Mumbai Water Demand to Rise 57Pct. by 2041 Can NRW Reduction Match Gargai Dams Supply?

Ajjay Bhagyakar

12 minutes ago

2 min read

Mumbai Water Demand to Rise 57Pct. by 2041 Can NRW Reduction Match Gargai Dams Supply?

Mumbai, October 13, 2026: Mumbai’s daily water demand is projected to reach 6,424 million litres per day (MLD) by 2041, highlighting the need for new water sources and better management of existing supplies. While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning major infrastructure projects, reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW) could help address the city’s growing water needs.

Mumbai’s Water Demand May Reach 6,424 MLD by 2041

According to a report published by The Times of India on October 12, 2026, Mumbai currently receives around 4,100 MLD of water, while demand is projected to rise to 6,424 MLD by 2041,Mumbai Water Demand to Rise 57Pct. by 2041 Can NRW Reduction Match Gargai Dams Supply?

The projected increase highlights the importance of developing additional water sources as the city’s population grows and daily consumption increases. The BMC has identified six proposed projects expected to contribute a combined 3,303 MLD of additional supply.

Can Reducing Non-Revenue Water Add to Mumbai’s Supply?

At a recent civic meeting, a senior official reportedly highlighted the potential of reducing Mumbai’s Non-Revenue Water (NRW), estimated at around 34% or approximately 1,300 MLD.

NRW refers to water that is lost or otherwise unaccounted for within the distribution system. Causes can include pipeline leakages, unauthorised consumption and metering inaccuracies.

Recovering a portion of these losses could help improve the availability of water without requiring the city to depend entirely on new sources. However, the actual recoverable volume would depend on the nature of the losses and the effectiveness of corrective measures.

Gargai Dam to Add 440 MLD of Water

The proposed Gargai dam is expected to contribute an additional 440 MLD to Mumbai’s water supply, with completion targeted for 2029, according to the newspaper report.

The estimated 1,300 MLD of NRW is nearly three times the Gargai project's planned output. This comparison highlights the potential importance of improving distribution efficiency alongside developing new infrastructure. However, NRW estimates should not be treated as entirely recoverable water.

Other proposed projects include the Pinjal project, the Damanganga-Pinjal river-link project, desalination plants at Manori and Versova, and a tertiary treatment plant at Colaba.

A Two-Pronged Approach to Mumbai’s Water Security

Developing new dams and alternative water sources remains important for meeting Mumbai’s long-term requirements. At the same time, reducing leakage, upgrading pipelines, improving metering and strengthening monitoring systems could help the city make better use of its existing supply.