Delhi's Water Revolution: Eight Zones, One Goal

The Delhi government is set to revamp the city’s water supply system by dividing it into eight zones, each to be managed by a single private operator under the supervision of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

Inspired by the power distribution model, this “one zone, one operator” approach aims to tackle Delhi’s high non-revenue water (NRW) losses—currently estimated at 50–52%—while improving the efficiency of water and sewage services. Each operator will be responsible for water supply, sewer management, billing, and infrastructure maintenance within their designated hydraulic zone, such as Wazirabad, Chandrawal, and Haiderpur.

The DJB, which supplies water to 21.5 million residents through a 15,600-km network, plans to replace 2,800 km of aging pipelines as part of this modernization. In its latest board meeting, the DJB approved the revival of the Wazirabad network to enhance services for 3.16 million people. Similar upgrades are planned for other zones.

With only 2.9 million active water connections and outdated billing systems, this initiative marks a significant move toward 24/7 water supply, improved infrastructure, and greater accountability in Delhi’s water management.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.