NBC 2016 Water Requirement Standards for Buildings and Infrastructure
Introduction
Accurate estimation of water demand is critical for sustainable
urban planning, infrastructure design, and groundwater compliance. The National Building Code (NBC) 2026,
issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), provides standardized norms for drinking and domestic water requirements
across residential, commercial, and institutional facilities.
These benchmarks are widely used by authorities such as the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) while processing NOC applications and compliance assessments.
At Simplicomp ,we use NBC 2026 standards to prepare accurate water demand estimates for clients in
real estate, industrial, and infrastructure sectors,
ensuring both technical precision and regulatory compliance.
Water Requirement for Residential Buildings
- 1 Bedroom Unit :- 4 persons
- 2 Bedroom Unit :- 5 persons
- 3 Bedroom Unit :- 6 persons
- 4 Bedroom & above :- 7 persons
- EWS Housing :- 4 persons
- Studio Apartment :- 2 persons
Per Capita Requirement :-
- Up to 20,000 population :- 100–135 lpcd
- 20,000–100,000 population :- 135–150 lpcd
- 100,000 population :- 150–200 lpcd
Out of this, 45 lpcd is allocated for flushing; the rest covers drinking, cooking, bathing, and other domestic uses.
Water Requirement for Other Buildings
NBC 2016 prescribes specific demand values for different categories:
| Type of Building | Domestic (lpcd) | Flushing (lpcd) | Total (lpcd) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factories (with bath) | 30 | 15 | 45 |
| Hospitals (per bed) | 300 | 150 | 450 |
| Nurses’ Homes / Hostels | 90 | 45 | 135 |
| Hotels (up to 3-star) | 120 | 60 | 180 |
| Hotels (4-star & above) | 260 | 60 | 320 |
| Offices (with canteen) | 25 | 20 | 45 |
| Restaurants | 55 | 15 | 70 (per seat) |
| Schools (with boarding) | 90 | 45 | 135 |
| Shopping Malls (staff) | 25 | 20 | 45 |
| Shopping Malls (visitors) | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| Airports | 40 | 30 | 70 |
| Multiplexes / Theatres | 5 | 10 | 15 (per seat) |
| Bus / Metro Stations | 10–25 | 5–20 | 15–45 |
Additional demand for kitchens, laundries, clinical facilities, and seasonal variations shall be calculated separately.
Why NBC 2026 Water Norms Matter
- Regulatory Compliance - Used by CGWA, Pollution Control Boards, and ULBs in approval processes.
- Infrastructure Planning - Ensures realistic sizing of pipelines, storage, and treatment systems.
- Sustainability - Helps prevent underestimation (leading to shortages) or overestimation (leading to wastage).
- Project Approvals : - Mandatory for Environmental Clearances (EC), CGWA NOCs, and building permits.
- Risk Mitigation - Reduces the chances of penalties, reputational damage, and environmental liabilities.
Simplicomp’s Role
At Simplicomp, we integrate NBC 2016 norms into:
- Water balance studies & demand assessment for projects.
- Preparation of CGWA NOC applications and compliance documentation.
- Design of STPs, rainwater harvesting, and reuse systems based on actual demand.
- Sustainability audits to align with both NBC and CGWA requirements.
By combining engineering accuracy with regulatory expertise, we ensure projects are approval-ready and environmentally sustainable.
