Mumbai: In a bid to ensure power failures do not disrupt Mumbai’s water supply, the BMC has proposed setting up a backup power transformer at its Bhandup water treatment complex, which supplies nearly 80% of the city’s drinking water.The proposal, to be tabled before the Standing Committee on Wednesday, seeks approval to spend Rs 14.67 crore on installing an additional 110 KV power transformer along with associated switchgear at the Bhandup electrical substation.The move comes against the backdrop of the recent recurring power outages in the city. Civic officials said the additional transformer will ensure water treatment and pumping operations continue uninterrupted even if one transformer develops a technical fault.Mumbai receives around 4,100 million litres per day (MLD) of water from seven lakes—Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Bhatsa, Vihar and Tulsi. The water is treated at facilities in Bhandup, Panjrapur, Vihar and Tulsi before being distributed across the city.Of the total supply, the Bhandup water treatment complex alone treats nearly 3,000 MLD, making it the backbone of Mumbai’s water distribution network. The complex comprises the original 1,910-MLD treatment plant and a 900-MLD facility commissioned in 2014, making it one of the largest water treatment plants in Asia.Officials said uninterrupted electricity is critical to the functioning of the Bhandup complex. The proposed backup transformer will ensure that if one transformer fails, the second can immediately take over, preventing interruptions in water treatment and supply. The proposal states that strengthening the electrical infrastructure at Bhandup is essential to safeguard the city’s water supply system and avoid water cuts arising from technical failures in the power network.
