Mumbai’s water stock enough to last another month

Vihar Lake, which supplies water to the city, overflowed on August 7, 2020. File pic

Water level in the lakes that supply water to the city are at their lowest in the last three years at only 12 per cent of total capacity. This is due to the late onset of monsoon this year. Civic officials, however, are hopeful that there would not be any need for water cuts as the monsoon is now activated.

The India Meteorology Department predicted a normal monsoon this year, but the delay is impacting the water stock for Mumbai. The seven lakes - Bhatsa, Tansa, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Modak Sagar, Tulsi and Vihar - which have a combined capacity of 14.47 lakh million litres, now have 1.72 lakh million litres of water which is less than 12 per cent of the total capacity. This despite the fact that the city received more than average rainfall last year.

The civic body had earlier in May said that the water levels in the seven lakes was enough even if monsoon arrives late. "The stock has enough to last for another month. Given the current situation of monsoon, we are hopeful. The decision of water cut will be taken depending on the rainfall in the next two weeks," said an official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

Last year on the same day, the lakes had more water stock as monsoon arrived by this time. Previously, the city faced a prolonged period of water cut from November 2018 to July 2019 as the lakes had only filled up to 90 per cent of the capacity in the 2018 monsoon. The water stock was the lowest in June 2019, with below 10 per cent stock on June 16, when the city was facing a 10 per cent water cut.

Water levels as on June 16 (in million litres)
Lakes water
Upper Vaitarna 0%
Modak Sagar 37%
Tansa 5%
Middle Vaitarna 14%
Bhatsa 11%
Vihar 13%
Tulsi 27%

Water level on June 16 over the years (in million litres)
2022 1.72 lakh
2021 1.84 lakh
2020 1.76 lakh
2019 0.93 lakh
2018 2.21 lakh