Pune: Has the recent monsoon activity in Pune made any difference to the reservoir levels? An In-Depth Analysis
Pune, June 29, 2023: After a delay of almost 15 days, Monsoon rains have become active in Pune from June 24 this year, sparking hope in a city that was grappling with dire water scarcity.
Water cuts once a week and grim warnings of water stocks not lasting beyond July 31 had put the city in a challenging position. Now, everyone is curious: Has the persistent and heavy rainfall over the past week impacted our reservoir storage status?
Though there has been considerable rainfall, 78 mm to be precise (Source: IMD) till date for the month of June, it’s worth noting that one week’s worth of rain generally doesn’t make a significant difference to reservoir levels, especially during the initial week of monsoon activity. The soil takes some time to drench, and the water needs time to start flowing down into the reservoirs.
Nevertheless, to provide an insight, here’s an analysis of the change in reservoir levels between June 20, before the onset of the monsoon, and June 29:
| Reservoir | Maximum Live Storage (Mcum.) | Actual Storage on June 20, 2023 (Mcum.) | Actual Storage on June 29, 2023 (Mcum.) | Change in Storage (percent of total capacity) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pawana | 240.97 | 46 | 43.71 | -0.95 |
| Kasarsai | 16.06 | 3.19 | 3.09 | -0.62 |
| Mulshi | 522.76 | 18.17 | 21.58 | 0.65 |
| Temghar | 105.01 | 3.27 | 3.45 | 0.17 |
| Warasgaon | 363.13 | 61.23 | 53.53 | -2.12 |
| Panshet | 301.61 | 37.81 | 44.58 | 2.24 |
| Khadakwasla | 55.91 | 24.23 | 27.63 | 6.08 |
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Notably, Pawana is the main water source for the Pimpri Chinchwad areas. Kasarsai serves rural areas near the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, while Mulshi primarily supplies townships along the Mula River. The other four reservoirs, namely, Panshet, Warasgaon, Temghar, and Khadakwasla, supply water to Pune city.
While it’s too early to make significant inferences, Pune’s citizens remain hopeful that the rains will continue to fill up these critical water sources and ease the city’s water crisis. As the monsoon season progresses, all eyes will be on these reservoirs and their levels.
