Pune: City Dams Show Steady Decline Amid Summer Heat, Officials Assure Water Supply Till Mid-July
As intense summer temperatures accelerate evaporation, water levels in the dams supplying Pune have seen a noticeable drop. Despite this, officials from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the state irrigation department have assured that the city’s water supply is secure until at least July 15.
Pune typically draws about 1.5 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water monthly from the Khadakwasla dam system, amounting to a projected requirement of just over 6 TMC for the next four months. The state government has allocated a total of 14.61 TMC for Pune for the year 2024–25, which officials deem sufficient for the immediate future.
Interestingly, water levels in the Khadakwasla dam system are slightly better than they were last year. As of April 10, the cumulative storage across the four main dams—Khadakwasla, Panshet, Temghar, and Varasgaon—stood at 40.43% of total capacity, a slight improvement from 37.62% on the same date last year. However, the situation has declined compared to March 11, when the levels were at 53.40%, showing a sharp decrease in just a month.
Simultaneously, rising temperatures have led to increased water consumption across the city. Several localities are already reporting reduced water supply hours and lower pressure, sparking concerns of unofficial curtailments.
Residents express frustration: “They say there’s no official cut, but the water supply is clearly less, and pressure is low.”
The PMC denies any formal reductions in supply, but acknowledges the need for tighter control over wastage. Surveillance has been increased along the 200-km canal route from Khadakwasla to Indapur to prevent theft and reduce seepage, with maintenance teams actively repairing leakage points.
Another challenge adding to the crisis is frequent pipeline bursts, disrupting supply and wasting significant volumes of water. At least five major pipeline failures have occurred in the past five months, largely due to aging infrastructure and the impact of ongoing construction activities. These bursts have particularly affected key pipelines serving central areas like Apte Road, Fergusson College Road, and Jangli Maharaj Road.
Despite these issues, PMC officials maintain that the situation is manageable. “We don’t anticipate any cuts in the coming months,” said a senior official from the PMC water department. “We’re actively repairing leaks, monitoring water use, and fining violators. Strict checks will soon begin to curb the use of potable water for construction purposes.”
Current Dam Storage Levels:
Khadakwasla: 53.78%
Panshet: 39.87%
Temghar: 10.21%
Varasgaon: 47.56%
Other Regional Reservoirs:
Pavana: 42.18%
Kasarsai: 35.93%
Mulshi: 41.70%
While the immediate water supply remains stable, officials and residents alike remain cautious as Pune braces for continued heat and rising demand in the weeks ahead.
