Mumbai faces new water restrictions as monsoon delay continues

Mumbai is facing a growing water crisis as the delayed arrival of southwest monsoon has forced the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to introduce stricter water saving measures.

After already imposing a 10% water cut from May 15, the civic body has now reduced water supply by 20% to industrial and commercial establishments and sports clubs. It has also decided to disconnect water connections to construction sites and swimming pools and will not approve new water connections for construction projects until further notice.

The move comes as reservoir levels have dropped to just 10.35% of their total capacity. According to experts, the monsoon is likely to remain delayed for at least another week due to dry air, weak wind patterns and the development of El Niño conditions, which have reduced rainfall activity across the country.

The BMC has also directed packaged drinking water plants to use municipal water only for the drinking needs of workers. Public toilets and urinals have been asked to rely more on tanker or borewell water, while treated drinking water should no longer be used for washing vehicles, watering gardens or cleaning roads and premises.

Despite the restrictions, officials and developers say the impact on construction work is expected to be limited, as most projects already depend on groundwater and other non-potable water sources. Similarly, many swimming pools use rainwater harvesting, with BMC water mainly supplied for toilets and bathrooms.

Mumbai has witnessed similar water shortages in 2014, 2023, and 2024 due to delayed monsoons. To manage the current situation, the BMC has secured additional reserved water from the Bhatsa and Upper Vaitarna reservoirs and plans to begin using it next week while hoping for an early arrival of the monsoon.