Millions served, every day! A look at 7 lakes that take care of Mumbai's year-round water needs

As they say, Mumbai is a city that never stops. And one of the things that is absolutely necessary for a city to keep going is a consistent water supply. Thankfully, Mumbai has seven lakes that together hold a whopping 14.5 lakh million litres of water, for its year-round water supply.

Reports say that the demand for drinking water in Mumbai will further increase 1.5 times in the next 17 years. Hence, these lakes that play the role of vital water sources for the city, become even more important. Here's a quick look at the seven lakes that are responsible for Mumbai's water supply!

Located in North Mumbai, this freshwater lake was created back in 1897. Tulsi Lake is one of the three lakes on Salsette Island that supplies a significant chunk of Mumbai's potable water, primarily fulfilling South Mumbai's requirements. Said to be the second largest lake of the city, it is located within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

One of the largest lakes in Maharashtra, this freshwater lake is surrounded on all sides by the Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary. Located at a distance of 90 km from Mumbai, Tansa Lake supplies 455 million litres of water to the city every day. The lake has gradually begun to establish itself as a tourist spot for nature-lovers and those looking for a serene location for a getaway.

Vihar Lake was built back in 1860 and it was considered to be the largest lake in Mumbai at the time. After Tulsi Lake, it is one of the three lakes on Salsette Island, which is also situated within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park or Borivali National Park. Today, this lake supplies 3% of Mumbai's total water supply.

Bhatsa Lake is the biggest source of water supply for Mumbai, providing 2030 million liters of water to the city every day. In fact, this lake accounts for more than half of Mumbai's daily water needs. It is located in the Bhatsa River Valley in Igatpuri.

Providing 11% of the total water supply to Mumbai, Modak Sagar Lake is located on the Vaitarna River in Thane district. Furthermore, this lake is named after Mr. NV Modak, who is responsible for the design and execution of the iconic Mumbai Marine Drive.

After the biggest Bhatsa Lake, it is the Upper Vaitarna Lake that supplies the most water to Mumbai with 635 million liters of water per day. It is located in Maharashtra's Nashik district, near the town of Igatpuri. Over the years, this serene lake has also become a favourite of tourists who are out for a peaceful picnic.

The Middle Vaitarna Lake is located in Maharashtra's Palghar district, which supplies 455 million litres of water to Mumbai per day. This lake delivers water to the Bhandup treatment plant through a 40 kilometre pipeline.