The water levels in lakes supplying drinking water to Mumbai have risen following heavy rainfall in their catchment areas. According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) data, the combined stock in the seven reservoirs that provide water to the city now stands at 98.49 per cent.
As per the BMC on Monday (September 15), the collective water stock in these reservoirs is 14,25,574 million litres, which amounts to 98.49 per cent of their total capacity.
The BMC supplies drinking water daily from Upper Vaitarna, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Middle Vaitarna, Bhatsa, Vehar, and Tulsi lakes.
Of these, Tansa has 98.24 per cent water stock, Modak Sagar 99.46 per cent, Middle Vaitarna 98.86 per cent, Upper Vaitarna 98.73 per cent, Bhatsa 98.13 per cent, Vehar 100 per cent and Tulsi 99.46 per cent.
Lower (Modak Sagar), Middle and Upper Vaitarna lakes, along with Tansa, supply water to the western suburbs from Dahisar Check Naka to Bandra and to the western parts of the city from Mahim to Malabar Hill.
Bhatsa, Vehar, and Tulsi together form the Bhatsa system. Water from this system is treated at the Panjarpur Water Treatment Plant and distributed to the eastern parts of Mumbai, covering the eastern suburbs from Mulund Check Naka to Sion and further to Mazgaon.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red warning for Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad districts on Monday, forecasting intense to very intense spells of rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30–40 kmph.
According to the IMD’s 8:00 am weather bulletin, the city and its suburbs are likely to experience a generally cloudy sky with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places. The warning, issued at 8:30 am, is valid for the next three hours.
Rainfall recorded between 8:00 am on September 14 and 8:00 am on September 15 stood at 111.19 mm in Colaba, 76.46 mm in the eastern suburbs, and 74.15 mm in the western suburbs.
Tidal activity is also expected to be significant. A high tide measuring 3.04 metres is forecast at 5:17 pm today, while another of 3.50 metres is expected at 7:48 am tomorrow. Low tide levels are predicted at 2.38 metres at 12:18 p.m. today and 1.47 metres at 12:16 am tomorrow.
