Mangaluru: With the monsoon falling short of expectations, Mangaluru is looking to the retreating rains to secure its drinking water supply in the coming months. Although Thumbe dam, the main source of drinking water for Mangaluru city, Ullal and surrounding areas, is currently full, reduced rainfall in the Nethravati river catchment has affected the inflow.

Dakshina Kannada district has recorded a 29% rainfall deficit this season. According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Centre (KSNDMC), the district received 2,393.1 mm of rain up to Saturday, against the normal average of 3,388 mm.

The district administration and Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) are monitoring the situation and preparing measures to ensure an uninterrupted drinking water supply in the months ahead.

MCC deputy commissioner (development) Naresh P Shenoy said Thumbe dam in Bantwal taluk reached its maximum storage level of six metres on Saturday. However, the inflow remains a concern because of below-normal rainfall in the river’s catchment areas.

“At present, the dam is receiving an inflow of 120 cubic metres per second (cumecs). Only two of its 30 crest gates are open to release excess water. Rainfall this year has been considerably lower than in previous years. The recent rains, after a dry spell, helped improve inflow. If the next spell of rain does not arrive, the inflow is likely to decline further,” he said.

Shenoy noted that Thumbe dam continued to receive inflow until March last year. If inflow stops completely this time, the water currently stored in the dam will be sufficient to meet the city’s drinking water requirements for around 100 days, he added.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Darshan HV has directed officials to prepare for a possible drinking water shortage. Chairing a District Disaster Management Authority meeting on Friday, he asked departments concerned to take immediate corrective measures if problems arise in drinking water supply or cattle fodder availability.

The DC also directed officials to complete tender-related procedures for drinking water supply in advance so that arrangements can be made without delay if the drought situation worsens.

Expert calls for water conservation

With the possibility of water scarcity emerging even before summer, rainwater-harvesting expert Shree Padre has urged residents to use water carefully.

Padre, editor of the Kannada agricultural magazine Adike Patrike, said the district must prepare to manage its available water resources until the next monsoon.

“We have to manage for the next eight months until the next monsoon,” he said, stressing the need for water conservation.