The water stock in Mumbai’s seven lakes, which supply the city’s daily water needs, has dropped by 16% in the two months since the monsoon season ended. On Friday, the combined storage in the lakes stood at 84%, a sharp decline from the full capacity recorded in September. While the current stock is slightly better than 2023, when levels were at 80.1% during the same period, it remains lower than the 84.7% recorded in 2022.
Mumbai’s lakes collectively hold a storage capacity of 14.47 lakh million litres. By the end of the monsoon this year, the stock was close to full, reaching 14.40 lakh million litres. Despite this, the city faces a significant challenge in meeting its daily water demand of 4,500 million litres. Currently, Mumbai receives only 3,850 million litres per day, highlighting a persistent supply shortfall. This demand-supply imbalance has led to water cuts in past years, even when the lakes were nearly full post-monsoon. According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, the current stock is planned to last until July next year. However, they caution that it is too early to predict whether water supply restrictions can be avoided, especially given the city’s growing needs. To address Mumbai’s recurring water shortages, the BMC has proposed the construction of the Gargai Dam in the Tansa sanctuary.
Once completed, the dam is expected to add an additional 400 million litres per day to the city’s water supply. However, this long-term solution is still in the planning stages, leaving the city reliant on its existing lake reserves for the foreseeable future. While the current year’s water stock appears more promising compared to 2023, the city’s historical pattern of water shortages underscores the urgency of implementing sustainable solutions. The BMC’s efforts to optimise water distribution and manage reserves will be critical in ensuring that Mumbai’s supply lasts through the dry months ahead.
