Attention Mumbaikars! BMC Announces 10 Per Cent Water Cut From May 15 Amid Falling Reservoir Levels

Mumbai, May 11: With just 23% water stock left in the seven lakes supplying Mumbai — enough for only 83 days — the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced a 10% water cut from May 15.

The civic body is also awaiting approval to draw additional reserves from the Bhatsa and Vaitarna lakes, while urging citizens to conserve water. However, the recurring crisis once again exposes Mumbai’s fragile water security despite years of warnings and growing urban pressure.

As of May 11, the seven lakes supplying water to the city collectively held 3.40 lakh million litres (ML), which is 23.52% of their total storage capacity. Although this level is higher compared to the previous two years, concerns persist due to forecasts of a below-normal monsoon influenced by El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).

In line with state government directives, the BMC will implement a water cut starting this week to conserve supplies and stretch the available reserves until the end of August.

No backup plans...

Heavily dependent on rainfall for its water supply, the city has been repeatedly pushed into crisis, with 15–30% water cuts recorded in 2009, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2022 and 2023. Yet despite these recurring shocks, the BMC has been slow to put in place effective long-term backup systems.

The BMC has initiated long-term projects such as a 200 MLD desalination plant at Manori and the 450 MLD Gargai Dam in Palghar, but both are still years away from completion — leaving the city dependent on an increasingly uncertain monsoon cycle.

Lakh litres down the drain...

The BMC supplies around 4,100 MLD of water daily, but nearly 1,400 MLD (34%) is lost to leakage and theft. Of what reaches households, over 60% is still wasted on non-essential uses like car washing, gardening and swimming pools.

To ease the crunch, the BMC is upgrading seven sewage treatment plants (2,464 MLD capacity) to produce about 1,232 MLD of reusable, higher-grade water. However, despite the infrastructure push, public reluctance to accept recycled water remains a major hurdle, threatening to blunt the impact of the plan.

Awaiting reserve lifeline...

The BMC has sought 1.47 lakh ML from Bhatsa and 90,000 ML from Upper Vaitarna reserves for crisis use, but is still awaiting state government approval to access the additional stock.

While officials say current storage is adequate to avoid immediate panic, rising temperatures and evaporation have prompted precautionary water cuts to ensure controlled supply.

Meanwhile, a 10% water cut will also extend to Thane, Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation and nearby villages, and will remain in force until rainfall improves and lake levels recover.

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BMC appeals...

● Use only the required quantity of water for drinking; avoid filling excess water in glasses.

● Prefer bucket baths instead of showers to save water.

● Do not leave taps running while brushing teeth or shaving.

● Use stored water in containers for household cleaning instead of running taps.

● Wash vehicles with a bucket and cloth; avoid hose pipes.

● Clean floors, balconies and stairs with a damp cloth instead of washing with water.

● Use washing machines only with full loads to reduce water usage per cycle.

● Install flow-reducing or spray-type nozzles on taps to cut water use significantly.

● Restaurants and hotels should serve water only on request to avoid wastage.

● Regularly check pipelines and fix leakages immediately to prevent loss.

● Ensure rooftop water tanks do not overflow.

● Commercial establishments must adopt strict water-saving practices.

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