In a significant move to bolster urban water security, the Nashik district administration has sanctioned a larger water allocation for Nashik city for the upcoming reservation year. The approval grants 6,400 million cubic feet (mcft) of water for the period spanning October 2025 to July 2026.
Enhanced Quota and Source-Wise Allocation
This new reservation marks an increase of 200 mcft compared to the previous year's quota of 6,200 mcft. The decision, approved by District Collector Ayush Prasad, follows a proposal submitted by the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) to the water resources department in September.
The water will be drawn from three key dams that serve the city. The allocation breakdown is as follows:
- 4,600 mcft from the Gangapur dam,
- 1,500 mcft from the Mukane dam, and
- 300 mcft from the Darna dam.
Gangapur dam continues to be the primary water source, fulfilling over 80% of Nashik's total requirement.
Context from Previous Year's Usage
Officials provided context by sharing data from the last reservation cycle. Between October 15, 2024, and July 31, 2025, the NMC utilized a total of 5,854 mcft against its reservation of 6,200 mcft. The actual lift was 4,231 mcft from Gangapur, 1,416 mcft from Mukane, and 207 mcft from Darna.
This consumption translated to an average daily water supply of 571.68 million litres per day (MLD), or 20.19 mcft per day, during the 2024-25 period. This was higher than the 2023-24 average of 551.28 MLD (19.47 mcft per day).
Infrastructure Upgrades for Better Distribution
Alongside the increased quota, civic authorities are actively working on modernizing the city's water distribution network. Key projects aim to improve efficiency and reduce losses.
These initiatives include replacing ageing pipelines to minimize leakages and installing a new 13-kilometer pipeline from the Gangapur dam to the Bara Bungalow water filtration plants. This critical upgrade will replace old infrastructure and ensure smoother conveyance.
NMC officials stated that the enhanced water reservation will directly support and strengthen the city's drinking water supply and distribution strategies for the challenging months ahead, ensuring a more reliable resource for Nashik's residents.
