Water level in lakes at 90 per cent

Mumbai: Owing to heavy downpour in catchments areas, the useful water stock of the Upper Vaitarna Lake has increased from 24 per cent to 87 per cent in a week.

The lake, which is the second biggest reservoir of the seven that provide water to the city after the Bhatsa, had the least water content. Usually, it provides around 13 to 14 per cent of the water that Mumbai receives.

The total water stock in all seven lakes is now 90 per cent, which is the highest in the last two years and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) expects them to reach their maximum capacity by October 1.  “Although the total water storage has reached 90 per cent, the rainfall in catchments areas should continue in August and September so that by October 1 the water content in all seven lakes should be at least 100 per cent. If the water content is 98 per cent, Mumbai will have uninterrupted water supply for the rest of the year. Mumbai needs 3,800 million litres of water daily; thus if it rains poorly in the coming days, the water content will not reach 100 per cent by October”, said hydraulic engineer Ashok Tawadia.

“However, it is predicted that in the coming days there are favourable conditions for rainfall in catchments areas. Thus, we expect all lakes to overflow by October 1,” Mr Tawadia added.

Last year on August 5, the water stock of all seven lakes was 84 per cent and in 2017 it was 86 per cent. However, in August and September last year catchment areas received very poor rainfall as a result of which the water content in all seven lakes was only 90 per cent on October 1 — that is, out of total water storage capacity of 14 lakh million litres, the water stock was 13 lakh million litres. Following this, the BMC implemented a 10 per cent cut from November. However, the cut was later rolled back.