Mumbai Water Reserves Reach 89.49 Percent Capacity After Heavy Rain

Combined useful water stock across the seven lakes supplying drinking water to Mumbai reached 89.49 per cent of total useful live storage capacity as of Wednesday morning, following heavy rainfall across catchment areas.

According to a report by the Hydraulic Engineer’s Department, the combined useful water stock in the city's seven lakes stood at 12,95,274 million litres (ML), against the total useful live storage capacity of 14,47,363 ML.

The water stock expanded by 0.44 percentage points over a 24-hour period, rising from 89.05 per cent recorded on Tuesday. In absolute terms, the catchment lakes gained approximately 6,384 ML of water in 24 hours. The seven lakes collectively recorded 223 mm of rainfall during the reporting period.

Among the seven reservoirs, Vihar recorded the highest single-day rainfall at 80 mm, followed by Middle Vaitarna at 48 mm and Upper Vaitarna at 46 mm. Bhatsa received 31 mm of rain, while Tansa recorded 8 mm, Tulsi received 6 mm, and Modak Sagar recorded 4 mm.

With the recent rainfall, Vihar's useful water stock reached 27,698 ML, representing 100 per cent of its useful live storage capacity. Tulsi also remained at 100 per cent capacity, while Modak Sagar reached 100 per cent with 1,28,925 ML.

Bhatsa, the largest water source supplying Mumbai, held 6,23,819 ML in useful live storage, equivalent to 87.30 per cent of its useful capacity of 7,17,037 ML. Upper Vaitarna recorded 1,83,934 ML, placing it at 81.01 per cent capacity. Tansa held 1,43,299 ML or 98.77 per cent, and Middle Vaitarna recorded 1,79,553 ML, standing at 92.78 per cent capacity.

The departmental report noted that water release from Upper Vaitarna was stopped on July 6. The Bhandup Complex recorded cumulative rainfall of 2,558 mm. Vihar and Tulsi lakes began overflowing on July 7, while Tansa started overflowing on July 22 and Modak Sagar on July 23.