Attention, Mumbaikars! 10% Water Cut Likely To Be Imposed From May 1

Mumbaikars could experience a reduction in water supply starting May 1, as water levels in the lakes that serve the city continue to decline.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is considering implementing a 10 per cent water cut due to concerns over maintaining adequate supply during the peak summer months.

According to civic officials, a proposal outlining the reduction has already been submitted to the municipal commissioner and is awaiting approval.

As of April 15, the seven lakes that provide water to mumbai were holding about 33.6% of their total capacity, equivalent to roughly 4.86 lakh million litres.

The city depends on several key reservoirs, including Modak Sagar, Tansa, Bhatsa, and Vaitarna, for its daily water needs. Currently, the BMC supplies approximately 4,000 million litres of water per day. However, rising temperatures have increased evaporation rates, accelerating the depletion of available water reserves.

Officials estimate that the existing stock should last until July. However, precautionary measures are being planned to ensure that the supply remains sufficient until the arrival of the monsoon. The state government has also instructed authorities to manage water carefully so that reserves can stretch until August if needed.

Last year, water levels had dropped below 20 per cent by early May, but an early monsoon helped replenish the lakes sooner than expected. This year, authorities are preparing for a more uncertain situation.

To ease the pressure, the BMC has requested additional water from state-managed reserves. If approved, this could reduce or even eliminate the need for strict water cuts.

Mumbai’s water supply system is extensive, drawing water from sources located as far as 175 kilometres away in districts like Palghar, Thane, and Nashik. The network includes around 650 kilometres of transmission lines and nearly 6,000 kilometres of distribution pipelines.

With temperatures rising and demand increasing, officials are urging residents to use water responsibly to help the city navigate the challenging summer months ahead.