Changing Climate Impacts on Small Towns - A local perspective of Chintamani

Climate Shifts in Chintamani : The Ripple effects of Climate Change on WASH

Chintamani, a small town with a population of approximately 92,802, is situated 80 km from Bengaluru in a water-stressed region. In collaboration with TIDE and with the support of BMZ, BORDA-South Asia conducted 520 household surveys and engaged in consultations with the local municipality to assess the impacts of climate change on water, wastewater, and solid waste management in the town. The findings mentioned in the article are derived from the survey conducted by TIDE and BORDA South Asia. 

Climate change is amplifying the strain on water and sanitation services in India’s emerging cities, where growing populations and limited resources push infrastructure to its limits. 

Battling drought and groundwater depletion

Chintamani faces frequent droughts, with an average annual rainfall of about 700mm. A 40-year analysis of rainfall data shows a 20% reduction in annual mean minimum rainfall. According to the District Disaster Management Plan (https://chikkaballapur.nic.in/en/departments/ddma_cbp_en/), Chintamani has experienced drought in 13 of the past 16 years. A stark reminder of its ongoing battle with water scarcity.  With no perennial water sources, the town relies heavily on groundwater, leading to over-exploitation, as highlighted by the Central Ground Water Board in 2023. 

Chintamani’s water crisis is worsening. The town has more than 150 borewells, yet only 87 remain operational, pumping water almost 24/7. Despite this relentless effort water supply fluctuates from 40 to 75 lpcd, with frequencies varying from twice a week to once every 10 days in extreme conditions. During summer, about3 4% of operational borewells run dry, exacerbating water shortages. Surface water sources, which accounts for just 20% of the town’s demand, is equally unsustainable, with water levels reaching dead storage by October 2024, much before the start of dry season (February to June). This situation has fuelled a rise in the private water tanker business, as residents struggle to cope. Our survey reveals that during drought years, 94% of respondents rely on tanker water, with the cost of a 5000-litter tanker skyrocketing to Rs.1000 - Rs. 2000, compared to Rs. 500 during normal periods. This growing dependence on expensive tanker services underscores the severity of the town’s water crisis.

Drying Taps, Failing Toilets – How Water Scarcity is Disrupting Sanitation Systems

In Chintamani, severe water shortages are reshaping household water use, with around 25-27% typically allocated for toilets. However, during droughts, residents particularly in low-income areas, are forced to prioritise essential needs like drinking, cooking, and cleaning over toilet use. Shockingly, 23% of respondents reported avoiding using toilets during drought period.  

The situation is dire in Chintamani’s 17 notified and 8 informal settlements where over 20% of the population resides. Water supply is limited, with residents receiving water once every 7 to 10 days, especially during summer. Around 95% of slum dwellers rely on costly private tankers during droughts, increasing their financial burden. Poorly maintained sanitation systems, combined with water shortages, force many to resort to open defecation, with community toilets often falling into disrepair.  

The water crisis is also impacting the town’s sanitation infrastructure. Reduced water availability has led to chocking of sewer lines due to the absence of minimum flow velocity (0.3-0.6 m/s), thus resulting in increased complaints of sewer blockages during drought periods, with municipal records showing nearly double the number of complaints compared to non-drought seasons.  

Additionally, during heavy rainfall, Chintamani faces another challenge is the overflow of Underground Drainage (UGD) systems during heavy rainfall. Consultations with municipal officials revealed that residents in a few wards have their rooftop drains directly connected to the UGD systems, causing excess water flow that overwhelms the system and leads to overflow of manholes and blockages.  

Climate change exacerbates water scarcity and extreme weather events, hitting vulnerable groups like slum residents the hardest.

Municipal Solid waste - A Significant Contributor to GHG Emissions in small town 

Solid waste management is a major challenge in Chintamani, contributing significantly to GHG emissions. SWM accounts for 67% of WASH-related emissions in Chintamani, with the town generating about 30TPD. Most of this waste remains unprocessed and is dumped at the site. By 2022, Chintamani had accumulated 43,000 metric tons of legacy waste, making it the largest GHG emission source in the town. Despite the active missions like SBM 2.0, which focuses on infrastructure development, there is a critical gap in O&M support. As operations at the waste processing site struggle, this ongoing accumulation of legacy waste is not only harming the environment but also directly impacting the health and well being of local residents.

Big City vs Small town: Unequal Capacities in  Building Resilience 

A stark difference between a small town and a big city is their adaptive capacity. Bengaluru's 2024 water crisis, for example,  showcased the city's ability to respond effectively due to its technical expertise, political will, financial resources, and active civic engagement. In stark contrast, Chintamani tells a very different story. With limited resources, constrained capacity, and underdeveloped infrastructure., Chintamani struggles to adapt in the same way that larger cities like Bengaluru can. 

The town’s ability to manage crisis is hampered by these challenges, making it far more vulnerable to the impacts of water shortages and other environmental pressures. 

There are around 7000 emerging urban centres in India which share similar challenges, which are most vulnerable to the escalating impacts of Climate change increasing climate effects.   

This raises critical questions:

Are small towns prepared for the impacts of climate change? Do they have sufficient awareness and capacity to adapt to climate risks and vulnerabilities? Do they have enough resources to address these challenges?  

The answer to these questions is often  a resounding “NO”. Yet, there is hope. 

Timely interventions and strategic policy shifts can alter the course and help build resilience in small towns.

The path forward- Climate integrated small town-oriented development 

1. While small towns contribute minimally to climate change, they are disproportionately vulnerable to its consequences. Integrating climate measures into WASH planning instruments is a step forward to tackle growing climate challenges. This will provide opportunity for small towns to understand climate threat and adopt strategies while they gradually improve infrastructure.  
2. The national urban development discourse should pivot towards enabling and empowering small-town municipality to tackle climate change. Infrastructure-oriented WASH programs such as SBM, AMRUT and JJM, should incorporate India’s national climate commitments, such as achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and reducing carbon intensity to 45% by 2030 while promoting climate responsive and resilience infrastructure and operations.  

Building Climate Resilience : A Collaborative Approach

Tackling climate change in small towns requires a collaborative approach between various stakeholders, including government departments, local communities, and NGOs. Enhanced inter-departmental cooperation between entities such as the  District Urban Development Cell, Water Supply Board, District Statistics Department, Minor Irrigation, Groundwater Board and Disaster Management Cell can strengthen resilience through better data sharing and coordinated action. 

Equally important is community involvement. Ensuring local voices and knowledge are integrated into climate strategies will create more effective and grounded solutions. By fostering these partnerships, small towns can effectively tackle climate challenges and build long-term sustainability in the face of growing climate pressures.

By strengthening such collaborative actions, small towns can be equipped to face the growing challenges of climate change and build a sustainable and resilient future.