08 September,2026 09:22 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
This year`s storage level is running marginally lower than the same period in the previous two years. File Pic
Mumbai's seven lakes supplying water to the city stood at a combined 96.41 per cent of their live storage capacity as of 6 am on September 8, 2026, according to the latest report released by the Hydraulic Engineer's Department at the Master Control Centre, Bhandup Complex.
The lakes held a total of 13,95,392 million litres (ML) out of a combined useful capacity of 14,47,363 ML.
This year's storage level is running marginally lower than the same period in the previous two years, with the lakes at 97.23 per cent capacity on this date in 2025 and 97.75 per cent in 2024.
Among the individual lakes, Vihar recorded the highest fill level at 100 per cent of its useful content, holding 27,698 ML against its full useful capacity of the same amount, after receiving 1 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours. Its total seasonal rainfall stood at 2,537 mm.
Modak Sagar followed closely at 97.65 per cent capacity, with 1,25,893 ML in storage against a useful capacity of 1,28,925 ML. The lake's water level fell slightly by 0.05 metres in the last 24 hours, even as it received 3 mm of rainfall, taking its total seasonal rainfall to 3,108 mm.
Tansa stood at 98.49 per cent capacity, holding 1,42,887 ML out of 1,45,080 ML useful content, with the water level unchanged over the previous 24 hours despite 15 mm of rainfall recorded, and a total seasonal rainfall of 2,812 mm.
Bhatsa, the city's largest lake by capacity, was at 97.05 per cent capacity, holding 6,95,912 ML against a useful capacity of 7,17,037 ML. The lake's level rose by 0.10 metres in the last 24 hours after receiving 8 mm of rainfall, with total seasonal rainfall reaching 2,580 mm.
Tulsi stood at 96.18 per cent capacity, with 7,739 ML in storage out of a useful capacity of 8,046 ML. Its water level dropped slightly by 0.01 metres despite 5 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, taking its seasonal total to 3,550 mm.
Upper Vaitarna recorded 91.93 per cent capacity, the lowest among all seven lakes, holding 2,08,724 ML against a useful capacity of 2,27,047 ML. The lake's level remained unchanged over the last 24 hours, with 6 mm of rainfall recorded and a seasonal total of 3,784 mm, the highest cumulative rainfall figure among all the lakes.
Middle Vaitarna stood at 96.39 per cent capacity, with 1,86,540 ML in storage out of a useful capacity of 1,93,530 ML. The lake's level fell by 0.08 metres in the last 24 hours, the sharpest single-day drop recorded among all lakes, despite receiving 19 mm of rainfall, with total seasonal rainfall at 2,806 mm.
Combined levels for the Upper Vaitarna, Vaitarna, Tansa, and Middle Vaitarna group stood at 95.60 per cent of their combined useful capacity, holding 6,64,044 ML against 6,94,582 ML, compared to 98.21 per cent on the same date in 2025 and 98.20 per cent in 2024.
According to remarks accompanying the report, the Bhandup Complex recorded 2 mm of rainfall on the day, taking its total seasonal rainfall to 2,757 mm. The report also noted that the Middle Vaitarna WSCPO gate was closed on 6 July 2026 at 2 pm, and release from Upper Vaitarna was stopped from the same date at 10:00 am.
Several lakes had overflowed earlier in the monsoon season. Vihar Lake began overflowing on 7 July 2026 at 9 pm, followed by Tulsi Lake on the same date at 11:43 pm.
Tansa Dam started overflowing on 22 July 2026 at 8:51 am, and Modak Sagar Dam followed on 23 July 2026 at 2 am.
With the monsoon season drawing to a close, the current storage levels, though slightly lower than the past two years, remain comfortably high across all seven lakes, positioning Mumbai well for its water supply needs in the months ahead.
