Assessment of the Water Supply System in Jaipur City: Challenges and Future Prospects

Abstract

Water is an essential natural resource for sustaining life, and its demand has increased significantly due to rapid population growth, urbanization, and industrial development. Jaipur, one of the major urban centers in India, faces serious challenges in meeting its water requirements. The region lacks perennial river systems, and many traditional surface water sources have deteriorated over time due to neglect and overuse. At present, the city primarily depends on the Bisalpur Dam, which was commissioned in 2009 and is highly dependent on rainfall variability. In the absence of adequate surface water resources, groundwater has been extensively exploited. According to the Central Ground Water Board (2020), the district has an annual groundwater recharge of 77.71 million cubic meters, while the gross annual groundwater draft is 1617.21 million cubic meters, indicating a severely overexploited condition with a recharge stage of 231.21%. This overexploitation is particularly severe in areas such as the Jhotwara block, posing a major threat to long-term water sustainability. Urban expansion and increasing surface concretization have further reduced natural groundwater recharge by limiting rainwater infiltration. As a result, aquifer replenishment has declined significantly. In addition to quantity issues, water quality has also become a major concern. Many residential areas receive limited or irregular water supply, often of poor quality. Industrial and domestic wastewater discharge has led to severe pollution of local water bodies. For example, groundwater in Sanganer is affected by high fluoride levels, while parts of the old walled city of Jaipur experience elevated salinity. Overall, Jaipur is facing a dual challenge of declining groundwater levels and deteriorating water quality. This highlights the urgent need for sustainable water resource management, conservation strategies, and improved pollution control measures to ensure safe and reliable water supply for the future.