Mumbai Lakes Rch 92 Percent Capacity After Heavy Rains
The city’s water security has received a strong boost with the seven lakes supplying drinking water now holding 92.42 per cent of their collective storage capacity, following several days of intense monsoon rainfall. While this ensures a near-comfortable stock for households and businesses, the downpour has also raised alarms over flooding, waterlogging and traffic chaos across India’s financial capital.
According to municipal data released on Tuesday, the combined water stock across the reservoirs stands at 13.37 lakh million litres. Two of the city’s smaller lakes — Vihar and Tulsi — have already reached full capacity, while Tansa is at 99.26 per cent and Middle Vaitarna at 97.51 per cent. Bhatsa, the largest contributor to Mumbai’s water grid, is at 90.8 per cent, while Upper Vaitarna and Modak Sagar are holding 88.01 and 91.74 per cent respectively.
This distribution system underpins the lifeline of Mumbai’s 1.8 crore residents. The western suburbs receive supply from the Vaitarna system and Tansa, while the eastern parts of the city, including Mazgaon, Mulund and Sion, depend on the Bhatsa system. With most reservoirs brimming, municipal engineers say the city is comfortably placed to meet water demand through the year, provided rainfall continues at a steady pace and storage is managed judiciously.
Yet the abundant rain has come with serious risks. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert, warning of very heavy to extremely heavy showers across the city and its suburbs, accompanied by gusty winds of up to 55 kmph. With tide levels expected to rise above 3.7 metres during peak hours, officials fear the combination of swollen reservoirs, torrential rain and high tide could result in severe flooding in low-lying areas. In the 24-hour period ending Tuesday morning, the city received 186.43 mm of rainfall, with the eastern suburbs logging 208.78 mm and the western suburbs even higher at 238.19 mm. Civic teams have been deployed to clear waterlogged roads and monitor vulnerable stretches, urging citizens to avoid unnecessary travel during high tide hours.
Urban experts underline that while lake levels offer short-term assurance for drinking water, the larger challenge lies in balancing water security with flood management. Mumbai has repeatedly faced the paradox of abundance — full reservoirs alongside streets paralysed by inundation. With climate change intensifying rainfall events, city planners are being pushed to rethink drainage, storage and urban design to create a more resilient system. For now, the rising lake levels are a relief for households worried about summer shortages. But the same rains that fill the reservoirs also test Mumbai’s preparedness, reminding the city that water abundance can quickly turn into urban vulnerability.
