Recent downpour failed to fill lakes which are main sources of water for Mumbai
Mumbai : If rains gods fail in July and August, Mumbaikars will have to brace for water cuts for the entire year, according to a senior civic officer.
Lakes are the main source of wate were not able to fill them, the officer said on the condition of anonymity.
Upper Vaitarna, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Bhatsa, Vehar and Tulsi lakes supply portable water to the city. Of this, Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa supply 640 and 2012 million litres of water t the city per day respectively.
The newly-constructed Middle Vaitarna also has enough reserve water, said the official.
Mumbai should ready itself for a larger percentage of water cuts after September 15, if citizens do not make a conscious effort to save water, he said.
According to the official, if there is not enough rains this monsoon, the situation of 1993, in the months of May and June, where the civic body had to implement water cut of up to 40 per cent, could arise. There was a similar water cut of 30 % in July – August of 2009.
Figures from the water department indicate that there are about 18,000 wells in the city. However, civic officials are not sure how many of them have portable water.
“In any case, the wells would hardly provide 5 per cent of the total potable water supplied to the city. Moreover, even if the BMC cleans up a well, we are not sure if the locals will even use the well,” the civic official said.
“We have asked all the wards to submit a record of the number of wells in their wards, but only two wards have given us the record so far,” the official said.
Sachin unhalekar
