Bengaluru, April 3, 2026: India is confronting an intensifying water crisis, driven by the dual pressures of rapid urbanization and finite freshwater resources. According to NITI Aayog, nearly 600 million Indians face high to extreme water stress, while 21 major cities are projected to run out of groundwater, underscoring the urgency of systemic reform. With water demand expected to double available supply by 2030, the need to transition from supply-side augmentation to demand-driven, efficiency-led water management has never been more critical.
Urban centers such as Bengaluru illustrate the gravity of this crisis. Once celebrated for its extensive network of over 1,000 interconnected lakes, the city now retains less than 100 functional water bodies, many of which are severely polluted or encroached upon. Studies by Indian Institute of Science highlight that over 85% of Bengaluru’s lakes are eutrophic, significantly impairing their ability to support biodiversity or recharge groundwater. As natural recharge systems continue to degrade, Bengaluru’s dependence on unsustainable water sources has surged. The city currently relies on the Cauvery River for nearly 80% of its piped water supply, pumping it over 100 km and against a steep elevation, making it one of the most energy-intensive urban water systems in the world. This growing imbalance between demand and supply highlights structural vulnerabilities in urban water governance across India
Against this backdrop, PlumbexIndia 2026, positioned as India’s leading exhibition for water, sanitation and plumbing, the event will serve as a critical platform for industry collaboration, innovation and knowledge exchange among stakeholders across the ecosystem.
The exhibition will feature a comprehensive lineup of symposiums addressing key challenges and emerging opportunities in water management. Notable highlights include the IPA Awards of Excellence, the Around the Drop, which is a hands-on workshop designed to sensitize architectural students to water-based design thinking initiative, and the IPA Bathroom Challenge, which will be a live, skill-based installation competition, organized by the Indian Plumbing Association (IPA) in collaboration with International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) USA and International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) USA, encouraging innovation in sustainable plumbing design and practices.
With participation from over 200 exhibitors, 50+ startups, spanning a large exhibition area of over 15,0000+ sq. ft., PlumbexIndia 2026 will showcase a diverse spectrum of solutions across plumbing systems, water management technologies, sanitation infrastructure, smart water systems, and sustainable building solutions. The event will bring together manufacturers, technology providers, solution innovators, and infrastructure companies, reflecting the growing convergence of design, engineering, and sustainability in the water and sanitation ecosystem, expected to attract over 15,000+ visitors, which will include architects, real estate developers, consultants, engineers, policymakers, government officials and industry professionals, offering a comprehensive cross-section of stakeholders engaged in shaping India’s water, sanitation and infrastructure landscape, from across the country.
“Water sustainability has transcended the realm of discretionary policy and now stands as a non-negotiable imperative for safeguarding India’s ecological and developmental future. Strategic platforms such as PlumbexIndia serve as critical convergence points, facilitating multi-stakeholder engagement, cross-sectoral knowledge exchange, and the incubation of innovative, future-ready solutions. As the nation advances, it is the synergistic interplay of collaborative governance frameworks and judicious water stewardship practices that will underpin long-term resilience, resource security, and sustainable growth.” said Gurmit Singh Arora, National President, Indian Plumbing Association during the interaction with media in the press meet held on 3rd April 2026 at Plumeria Hall, ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru.
In the lead-up to the exhibition, a Curtain Raiser event was held in Bengaluru in the evening setting, bringing together key stakeholders and industry leaders. The event featured a thought-provoking panel discussion on the theme “Restoring the Value of Water,” focusing on the need to re-evaluate how water is managed, conserved and governed in urban India.
The panel discussion was moderated by BO Prasanna Kumar, Joint Managing Director, Design Tree Service Consultants Pvt. Ltd. along with the following eminent panelists.
- Ar. Dinesh Verma – Founder and Principal Architect of ACE Group Architects
- Sanath Kumar V – Chief Engineer (Design & QA), Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB)
- Amar Mysore – Executive Director, Brigade Group
- Dr. Hariharan Chandrashekar – Founder & Chairman, Biodiversity Conservation India Ltd. (BCIL)
- Vijay Raj – Director, Farmland Rainwater Harvesting System
- BSA Narayan – Managing Director, Maple Engineering-Design Services (India) Pvt. Ltd.
The panelists shared diverse perspectives on water conservation, urban infrastructure challenges, governance frameworks and the need for integrated, sustainable approaches to water management. Discussions emphasized the importance of aligning policy, technology and community participation to address the growing water crisis.
PlumbexIndia 2026 aims to serve as a catalyst for meaningful dialogue and actionable solutions, reinforcing the need for collective efforts in building a water-secure and sustainable future for India.