Mumbai may face 10 per cent water cut from today

Mumbai may face water cut. (Representational)

Written by Sanjana Bhalerao

MUMBAI MAY have to brace itself for a 10 per cent water cut from Wednesday, as the city’s water stock is down by 16 per cent when compared to November last year.

While the BMC supplies 3,800 million litres of water everyday to the city, the quantity supplied to households is expected to decrease by 380 million litres starting Wednesday.

“Following the drop in the level in the lakes supplying water, 10 per cent water cut will be levied. The proposal for the same will be tabled before the standing committee meeting scheduled on Wednesday,” said a senior BMC official. After the approval from the committee, the water cut will be effected immediately.

Officials said the decision was taken after a 16 per cent drop in water stock was recorded in the seven lakes that supply water to the city.

According to the data available with BMC, as of November 11, the seven lakes have 11,11,385 million litres of water or are 76 per cent full. The current stock will last for 292 days. Last year, around the same time, the lakes were over 92 per cent full and had 13,33,522 million litres of water.

By the end of monsoon in September, the city requires 14.47 lakh million litres of water to ensure a comfortable summer without water cuts.

Mumbai gets water from Vihar, Tulsi, Bhatsa, Middle Vaitarna, Upper Vaitarna, Tansa and Modak Sagar lakes, which are in Thane and Nashik district. This year, good rainfall early monsoon resulted in the lakes getting almost 90 per cent full. However, the water level in the lakes decreased following reduced rainfall in August and September. The Bhatsa lake, which supplies 50 per cent of water to the city, has a stock of 77 per cent. Last year, its reserves were at 91 per cent around the same time.

The highest percentage of water cut — 25 per cent — was imposed in 2014, followed by 20 per cent in 2015 and 2016. Subsequently, good monsoon resulted in a smooth summer in 2017. As many as 9,181 municipal water tankers and approximately 38,999 private water tankers supply water to construction sites, commercial establishments and residents in the city. Each tanker carries 10,000 litres of water.