The ample rainfall received on Thursday, after a break of more than a month, improved the lakes’ water stock significantly. All seven lakes received more than 100 mm of rain in 24 hours and the stock increased by 41,000 million litres (ML), which is sufficient for 10 days. The stock is now over 93 per cent. It may improve due to the showers witnessed on Friday and the percolation effect whereby water runs downwards through the tiny gaps between rocks and soil particles, subsequently saturating the underlying rock. This helps to replenish water bodies.

Amid the monsoon, a dry spell was witnessed in the first week of August. Though there were intermittent spells, the water stock of lakes didn’t improve significantly. On Thursday morning the total stock of all seven lakes was 90 per cent. At 6 am on Friday, the stock improved by three per cent.