The Thumbe vented Dam had enough water during the same time last year resulting in an overflow on April 25, according to data maintained at Thumbe pump house of the Mangaluru City Corporation.
The overflow was due to the rain in the foothills of the Western Ghats with the last rain before the overflow was on April 23.
Water level at Thumbe on April 23, 2015, stood at 12.9 ft against the maximum of 13 ft. while the AMR Power Project’s dam at Shambhoor, on the upstream of Thumbe, was also full with water level standing at 18.6 metres against the maximum of 18.9 metres.
Lack of enough summer rain in the district this year has resulted in water scarcity, according to officials.
The two dams together supply about 18 million gallons a day (MGD) of water for industries in Mangaluru. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. draws 6 MGD and industries under Mangaluru Special Economic Zone lift 8 MGD water from Shambhoor dam.
The dam of the corporation at Thumbe supplies water for both industries and drinking water purposes. It supplies about 3.5 MGD water to industries. It included 2 MGD to Mangaluru Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd., 1 MGD for different industries and 0.5 MGD to New Mangalore Port, according to officials.
On normal days, 30 MGD to 35 MGD of water is lifted from Thumbe dam.
