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Water stock dips to 51% as Mumbai experiences extreme day temperature

The BMC’s data of water stock shows that last year on February 24, the city’s water stock stood at 45.12 per cent, while on the same day in 2023 the stock stood at 50.25 per cent.

People walk on the beach as hot sand flies all over the place, with the temperature soaring to 39 degree centigrade, at Girgaon chowpatty in Mumbai on 28 April 2024. (Express Photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee)

With Mumbai witnessing above normal temperature levels for nearly a week now and four months left for the monsoon to arrive, officials fear that a continued situation may lead to faster evaporation of water and reduction in lake levels. Mumbai’s water reserve across all the seven lakes stood at 51.12 per cent on Monday.

While civic officials maintained that no immediate water cut will be imposed, they said that the sudden rise in temperature leads to quick evaporation of the water and reduces the level. “At present, the city is experiencing extreme day temperatures. Therefore, there is a chance of the reserves dipping faster than expected. Last year too, a similar phenomenon happened and we had to impose a water cut in May,” said a civic official. The official also maintained that the BMC’s hydraulic department, which looks after the water level in lakes, has not mooted for any water cut right now.

According to the civic officials every one percent of water stock in the lake levels accounts to two-three days of usage.

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“At present, the water stock is enough to sustain four months. Even though the official date of monsoon arrival is between June 10 and 15, significant rainfall around the catchment areas of the lakes comes up much later,” the official said.

Last year, following a delayed monsoon onset, the BMC had to dip into the water reserves after seeking a nod from the state government’s irrigation department. However, the reserve stocks were replenished after rainfall picked up in July.

The BMC’s data of water stock shows that last year on February 24, the city’s water stock stood at 45.12 per cent, while on the same day in 2023 the stock stood at 50.25 per cent.

Mumbai draws its water from seven different lakes–Tansa, Bhatsa, Tulsi, Vihar, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna and Modak Sagar. Of the seven lakes, Tulsi and Vihar are located within Mumbai while the rest of the lakes are located in the satellite districts of Palghar, Thane and Nashik. The full quantum of water stored in these lakes stands at 14.47 lakh million litres.

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