Mumbai’s water supply system is facing renewed pressure after the Modak Sagar reservoir fell to 70% of its capacity, even though the city’s seven supplying dams collectively held 95% of their storage as of October 7. Civic representatives said Mumbai is not facing drought-like conditions at present, but urged residents to use water carefully.
The figures were shared during a study tour organised by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s standing committee for political party representatives. The delegation visited the Pise-Panjrapur water supply system, pumping stations, and the Modak Sagar and Tansa reservoirs.
Modak Sagar has a total capacity of 128,925 million litres. Its present storage is 70%, according to the report. The other six reservoirs were reported to be at relatively higher levels: Upper Vaitarna at 97%, Tansa at 92.58%, Middle Vaitarna at 99.74%, Bhatsa at 97%, Vihar at 100% and Tulsi at 97.40%.
Together, Mumbai’s seven dams have a storage capacity of 1,447,377 million litres. The city receives around 4,100 million litres of water every day, while total stock across the reservoirs stood at 1,368,827 million litres, or 95%, on October 7.
Mayor Ritu Tawde said there were no drought-like conditions in Mumbai at present. She appealed to residents to use water judiciously, while keeping the needs of farmers in the state in mind. On the possibility of changes to water restrictions in February 2027, the mayor said any decision would be taken after consultations with the state government.
The mayor also said efforts were under way to prevent water theft and reduce leakage. A letter has been sent to Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar on conservation and preventive measures. She added that Mumbai currently has around 2,200 buildings under construction. If drinking water is being used for these projects, meeting residents’ drinking-water needs would receive priority, according to the report.
Standing committee chairman Prabhakar Shinde said the civic administration was considering restrictions on the use of water for swimming pools and similar activities. The issue places attention on how the city allocates water between household consumption, construction and non-essential uses while reservoir levels change during the hotter months.
A senior official attributed the fall in Modak Sagar’s storage partly to evaporation caused by rising heat. The report also linked the municipality’s present reliance on Modak Sagar to the water-management strategy adopted in 2009. Modak Sagar is among the city’s important reservoirs, along with Bhatsa and the Upper Vaitarna system.
The report cited October 2009 as an earlier period when the seven reservoirs together held more than 90% of their capacity, although Bhatsa had only 30% storage. The lower level at Bhatsa led the municipal corporation to impose water cuts at that time. Separately, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said a central government team would visit the state from Thursday to Sunday to assess drought conditions and conduct an initial review of central assistance. The civic administration’s next decisions on restrictions and conservation will depend on reservoir conditions and consultations with the state government.
