Mumbai Water Supply: BMC Plans Well Revival and Online Tanker Booking App

Mumbai Water Supply: BMC Plans Well Revival and Tanker Booking App to Improve Water Supply

Mumbai civic body plans to revive local wells and introduce online tanker bookings as the city continues its 10% water cut amid concerns over rainfall and lake levels.

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning new measures to improve water availability across Mumbai by reviving wells in residential and slum areas and introducing a mobile app for water tanker bookings. The initiatives aim to make local water supplies more accessible and simplify the process for residents who need additional water.

The civic body announced a 10% water cut following below-normal rainfall in August and September, which affected the city's water storage levels. According to the latest figures available on October 13, the seven lakes supplying water to Mumbai were at 92.36% of their total capacity.

Mumbai currently receives around 4,100 million liters of water per day (MLD). The proposed measures are intended to improve the use of local water resources and make tanker services more convenient for residents.

BMC Plans Mobile App for Water Tanker Bookings

At present, residents often have to visit their local ward offices to arrange water tankers. The BMC plans to introduce a mobile app that would allow citizens to book and track tankers more conveniently.

The proposed tanker policy is expected to be presented to the civic body's standing committee for approval. If approved, the new system could reduce paperwork, simplify scheduling and make the tanker booking process easier for households and housing societies.

The initiative is also expected to help improve water distribution and address logistical challenges during periods of increased demand.

Funds Planned for Well Revival Across 26 Wards

Alongside the tanker booking initiative, the BMC plans to allocate funds across its 26 administrative wards to restore selected wells and make better use of locally available water.

Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar said the well-revival program would focus on providing water for non-drinking purposes. Housing societies could use the water for gardening and washing vehicles, while communities in slum areas could store it in tanks for local use.

The civic body has emphasized that restoring wells alone will not be enough. Proper arrangements must be made to collect, store and distribute the water so that it can serve residents effectively.

Mumbai has around 3,000 wells, but the BMC does not plan to restore all of them without first identifying suitable uses and establishing the necessary distribution systems.

BMC Continues Efforts to Strengthen Water Security

The proposal to revive 350 traditional open wells on municipal land was first raised in June, when delayed monsoon rainfall and declining lake storage levels raised concerns about the city's water supply. At that time, water stocks had fallen to 12.12% of the lakes' total capacity.

Open wells can provide a useful source of water for secondary purposes when they are properly cleaned and maintained. Removing silt and garbage, along with ensuring safe extraction and distribution, can help make these resources more useful to local communities.

The planned well-revival program and proposed tanker booking app are part of the BMC's efforts to manage water resources more effectively. By improving access to local water sources and simplifying tanker services, the civic body aims to make water distribution more convenient while continuing to manage the city's overall supply.

The 10% water cut remains in effect, and the proposed tanker policy is awaiting approval.