The KRS Dam water level has risen to 103.52 feet after strong rainfall in Kodagu increased inflows into the Krishna Raja Sagara reservoir in Mandya district, easing immediate concern over drinking-water supplies to Bengaluru, Mysuru and several other towns.
According to a report by Prajavani, the reservoir level increased by about three feet after good rainfall in Kodagu over the past week. The improvement comes after the water level had fallen to around 100 feet during winter, raising concern that drinking-water availability could become a problem even if agricultural demand remained limited.
The Cauvery river received renewed flows following the rainfall, with the rise becoming particularly noticeable after two days of heavier rain in Kodagu. The reservoir reportedly gained more than half a foot in a single day during the period of increased inflow.
Data cited in the report showed that inflow into the reservoir stood at 9,475 cusecs at 8 am on Sunday and increased to 12,282 cusecs by 8 pm. During the same period, the water level rose from 102.98 feet in the morning to 103.52 feet at night.
The reservoir currently holds 25.69 thousand million cubic feet of water, against its total storage capacity of 49.45 TMC feet. Outflow from the KRS reservoir was reported at 1,771 cusecs. The figures indicate that storage remains close to half of the reservoir’s full capacity, even after the recent improvement.
KRS is a critical source of drinking water for Bengaluru, Mysuru and several other cities and towns. The recent fall in the reservoir level had therefore raised concerns about urban water security, particularly because the reservoir serves needs beyond agriculture. The latest inflow has provided some relief, although the report does not establish how long the improvement will last or how much additional rainfall the catchment will receive.
The immediate change at KRS also highlights the dependence of major urban water systems on rainfall in upstream catchments. For cities supplied through the Cauvery system, conditions in Kodagu can directly influence reservoir storage, inflows and the ability of water agencies to maintain supplies. The next key indicator will be whether inflows remain elevated and how the reservoir level changes as the season progresses.
