Archive · 16 Dec 2025
Hyderabad Pushes Soak Pits to Eliminate Krishna Phase-IV Need
The Hyderabad water board has started a 100-day plan to make sure every home and building has a soak pit.
These pits help collect rainwater and put it back into the ground.
This can make the groundwater level go up and reduce the need to bring water from far away places.
The board found that many places don't have these pits, so they are sending notices to make sure everyone follows the rules.
They also plan to use different methods to put more rainwater back into the ground.
This will help make sure there is enough water for everyone.
Hyderabad's water board launched a 100-day action plan to mandate soak pits in residential and commercial premises.
Effective rainwater harvesting could channel up to 10 tmc ft of water into the ground, potentially eliminating the need for Krishna Phase-IV.
A field survey identified 40,209 premises, with only 22,825 having soak pits; notices have been issued to 16,000 households.
The board plans to implement four groundwater recharge models, including rooftop rainwater diversion and conversion of defunct borewells.
Unchecked concretisation has reduced natural percolation, with only 0.75–0.95% of rainwater percolating into the ground.
- Who
- Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB)
- What
- Implementation of a 100-day action plan for mandatory soak pits to eliminate the need for Krishna Drinking Water Supply Phase-IV
- When
- Action plan is ongoing, with a target to cover 25,000 additional homes by March
- Where
- Hyderabad, India, focusing on residential and commercial premises within GHMC limits up to the Outer Ring Road (ORR)
- Why
- To increase groundwater recharge, reduce dependence on distant water reservoirs, and mitigate water scarcity
- Organization
- HMWS&SB (Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board)
- Action Plan Duration
- 100 days
- Rainwater Harvesting Potential
- Up to 10 tmc ft
- Current Soak Pit Coverage
- 22,825 out of 40,209 premises
- Notices Issued
- 16,000 households
- Target Coverage
- 25,000 additional homes by March
- Groundwater Recharge Models
- 4 models to be implemented
- Annual Rainfall in Hyderabad
- 85-89 cm