Vihar Lake Overflows, Mumbai Water Cut Continues

Mumbai witnessed its first reservoir overflow of the monsoon season as Vihar Lake started overflowing at 9 pm on Tuesday. The lake, which has a usable water storage capacity of 27,698 million litres, supplies an average of 90 million litres of water daily to the city.

The overflow is a result of the relentless rainfall the city has been experiencing, with the lake filling up earlier than in previous years. In 2023, the lake overflowed on July 26, while in 2024 it overflowed on July 25, and last year it overflowed on August 18.

According to a senior officer from the BMC's Hydraulic Engineering Department, the current water levels are sufficient to last till September 16-17. However, the officer stated that the 10% water cut in Mumbai will continue until all seven lakes supplying water to the city overflow. The decision to reverse the water cut will be taken only after all the lakes are full.

The total water level of the seven lakes had reached 28.92% on Tuesday morning, with a 12% increase over the past 24 hours due to heavy rainfall. The BMC officer noted that the intensity of rainfall may decrease in the coming days, and a decision on the water cut will be taken only after all the lakes overflow, which may not happen until the end of July.

The other six lakes supplying water to Mumbai are also seeing a rise in water levels due to the consistent rainfall in the catchment areas. Vihar Lake is one of the two smaller lakes within the BMC's jurisdiction, the other being Tulsi Lake.

The BMC has urged citizens to be patient and cooperate with the water cut, which is in place to ensure that the city has a sufficient water supply until the next monsoon season. With the monsoon season expected to continue for several more weeks, Mumbaikars can expect the water cut to remain in place for the time being.

The overflow of Vihar Lake is a welcome relief for the city, but the BMC's cautious approach to managing the water supply ensures that the city's water needs are met for the remainder of the year. As the monsoon season progresses, the BMC will continue to monitor the water levels and make decisions accordingly.

In related news, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has also reported satisfactory rainfall in the catchment areas of the Morbe Dam, which supplies water to Navi Mumbai. However, the dam has not overflowed yet and is currently 42.48% full. The NMMC has urged citizens to ignore rumours and cooperate with the authorities in managing the water supply.

As the monsoon season continues, Mumbai Alert News will provide updates on the water levels and any changes to the water cut. For now, Mumbaikars will have to continue with the 10% water cut, which is expected to remain in place until all seven lakes overflow.

The BMC's Hydraulic Engineering Department is working closely with other agencies to manage the water supply and ensure that the city's water needs are met. The department is monitoring the water levels closely and will take decisions accordingly.

In conclusion, the overflow of Vihar Lake is a positive development for Mumbai, but the BMC's cautious approach to managing the water supply ensures that the city's water needs are met for the remainder of the year. As the monsoon season progresses, the BMC will continue to monitor the water levels and make decisions accordingly.