Mumbai’s 10 per cent water cut stays, BMC eyes fairer supply

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Mumbai's 10 per cent water cut is here to stay for now, with the BMC saying it will make things fair for some parts of the city which are receiving well below even the reduced 90 per cent supply. The civic body said its existing water stock must be conserved until the next monsoon.

No rollback

Facing questions from corporators over low pressure and inadequate supply, BMC's Hydraulics Department presented to the Standing Committee on Thursday. Heading the department, Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar, said the cut cannot be rolled back yet.

Unequal supply

Civic officials, elevated areas and neighbourhoods farther from the main pipelines are among those facing greater difficulties. The BMC is now looking at day-wise rationing in smaller sub-areas to prevent certain pockets from bearing a disproportionate share of the water cut.

Complaints received

17,906
water-leakage grievances were received between January and August 2026; all were rectified

4084
complaints were received about unauthorised connections

3802
unauthorised connections were disconnected, while 282 were regularised

1514
complaints of contaminated water were received; all were resolved

Cut losses

The presentation also highlighted a longer-term solution - reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW). Around 34 per cent of the city's water is currently classified as NRW, with losses linked to leakages, unauthorised connections and other inefficiencies.

Stating a possibility, Bangar said the BMC could bring NRW down to 24 per cent over the next few years. The saving, he said, would effectively add a volume of water to Mumbai's supply comparable to what a dam such as Gargai could provide.