Mira-Bhayandar cuts water supply by 10% with weekly STEM and MIDC shutdowns

Residents of Mira-Bhayandar will have to manage with 10 per cent less water. The Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has taken the step because of concern over below-normal rain and the impact of El Nino, and to conserve the available water reserves. For this, supply from the STEM Water Distribution and Infrastructure Company and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) will be shut for some hours every week.

According to an MBMC notice dated October 18, the STEM supply will be shut for 18 hours every week. The shutdown will begin at 9 am on Wednesday, and supply will resume at 3 am on Thursday. The interruption is expected to affect water timings and availability in parts of Mira-Bhayandar.

The MIDC supply will also be shut for 36 hours every week as per a fixed schedule. This shutdown will begin at midnight on Thursday, and supply will resume on Saturday afternoon.

The shutdown schedules of the two supply systems are different. Residents may therefore continue to face reduced water, low pressure and delays even after the scheduled interruption ends.

The decision follows government directions to manage the existing water stock well and ensure that the reserves last until August 31, 2027. The corporation's concern is based on below-normal post-monsoon rain, the early withdrawal of the monsoon in October 2026 and the possible impact of El Nino.

Mira-Bhayandar gets its water from STEM and MIDC, and their combined supply meets the city's daily needs. According to officials, the 10 per cent cut is meant to protect the available stock and reduce the risk of water scarcity in the coming months. The larger planning target is to preserve supply until August 31, 2027.

The MBMC has appealed to residents to use water wisely and to cooperate with the civic administration during periods of limited supply. Households are advised to store only as much water as needed, avoid unnecessary use and plan essential tasks around the weekly shutdowns. They should also be prepared for delays and low pressure right after supply resumes.

The notice was issued by the corporation's City Engineering Department as part of efforts to manage water distribution. It gives August 31, 2027 as the target for water reserve planning, but does not give a separate end date for the weekly interruptions.

In Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has also announced a 10 per cent water cut to manage its existing reserves amid concerns over rain and El Nino. For Mira-Bhayandar residents, the biggest concern will be meeting household water needs during the weekly STEM and MIDC shutdowns.