So far this monsoon, Modak Sagar’s catchment area has received a total of 1405 mm of rainfall over 43 days since the onset of the monsoon on May 26, 2025. The lake is located in Thane district, on the Vaitarna river, which originates in Igatpuri, Nashik
Modak Sagar is located on the Vaitarna river in Thane district. Pic/X/@mybmc
Modak Sagar, one of the seven lakes supplying water to Mumbai, began overflowing at 6.27 am on Wednesday, becoming the first lake to overflow this monsoon. The full storage capacity of Modak Sagar is 1,28,910 million litres. In the 24 hours between 6 am on Tuesday and 6 am on Wednesday, its catchment area received 4 mm of rainfall.
Modak Sagar, one of the seven lakes supplying water to Mumbai, began overflowing at 6.27 am on Wednesday, becoming the first lake to overflow this monsoon. The full storage capacity of Modak Sagar is 1,28,910 million litres. In the 24 hours between 6 am on Tuesday and 6 am on Wednesday, its catchment area received 4 mm of rainfall.
So far this monsoon, Modak Sagar’s catchment area has received a total of 1405 mm of rainfall over 43 days since the onset of the monsoon on May 26, 2025. The lake is located in Thane district, on the Vaitarna river, which originates in Igatpuri, Nashik.
On the same day last year, Modak Sagar was only 37.71 per cent full, amounting to 48,624 million litres of water. As of Wednesday morning, the combined water stock in the seven lakes that supply drinking water to Mumbai stood at 72.61 per cent or 10,50,912 million litres. In contrast, it was just 20.45 per cent, or 2,96,349 million litres, on the same day last year, and 23.11 per cent, or 3,34,530 million litres, on the same day in 2023. The lakes have a total storage capacity of 14,47,363 million litres.
Apart from Modak Sagar, the Middle Vaitarna Lake, also located on the Vaitarna river in Thane district, is currently 93.15 per cent full. Its total storage level is 285 metres, and the water level has now reached 282.13 metres. On Tuesday afternoon, the BMC opened three gates to release water at a rate of 3000 cusecs. This water stock is expected to suffice for Mumbai’s needs until the end of 2025.
How did Modak Sagar get its name?
Modak Sagar lake is named after special engineer NV Modak, also known as Nanasaheb Modak, who initiated the dam project on the Vaitarna to address the city’s potable water needs. The dam was built in 1956, and from 1957, water began flowing daily from the lake to Mumbai. Modak is said to have conducted studies across Nashik, Pune, and Thane before identifying the Vaitarna as a reliable water source for the city.
Lake spills over, and so do the sweets
As per the annual tradition, officials from BMC’s hydraulics department distributed sweets on Wednesday to mark the monsoon milestone. Every year, the department celebrates the season’s first lake overflow by distributing sweets at the civic body’s headquarters in Fort.
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