Mumbai: BMC is likely to continue the 10% citywide water cut for the rest of the year though the seven supplying lakes have reached 97% of the total required quantum of 14.47 lakh million litres, following the state govt’s recent directive to municipal bodies to ensure adequate water availability until August 2027. The water cut has been in force since May 15.As on Sept 27, the total usable water stock stood at 14.1 lakh million litres, marginally below the levels recorded over the past two years — 14.3 lakh million litres or 99% on the same day last year and 14.4 lakh million litres or 99.4% in 2024.The state govt directive had come amid projections of a strong El Niño by World Meteorological Organization persisting through Feb 2027, which could affect India’s weather, temperatures and agricultural conditions into early 2027. Civic sources said that the city’s water situation may also be viewed against the backdrop of the govt’s declaration of drought-like conditions in 265 of the 358 talukas — nearly two-thirds of the state — on Saturday.This could have implications for the additional water that BMC draws from state-controlled reservoirs when its own lake stocks are low. These include Bhatsa, from which BMC receives around 1.4 lakh million litres, and Upper Vaitarna, which supplies around 93,500 million litres, as part of its reserve water arrangements based on requests it has to make each year.But with the state facing water stress, officials are also keeping open the possibility that the reserve supplies could be curtailed, making its decision on withdrawing the existing 10% water cut more cautious.“We will be calculating the requirement for the rest of the year based on which a decision on the future course of action will be taken,” said an official from BMC’s hydraulic departments. “The initial plan was to withdraw the 10% cut only if the water levels touch 100% till Sept 30.”Mumbai receives around 3,800 million litres of water per day from seven lakes — Modak Sagar, Bhatsa, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Vihar, Tulsi and Tansa. To meet the city’s annual water requirement, the reservoirs need a combined storage of 14.47 lakh million litres.Mumbai’s water cut: Why 97% total water stock may not be enoughFor Mumbai to go without water cuts for the entire year, the seven lakes need to fill up to 14.47 lakh million litres. This means around 304 days of water# Total water stocks as on Sept 272026: 14.1 lakh million litres (97%)2025: 14.3 lakh million litres (99%)2024: 14.4 lakh million litres (99.4%)* The 10% water cut was in force since May 15. BMC had planned to withdraw the cut if lake levels reached full capacity by Sept 30# Reserve water could be a concern* When Mumbai’s seven lakes run low, BMC depends on additional water from state-controlled reservoirs:* Bhatsa: 1.4 lakh million litres* Upper Vaitarna: 93,500 million litres* But with water stress across Maharashtra, it is possible that reserve supplies could be curtailed
