The fourth edition of the Urban Waters Forum was held from February 5-7, 2025, at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, bringing together 65+ participants from academia, civil society organizations, and journalism. This year, we turned our focus toward small towns of India where much of India’s growth is expected to occur in the coming years. Here, issues of demand and supply, wastewater management and overall institutional capacities will be crucial to address. The city of Dhanbad, given its success in demonstrating water security in low-income neighborhoods, was an ideal choice to host the forum this year. Discussions emphasized the critical role of groundwater and shallow aquifer management in strengthening urban water supply systems in small towns, especially those in Eastern India. The event concluded with discussions on the way forward in urban water management and governance, emphasizing the need to bridge gaps in infrastructure, policy, and community engagement to integrate sustainable water solutions in India’s small towns. Participants visited Tata Steel’s Jamadoba plant where innovative water reclamation practices are followed. The water treatment plant treats water from coal mines for consumption in its employee colonies, showcasing an example of industrial water reuse. Participants also got a chance to visit three Shallow Aquifer Management (SAM) pilot sites selected under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) initiative and led by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). Thanks to our partners, ACWADAM, Megh Pyne Abhiyan, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, Dhanbad Municipal Corporation, Biome Environmental Trust, and all participants for their invaluable contributions to the success of the Urban Waters Forum 2025!