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Mumbai: On Friday morning, the combined water stock in seven lakes that supply drinking water to Mumbai has risen to 3.64 lakh million litres (ML) or 25% of their total capacity. In the last 24 hours alone, 1.73 lakh ML was added to water stock equivalent to 44 days of supply. With levels now higher than in the past two years, the BMC has stopped drawing from the Upper Vaitarna reserve stock.
Last week, water levels in Mumbai’s seven lakes had dropped to 8.60% of their total capacity. Due to which the BMC had to tap into reserve stock from Upper Vaitarna lake. However, intense rainfall in the catchment areas of Thane and Nashik has reversed the situation. In just five days, the combined stock surged from 1,24,471 ML on Monday to 3,64,233 ML on Friday, an increase of 2,39,762 ML, nearly tripling the available supply.
Among the seven key lakes, Tansa recorded the highest rainfall at 143 mm, followed by Bhatsa (141 mm), Modak Sagar (126 mm), Middle Vaitarna (121 mm), Upper Vaitarna (84 mm), Vihar (64 mm), and Tulsi (45 mm) between 6 am on Thursday till 6 am on Friday.
"Although the state government has allotted an additional 1.81 lakh ML of reserve water for Mumbai, there is currently no need to draw from this reserve. The recent rainfall has improved the lake levels, and with 92 days of stock available, the city's water needs are well covered for now," said a senior civic official.
In 2024, the water stock had dropped even lower to 5.32% or 77,052 ML, due to which the BMC had imposed a 10% water cut across the city and suburbs from June 5 to July 29. The BMC supplies 3,950 ML of water daily to the city and suburbs. To meet the city’s annual water needs, a total stock of 14.47 lakh ML is required by October 1.
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Total water stock in seven lakes on June 20.
Lakes.....current level ....overflow level (all figures in metres)
Upper Vaitarna..597.96.....603.51
Modak Sagar....153.65...163.15
Tansa...122.26......128.63
Middle Vaitarna....252.23...285
Bhatsa...115.50.....142.07
Vehar...76.72...80.12
Tulsi...134.80.......139.17
