Mumbai Water Crisis: Stock In 7 Lakes Falls To 8.6% Despite Heavy Rain; BMC Taps Upper Vaitarna Reserve
Mumbai: Despite heavy rainfall lashing the city, it has had little effect on the catchment areas of the lakes that supply Mumbai’s drinking water. As a result, the combined water stock across the seven lakes has dropped to just 1,24,471 million litres (ML) only 8.64% of their total capacity.
The civic authorities have begun withdrawing additional reserve water from the Upper Vaitarna lake to ensure uninterrupted supply to the city starting Monday.
Mumbai currently receives 3,950 ML of water daily. According to officials, the available stock is sufficient to meet the city’s needs for the next one month. For comparison, during the same period last year, the water stock had dropped even lower to 5.42% due to which the BMC had imposed a 10% water cut across the city and suburbs from June 5 to July 29.
This year, however, the monsoon arrived early on May 26, and with forecasts predicting above-normal rainfall, the civic body remains optimistic. As of now, no decision on implementing water cuts has been made.
"With lake levels dropping to 8%, discharge from the Upper Vaitarna dam under the reserve quota was initiated at a rate of 350 cubic feet per second. However, with rainfall beginning in the catchment areas from Sunday, the discharge will be reviewed after two days. Notably, the water level in the Middle Vaitarna dam has risen by 30 cm due to the recent rains," said a senior civic official.
The state irrigation department approved BMC's request for additional reserve water stock from Bhatsa - 1.4 lakh ML and Upper Vaitarna - 93,500 ML.
According to civic data, in the 24-hour period ending at 6 am on Monday, Modak Sagar Lake recorded 23 mm of rainfall, Tansa (28 mm), Middle Vaitarna (60 mm), Bhatsa (33 mm), Vihar (43 mm), and Tulsi (66 mm).
Officials noted that the catchment areas begin receiving substantial rainfall by mid-July, which plays a crucial role in replenishing the lakes. To meet the city’s annual water needs, a total stock of 14.47 lakh million litres is required by October 1.
Total water stock in seven lakes on June 16..
Lakes.....current level ....overflow level (all figures in metres)
Upper Vaitarna..595.53.....603.51
Modak Sagar....149.82....163.15
Tansa...120.10......128.63
Middle Vaitarna....239.78....285
Bhatsa...108.25.....142.07
Vehar...76.30...80.12
Tulsi...134.05.......139.17
year....current water stock (figures in million litres)
2025 - 1,24,471...8.60 %
2024 - 78,499....5.42%
2023 - 1,25,055....8.64%
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