Delhi Water Crisis: Water Supply To Be Disrupted Till February 4 in National Capital Due to High Ammonia Levels in Yamuna River; Check List of Affected Areas Here
Delhi faces a water crisis until February 4, as high ammonia levels in the Yamuna and reduced supply from Haryana forced five treatment plants to slash production. The Wazirabad plant has shut down completely, while others are operating at 75 per cent capacity. Residents in areas like Dwarka and Rohini are advised to use water judiciously.
New Delhi, January 23: Residents of the national capital are bracing for a significant water shortage as the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) announced on Thursday, January 22, that water supply will remain disrupted until February 4. The crisis stems from a sharp spike in ammonia levels in the Yamuna River, coupled with a reduction in raw water supply from neighbouring Haryana.
At least five major Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) have slashed production, with the Wazirabad facility - the city’s largest - completely suspending operations. Delhi Water Contamination: Kunwar Singh Colony Residents Struggle for Months As Complaints Fall on Deaf Ears.
Critical Production Cuts Across Key Plants
The surge in pollutants has forced a drastic reduction in output across Delhi's water infrastructure. DJB officials confirmed that four major plants - Haiderpur Phase 1 and 2, Bawana, and Dwarka - are currently operating at just 75 per cent of their total capacity.
The Wazirabad WTP, which normally produces 138 million gallons per day (MGD), was shut down entirely after ammonia levels in the raw Yamuna water exceeded treatable limits. Officials noted that while the standard limit for ammonia is 1.0 ppm, levels recently surged beyond 3 ppm, making standard chlorination processes potentially toxic.
List of Areas To Be Affected Due to the Water Supply Disruption
The supply crunch is expected to affect a vast swathe of the city, causing low water pressure or complete outages in several residential and commercial hubs. Key areas likely to experience disruption include:
West & Southwest: Dwarka, Rajouri Garden, Janakpuri, Paschim Vihar, and IGI Airport.
North & Northwest: Shalimar Bagh, Rohini, Pitampura, Bawana, and Sultanpuri.
Central & South: Delhi Cantt, Model Town, Punjabi Bagh, and parts of the NDMC zone.
Recurring Winter Challenges
The disruption highlights a chronic seasonal issue for the capital. Every winter, industrial discharge and untreated sewage from upstream regions cause ammonia levels in the Yamuna to spike. DJB typically manages these spikes by diluting Yamuna water with "cleaner" raw water from the Munak Canal in Haryana. However, this year the situation has been exacerbated by "unscheduled maintenance" on the Munak Canal. The Haryana Irrigation Department notified Delhi of a canal closure on January 19, which halved the inflow of freshwater, leaving the DJB with limited options for dilution. Delhi Rains: Yamuna Rising Water Level Leads to Severe Flooding in Parts of National Capital; Nearby Residents Evacuated; Relief Camps Set Up.
Emergency Measures and Public Advisory
To mitigate the shortfall, the DJB is rationalising available supply and deploying water tankers to severely affected neighbourhoods. Residents have been urged to use water "judiciously" and avoid non-essential usage like washing vehicles or gardening during this 14-day window.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 23, 2026 03:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).