MUMBAI: With water levels in the seven lakes supplying Mumbai falling to 10.3% of their total capacity and the monsoon yet to pick up, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday announced that it will suspend water supply to construction sites and swimming pools, and impose a 20% cut in supply to industrial and commercial establishments, including sports clubs.It further said that no new construction water connections will be approved until further orders, while water supply to aerated beverage and packaged drinking water bottling plants will be curtailed, limiting it to the quantity required for the drinking water needs of workers.The restrictions will come into effect from Wednesday, adding to the 10% citywide water cut in force since May 15. The 20% cut would be the total cut for industrial and commercial establishments and not in addition to the existing 10% cut. The BMC said a review of the water situation will be undertaken again on June 30.
Total capacity of 7 lakes
The civic body later outlined a series of conservation measures aimed at ensuring that available water stocks last until the monsoon gathers pace and reservoir levels improve.“A meeting was held at the civic headquarters to review the current water stock situation and decide on water conservation measures so that the available water stocks are able to suffice at least till the time the monsoon picks up pace and lakes start filling. It was hence decided that all water connections provided for construction activities will be temporarily disconnected, while no new construction water connections will be approved until further orders. Water supply to swimming pools will also be suspended,” said the civic body in a statement.In addition, the BMC said applications for extra or additional water connections would remain pending until lake levels improve.
Total water stock in 7 lakes
Mumbai currently requires around 4,664 million litres of water per day, but receives an average supply of 4,100 MLD from its seven supplying lakes.With delayed monsoon attributed to the El Nino effect, the available water stock has continued to decline, forcing the BMC to tighten conservation measures.The civic administration has requested public toilet operators to use tanker or borewell water wherever possible and advised residents and institutions to rely on well or borewell water for non-potable purposes such as vehicle washing, watering gardens and cleaning roads and public spaces.The BMC has also directed major establishments, including the Central and Western Railways, RCF, HPCL, BPCL, the Indian Navy, MIDC and the Mumbai Port Authority, to maximise the use of treated sewage water for operational purposes instead of potable water.
Borewells for non-potable purposes
Warning against wastage, the civic body said strict action would be taken against anyone found misusing drinking water supplied by the BMC and appealed to citizens to cooperate in conserving the city’s limited water resources until the monsoon replenishes reservoir stocks.Mumbai receives its daily water supply from seven lakes, most of which are situated outside the city limits. Apart from that, Powai Lake, which is located in Mumbai, supplies water to the city for industrial use only.With a holding capacity of 545 crore litres, the water of this lake is not potable for humans and is mainly used for industrial purposes and for non-drinking purposes in Aarey Dairy Colony. After this lake is full, its water reaches the Mithi River.
