Mumbai has 9 months of water stock, but 10 per cent cut stays amid weak monsoon forecast

Bhatsa lake, one of the seven water bodies that keep Mumbai hydrated. FILE PIC

Mumbai's water-supplying lakes were 95.83 per cent full on Wednesday, nearing the stock recorded on the same day (September 2) last year. While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation anticipates that this water can suffice the city for a little over nine months, it will not withdraw its 10 per cent water cut for now.

"Considering that the IMD [India Meteorological Department] has predicted a weaker monsoon this season due to the impact of El Nino, a decision has been taken to continue with the water cut, at least till mid-September," a senior civic official told mid-day on Tuesday afternoon. "A review meeting will decide the future course of action," the official added.

[popcorn number="3650" desc="Amount (million litres) of water supplied to city daily" class="Default"]

The Tansa lake in the Shahapur taluka of Thane district. FILE PIC

A senior civic official told mid-day on Wednesday, "One per cent of the total water stock in the lakes suffices the city for three days." The calculation incorporates factors like water consumption, water evaporation, etc. According to the formula, 95.83 per cent of water stock from the lakes should suffice the city for around 288 days.

[popcorn number="99.27%" desc="Status of Modak Sagar lake on Sepember 2" class="Default"]

Water numbers

The seven lakes that supply water to Greater Mumbai - Bhatsa, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Vihar, and Tulsi - are 95.83 per cent full, carrying 13,86,969 million litres of water cumulatively, as of Wednesday morning. With the water cut in place, the BMC is supplying 3650 MLD (million litres per day) as opposed to its usual 3950 MLD to 4100 MLD.

Official Speak

Abhijit Bangar, additional municipal commissioner in charge of the hydraulics department, said, "The present water stock will suffice Mumbai till June 17, 2027. We must ensure water stock can suffice till mid-August. Since IMD has predicted a weak monsoon for September, if we assume that it does not rain from today onward, we will fall short of water. The IMD has predicted Mumbai to be in the red zone regarding a weak monsoon. So, the water cut will continue till the water stock available reaches a comfortable level."

Inputs by Eeshanpriya MS