No water cuts for Mumbaikars this summer

Mumbai: Mumbaikars need not worry about water cuts this summer, as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sufficient water stocks in its lakes thanks to the heavy rainfall last monsoon.

According to civic officials, the city needs water stock of 14.47 lakh million litres at the end of the monsoon every year so that it lasts the entire summer and no water cuts are imposed. 

The city has nearly seven lakh million litres of water, which is more than enough till the next monsoon arrives. 

“We make sure that the water stock lasts till the end of July so that in case of a delayed monsoon, there should not be any problem in the supply. July and August are the months of heavy monsoon and most of the lakes are filled during these months,” said a senior civic official. 

Considering that the civic body supplies 3,750 million litres daily (mld), the present water stock of seven lakh million litres is good enough to last up to six months, said civic officials. 

The civic body has also started supplying additional 50mld water more to the city, as it is recycled at Panjrapur treatment plant. This has further increased the city’s water supply.

The BMC has seven lakes — Modak Sagar, Tansa, Tulsi, Vihar, Upper Vaitarana, Bhatsa and Middle Vaitarana — that supply water to the city. Of them, the last three with their large catchments areas play a major role in ensuring regular supply to the city.

A couple of years ago, the city had witnessed a severe water crisis due to inadequate rains and 20 per cent water cuts were imposed. However, the rain gods have been smiling on the city for the last two years.