As groundwater levels in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, decline to depths of 180-200 feet, the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) is shifting its focus to surface water supply systems for new townships. In the upcoming Naimish Nagar and Varun Vihar schemes, the LDA plans to build dedicated water treatment plants to alleviate the pressure on groundwater resources. The Varun Vihar scheme, covering 2,270 hectares along the Agra Expressway, is designed to house approximately eight lakh residents and will feature a water treatment plant capable of initially processing 110 million litres per day (MLD), with future scalability up to 140 MLD. Water for this project is expected to be sourced from the Sharda Canal. Similarly, the Naimish Nagar scheme, spanning 1,486 hectares and projected to accommodate two lakh people, will include two treatment plants, one of which will treat around 16 MLD. This strategic shift aims to ensure long-term water security and reduce reliance on borewells as urban expansion continues.