The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to address Mumbai's increasing water demand by floating tenders for a new 2,000 MLD filtration plant at Bhandup, supplementing the existing 2,800 MLD units. Mumbai draws water from seven lakes and these filtration plants make the water suitable for human consumption. Of the current infrastructure, the 1,910 MLD unit has almost completed its useful life and would soon be decommissioned. Mumbai faced water cuts due to existing filtration unit malfunctions. P. Velrasu, Additional Municipal Commissioner, cites the rise in demand along with the need to improve capacity as the reason behind the proposal for the Rs 350 crore plant in the civic budget.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has floated tenders for a new 2,000 MLD filtration plant at Bhandup. This facility supplements the existing 2,800 MLD units within the plant, thereby addressing Mumbai's escalating water demand. The civic budget for the year earmarked Rs 350 crore for the creation of this additional facility.
Mumbai draws water from seven lakes and relies on this plant to filter and distribute water to residential and commercial areas. Presently, the plant comprises units of 1,910 MLD and 900 MLD. The larger one was established back in 1979. Recognizing demographic changes and population growth, the BMC commissioned an additional 900 MLD plant in 2014.
P. Velrasu, Additional Municipal Commissioner overseeing Projects and the water supply department, highlighted the need for a new treatment plant citing the ageing infrastructure of the 1,910 MLD unit. Over the past year, Mumbai has faced recurring water cuts, with multiple instances between January and October, leaving several areas without water supply. Civic officials attribute these issues to malfunctions in the existing filtration units.
There has been a surge in water demand over the past decade as Mumbai keeps growing. This coupled with urbanisation and ongoing infrastructure projects, has led to leakages in supply pipelines, resulting in water contamination. All this has necessitated the creation of an additional filtration unit leveraging the latest technology to remove contaminants.
The rise in concerns given the impending completion of the useful life of the existing 1,910 MLD treatment plant has prompted the proposal for a new 2,000 MLD facility. During this transition, the existing plant will remain operational.
Mumbai quenches its thirst from 7 lakes/dams which supply fresh water. Four of these dams - Vaitarna, Tansa, Bhatsa and Modak Sagar - are situated in the outskirts of Mumbai. The other three 3 lakes - ‘Vihar Lake’, Tulsi Lake, and Powai Lake - are located in Mumbai itself. The seven lakes are bifurcated into two systems: the Vaitarna system, which supplies water to the western suburbs and the island city, and the Bhatsa system which supplies water to the eastern suburbs.
Presently, the BMC supplies 3,850 million litres per day (MLD), against a demand of 4,200 MLD. This underscores the need for the new filtration plant to bridge the gap between demand and supply, ensuring a reliable and sufficient water supply for the burgeoning metropolis. The BMC's forward-looking approach and financial provision indicate a commitment to addressing water challenges, ensuring sustainable water infrastructure for the residents in Mumbai.
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