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Mumbai: Mumbai witnessed a boost in its water stock on Thursday as heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of the seven lakes added 43,383 million litres (ML) of water within just 24 hours. This substantial inflow is equivalent to approximately 11 days of water supply for the city. With this addition, the total water stock in the lakes supplying drinking water to the city has risen to 13% or 1,90,771 ML of their total capacity.
The BMC currently supplies 3,950 ML of water daily to Mumbai. However, nearly 34% of this supply is lost due to theft and leakages. Meanwhile, the daily water demand has surged to 4,463 ML, creating a widening gap between supply and consumption.
On June 19, 2024, the combined water stock in the seven lakes had dropped drastically to just 5.33% (77,132 ML) of their total capacity. As a result, the civic body had imposed a 10% water cut from June 5 to July 29 to manage the shortfall.
Although the monsoon arrived early this year on May 26, Mumbai's water stock had dropped to just 8.60% last week. The BMC had also began drawing from the reserve stock allotted from the Upper Vaitarna lake to prevent shortages.
However, since Monday, heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of Thane and Nashik—where most of Mumbai’s key lakes are located—has brought relief. The combined water stock has now surged from 1,24,471 ML to 1,90,771 ML, marking an increase equivalent to an additional 16 days of water supply for the city.
Between 6 am Wednesday and 6 am Thursday, Mumbai’s key lakes received substantial rainfall, boosting hopes for an improved water supply situation. The Modak Sagar lake recorded the highest rainfall at 235 mm, followed by Tansa (218 mm), Middle Vaitarna (170 mm), Bhatsa (141 mm), Tulsi (96 mm), and Vihar (55 mm). To meet Mumbai’s annual water requirement, the BMC needs a total stock of 14.47 lakh ML by October 1, when the monsoon officially ends.
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Total water stock in seven lakes on June 19..
Lakes.....current level ....overflow level (all figures in metres)
Upper Vaitarna..596.56.....603.51
Modak Sagar....151.78...163.15
Tansa...121.04......128.63
Middle Vaitarna....243.65...285
Bhatsa...109.00.....142.07
Vehar...76.58...80.12
Tulsi...134.70.......139.17
