As summer sets in, residents raise concern over water shortage in Kochi

With the onset of summer, several parts of the city are grappling with an acute shortage of drinking water, forcing residents to rely on irregular supply and alternative sources.

The situation is expected to worsen as temperatures continue to rise, raising concerns among residents about the availability of adequate drinking water in the coming weeks.

G. Pradeep Kumar, president, Subrahmanya Temple Road Residents Association, Poonithura, said several families in the area are already grappling with an acute drinking water shortage. “Water consumption increases during the summer months, putting additional strain on the already stressed distribution network. The situation worsens in summer. Pumping to tail-end areas stops even before water reaches household tanks, forcing residents to rely on tanker services,” he added.

Many parts of Kochi, including West Kochi, have been experiencing an acute drinking water crisis for the past several weeks.

According to Kerala Water Authority (KWA) officials, the city faces a water deficit during summer due to increased consumption and rising demand. “The crisis will be addressed by ensuring timely repair of leakages and implementing valve control measures to maintain adequate supply to affected areas,” they said.

At present, local bodies rely on tankers to maintain water supply in affected areas. Representatives have complained about rising charges each year.

A.P. Lalu, member of Ward 1 in Vypeen, said the local body spends about ₹7–8 lakh on tanker lorries every year. “We don’t need a new drinking water project in our area. All we need is for the KWA to ensure proper pumping to our area, and the crisis can be resolved,” he said. He added that at least eight wards of the panchayat are severely affected by the shortage.

Residents of the Vypeen block panchayat are preparing to intensify their protests in the coming days. “The water shortage affects thousands of families. We cannot even rely on borewells as the water turns salty. Instead of pumping 24 hours every alternate day, the pumping time has been reduced to 12 hours, severely impacting supply to tail-end areas,” said Joby Varghese, president of Njayarambalam panchayat.