LUCKNOW, April 29 -- A steady decline in groundwater levels across the state capital over the decade is reshaping how the city accesses water, with deeper drilling, rising costs and uneven availability becoming the new normal.

In several parts of Lucknow, water is now found only at depths of 180 to 200 feet-and in some pockets, even deeper. Data from the groundwater department shows a widening gap between where water once existed and where it is now found.

The decline, however, is uneven. Central zones such as Mahanagar and Jail Road record groundwater at around 43 to 45 metres below the surface, while Faizullaganj and parts of Indira Nagar range between 35 and 42 metres. In Madhopur, levels have dropped from roughly 100 feet to nearly ...