Bengaluru gets its water from a reservoir 90 kilometres away and 350 metres below the city’s elevation. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has to spend approximately  ₹3 crore daily on electricity charges to pump this water to meet only half the city’s needs. This is for the four stages of Cauvery water supply, which provide 1,460 Million Litres a Day (MLD). With Cauvery Stage 5 delivering an additional 750 MLD, the costs are expected to rise significantly.

On the other hand, the BWSSB, based on the findings of a study conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), has advised residents to opt for Cauvery water connections instead of relying on groundwater. While reusing treated water and enhancing groundwater harvesting are sustainable alternatives, the BWSSB considers Cauvery water a more viable solution. However, citizens, particularly those living in apartments, argue that Cauvery connections are costly and not feasible.

“There are 197 flats in our apartment and we have to pay around ₹2 crore and some bribe to get a BWSSB connection, from which we will get water once a week. This won’t be enough, and we still have to get water from water tankers, which will cost us extra. We will end up paying a huge amount for both,” says Freesto Francis, resident, DSR Eden Greens, Carmelaram.

So, what are the costs involved in obtaining a water supply connection for different types of households and commercial properties in Bengaluru? Here is a guide that gives a detailed breakdown.

But first, how to apply?

You can apply for a new BWSSB connection by clicking here. Log in with a phone number, after which you must type in details, including address, site and building information and upload supporting documents. To apply offline, you can directly visit the BWSSB office, fill out the form, submit the required documents and make the payment.

The BWSSB portal facilitates online payment, and the consumer has to pay a standard application fee of ₹100 for all kinds of connections. Apart from the application cost, the additional fees include,

1. A one time pro-rata charge
2. Connection charge based on the class of connection (class depends on the size of the pipe connection)
3. Inspection charges
4. Three months minimum deposit
5. Meter cost
6. Sewage line fee
7. GBWASP fee (only for the seven City Municipal Council areas).

Here are the various charges for a new connection, based on information from BWSSB officials and the utility’s portal:

Pro-rata charges

Pro-rata charges are one-time, non-refundable amounts paid by owners at the time of getting a new connection.

For whom are pro rata charges applicable?

• Residential: If the total area of the plot of the land (sital area) is greater than or equal to 1,200 sq ft and consists of three units/kitchen or more, the prorate is applicable.
• Residential premises having commercial usage will also attract pro rata.
• High-rise buildings/commercial establishments/educational institutions attract pro rata irrespective of site area.

Connection charge

Also read: Compulsory Cauvery connections won’t solve Bengaluru water crisis: Citizens, experts

Inspection charges

This is a charge paid for an inspection to be carried out by the BWSSB engineers. The consumers/owners will be informed in advance, and engineers from the BWSSB will visit the site for inspection. A separate amount must be paid for this.

Three months minimum deposit (3MMD)

Cost of new meters

Two kinds of water meters are used — mechanical meters and Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) water meters. AMR meters could facilitate both consumers and the board to know the rate and volume of the flow at any point in time, providing accurate readings.

The BWSSB suggests mechanical meters or AMR flow meters for various diameters and categories of connections.

For domestic (D) connection,

1. 15 mm and 20 mm normal mechanical meters
2. 25 mm and 40 mm multijet mechanical with AMR facilities

For non-domestic (ND) connection,

1. 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm and 45 mm multijet mechanical with AMR facilities
2. 50 mm and above electromagnetic AMR flow metres

Sewage line fee

While all the other rates were clearly mentioned in the BWSSB portal, there was a lack of clarity about the sewage line fee. We spoke to BWSSB engineers, and here are the details according to them:

For domestic connections:

• ₹600 for each connection for both individual houses and apartments for a maximum of five sanitary points
• An additional cost of ₹120 per point, if more than five points are required.

For non-domestic connections:

• ₹120 per sanitary point
• A minimum of five points should be connected

GBWASP fee and the BCC

According to BWSSB officials, the Greater Bangalore Water and Sanitation Project (GBWASP) fee is only applicable to areas of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, which fall under the jurisdiction of the erstwhile seven City Municipal Council areas — Bommanahalli, Byatarayanapura, Dasarahalli, Krishnarajapura, Mahadevapura, Rajarajeshwarinagar and Yelahanka, and one Town Municipal Council area, Kengeri. The details of the charges are as follows:

The Beneficiary Contribution Charges (BCC) are one-time charges for consumers in BBMP’s newly added 110 villages.

Read more: Why apartments in outer Bengaluru hesitate to apply for Cauvery water connection

What a consumer pays for piped water

The water bill is collected by BWSSB every month based on consumption. Here are the details of the water tariff:

Domestic connections

Non-domestic connections

Also read:

• Bengaluru’s looming water crisis: Why citizens are struggling to follow the BWSSB order
• Is your water safe to drink? A practical guide for Chennai residents