A week of good rains in the catchment areas and the seven lakes supplying water to Mumbai have some good news to share. In a span of 10 days the water levels have jumped collectively from a meagre 6% to 25%. However, this is not sufficient to cater to the needs of the large megapolis and a reason to lift the 10% water cut in the city. When the curbs will be lifted depends on how early the reservoir levels make another impressive jump.
There are seven lakes — with a total capacity of 14.47 lakh million litres — which provide the city 3,800 million litres of water every day. Following a scanty rainfall in the last monsoon, BMC applied a 10% water cut in November which continues till date. The delay in monsoon arrival added to the woes and stock dipped to 6% by end-June. A good spell began on June 28, and after the first one week of percolation, the water from the surrounding hills has started recharging the lakes.
As on Monday, the water stock is 3.61 lakh million litres or 25% of the total stock. Last year, this time, the stock was 37%, and the lakes ended up receiving only up to 90% of their capacity.
"The water level is rising and we are hopeful it will rise further. However, as of now, the water cut stays," said a BMC official.
The first among the lakes filling up impressively is Tulsi lake, which is 84% filled so far. The lake has received 1,779 mm of rainfall till now and has a water stock of 6,764 million litres. The lake is the smallest among seven lakes and contributes to only 1% of the total stock. Tulsi, however, had overflowed on July 9 last year.
Meanwhile, water supply to the city will be stopped on Tuesday and Wednesday due to emergency technical work for repair of Tansa water pipeline which L&T and the BMC will collectively carry out. The work will begin on Tuesday at 12 noon and will continue till 12 noon on Wednesday. CSMI airport, MIDC, Marol, JB Nagar, Bandra terminal supply zone, and areas of Dharavi are among the areas that will be impacted.
