Pawna Dam Water Storage Rises After Heavy Rain

There is welcome news for residents of Pimpri-Chinchwad as continuous rainfall in the Pawna Dam catchment has boosted the reservoir’s water level. The dam, which is the primary drinking water source for the city, has now reached 18.85% storage, offering relief after weeks of declining water levels.

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According to the Water Resources Department, the Pawna Dam catchment recorded 90 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, while cumulative rainfall since June 1 has reached 344 mm. The fresh inflow has improved the reservoir level after storage had fallen to nearly 16% due to delayed monsoon rainfall.

Pawna Dam supplies drinking water to Pimpri-Chinchwad city, the industrial belt, several municipalities, and villages in Maval taluka. Following the sharp drop in water levels, authorities imposed a 15% water cut from June 19, forcing the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to reduce water supply timings by nearly one to one-and-a-half hours. The decision disrupted water distribution in several parts of the city.

Despite the recent improvement, water storage remains significantly lower than last year. During the same period in 2025, the reservoir had already reached 69.11% capacity, highlighting the impact of this year’s delayed monsoon.

City’s Water Demand Continues to Rise

With Pimpri-Chinchwad’s population touching nearly 3.8 million, the city’s daily water requirement has increased to around 650 MLD. At present, around 520 MLD is supplied from the Pawna River, 100 MLD from the Indrayani River, and 30 MLD through MIDC sources.

To strengthen the city’s future water security, the PCMC is implementing the Pawna Direct Parallel Pipeline Project, which will transport raw water directly from Pawna Dam to the Nigdi Water Treatment Plant. The project aims to ensure a reliable, contamination-free, and uninterrupted water supply for the rapidly growing urban population.

Officials estimate that Pimpri-Chinchwad’s population could reach 5.5 million by 2031, 9.5 million by 2041, and 13.5 million by 2051, requiring water supply of 949 MLD, 1,638 MLD, and 2,328 MLD, respectively.

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