BMC starts using reserve stock to meet city’s water needs

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) started using its reserve stock of water from Thursday to meet the city’s growing water requirements as the soaring temperatures have caused the lakes, from where the city draws water, to dry up, with the overall water level in the lakes dipping to 10.9 per cent — equivalent to 1.74 lakh million litres. In addition to the reserved stock, the water stock of Mumbai is 15.97 lakh million litres, which is approximately 18 per cent of the overall quantity.

Mumbai draws its daily water supply from seven lakes — Tansa, Bhatsa, Modak Sagar, Tulsi, Vehar, Upper Vaitarna, and Middle Vaitarna. Most of these lakes are located in the outskirts of Mumbai and neighbouring districts such as Thane, Bhiwandi, and Nashik. During monsoon, the catchment areas of these lakes get filled and water from the lakes are supplied to the Mumbai suburbs through tunnels and water pipelines.

Following the drop, the BMC had written to the irrigation department in March this year, seeking permission to access 1.5 lakh million litres of water from the reserves. “There is no chance of implementing water cuts in Mumbai as of now. We have adequate water to sustain nearly three weeks, following which, we may take a call on a cut,” said an official.