The Morbe Dam, Navi Mumbai’s primary drinking water source, has reached full capacity for the third consecutive year, bringing relief to the city. The annual ‘jalpujan’ was held by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) on Monday to celebrate the milestone. This year, the dam achieved its designated water level of 88.16 metres (100.80 per cent storage) by the last week of August. In 2024, however, the same mark was reached much earlier in the first week of August.

As per NMMC records, rainfall at the Morbe Dam catchment measured 3409.40 mm, while Navi Mumbai itself received 2698.83 mm between June 1 and September 6. Officials said the levels are sufficient to secure the city’s water requirements until next monsoon. But amid the rituals and relief, the spotlight quickly shifted to the quality of water.