Pressure drops at municipal reservoirs in Mumbai

Residential colonies located at the fag end of the distribution network and those on a hilly terrain were the first ones to be hit by the water crisis. Now, colonies located in other parts, especially suburban areas, are also hit.

A decrease in intake from the lakes owing to the imposition of 15% water cuts have led to a plummeting of water levels at the master balancing reservoirs (MBR) at Yewai and Bhandup Complex. Raw freshwater is treated in these reservoirs before being pumped to various parts of the city.

Additional municipal commissioner Anil Diggikar said that the MBR levels, which usually stand at three metres and above, have now dropped below 1.5. “The water pressure is down from the usual 16 PSI to 12 PSI,” he said.

Malad, Kandivli, Borivli in the western suburbs, and Mankhurd and Trombay in the eastern suburbs are the worst-hit with no supply since the past few days. Engineers have been appointed to monitor the levels at MBR for three days. “They will be filing a report on the basis of which action will be taken,” Diggikar said.

Various corporators are seeking a release of more water for their area. A senior hydraulic department official said the supply will become even more erratic if these demands were entertained.

Meanwhile, Jalmelas, where BMC displays working models on various water conservation means, can now be organised in a private housing society, a community hall, a school or a college.