to April 19, 2025.
High-power two-HP motors are being used
In reality, there is no way to supply even 1 MGD (million gallons per day) more water than what is currently being supplied. However, as water consumption increases during the summer, some connection holders are installing illegal water motors on the taps and pumping water. Moreover, a section of the residents is using two-HP motors used for agricultural wells.
As a result, the remaining connection routes in those areas are facing a problem of congestion. Taking a serious note of the matter, the water board launched a special drive to ensure equal access to water for all connection holders. In the last five days, 134 motors were seized, and 164 numbers were fined during the motor-free tap water special drive.
“The water board is mainly focusing on multi-storey building complexes. It has intensified surprise inspections after receiving complaints about low pressure from areas with a high percentage of multi-storey building complexes. Recently, inspections were conducted in multi-storey building complexes in Madhapur Kakatiya Hills, SR Nagar, Mathura Nagar, Kukatpally, Narayanaguda and other areas, and a large number of illegal water motors were discovered,” said HMWSSB managing director Ashok Reddy.
Fear of inspection helps remove pumps
Elaborating further, he said that as the water board is conducting a special drive for motor-free tap water, motors attached to taps are being voluntarily removed in some areas. Several are also taking precautions, as if they are caught with their water motors attached to drinking water pipelines, the motor would not only be seized, but there is also a possibility of a fine being added to the bill. The motors are being removed and hidden. This is reducing the problem of low pressure in the water supply in those areas, he added.
Ashok Reddy also said that the water supply is being severely affected due to illegal water motors on drinking water pipelines. As a result, many areas are receiving a low-pressure water supply. Due to the illegal use of water pumps in some commercial and residential complexes, the water supplied to surrounding homes is insufficient, resulting in a situation where no houses are adequately supplied with water.
Fine of Rs 5,000
The drinking water supply needs to be adjusted for everyone. All households with tap connections should be supplied with pressure. “It is not right to attach illegal motors to drinking water pipelines and prevent others from getting drinking water. I am appealing to the public not to attach illegal water motors to prevent water supply to the people. If caught, the illegal water motor will be seized and a fine of Rs 5,000 will be imposed,” he said.
