Mumbai News: Water Levels In 7 Lakes Drop To 18% Amid Heatwave; BMC Assures No Immediate Cuts, Stock Sufficient Until July

Mumbai: With the scorching heat, water levels in Mumbai’s seven lakes have dropped to 18% of their total storage capacity. The current stock is sufficient for the next 60 days and is six percent higher than the same period last year. Officials said they are closely monitoring the situation and, for now, there are no immediate plans for water cuts.

Water levels in key supply lakes — Tansa, Middle Vaitarna, Bhatsa, and Upper Vaitarna — have dipped below 20%. As a contingency, the BMC has secured state approval to draw from a reserve stock of 1.81 lakh million litres from Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa. According to civic officials, this buffer will suffice to meet Mumbai’s water needs until the end of July.

"Last year, water levels dropped sharply in May, prompting a 5% water cut from June 5, 2024. This year, the situation is under control despite evaporation challenges. We’ve made adequate arrangements to ensure uninterrupted supply till the end of July,” said a senior civic official.

While the monsoon typically arrives around June 11, recent trends show delays, with heavy rainfall often beginning only by mid-July. As per civic estimates, 1% of the water stock lasts roughly three days. Of the 3,950 million litres of water supplied daily by the BMC, about 34% is lost to pipeline leakages and water theft.

Total water stock in seven lakes on May 17..

Lakes.....current level ....overflow level (all figures in metres)

Upper Vaitarna..596.74.....603.51

Modak Sagar....151.08....163.15

Tansa...120.89......128.63

Middle Vaitarna....249.28.....285

Bhatsa...113.85.....142.07

Vehar...76.10...80.12

Tulsi...134.35.......139.17

year....current water stock (figures in million litres)

2025 - 266417

2024 - 181560

2023 - 269895