Mumbai Can Recover 400 MLD Water Daily by Cutting Distribution Losses, Says BMC

The BMC administration informed the Standing Committee on Thursday that Mumbai could recover nearly 400 million litres of water daily by reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW) losses by 10%. Currently, 34% of the city's 4,100 MLD water supply is lost to leakages, theft and distribution inefficiencies—almost equivalent to the 440 MLD expected from the proposed Gargai Dam.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar said the city's seven lakes hold 13.93 lakh ML of water, representing 96.31% of their combined capacity. At current consumption levels, this stock could last till May 20 if water cuts are lifted, or till June 30 if cuts continue. The BMC plans to regularise unauthorised connections, having issued 26,774 connections under its 'Water for All' initiative since June 2022.

The civic body is also drafting a tanker policy to prevent establishments from drawing municipal water illegally. Between January and August 2026, the BMC received 17,906 water-meter leakage complaints and 4,090 unauthorised connection complaints, disconnecting 3,802 illegal connections.