Rainfall raises water level of Nainital's Naini Lake by 9 inch above two-year average

Late rainfall pushed the water level of Nainital's iconic Naini Lake nine inches above the two-year average to reach 79 feet 9 inches on Sunday despite scant winter rain and snowfall this year, officials said.

The Irrigation Department attributed this vital recharge to unseasonal drains that channelled water into the lake during May and late August.

At present, the water level decreases by about half an inch daily to meet the drinking water supply demands of the Nainital town.

''Even if there is no rainfall in May, the water level is expected to reach 77 feet after June 10,'' Irrigation Department Executive Engineer D K Singh said.

The region recorded 275 mm of rainfall from January to May this year.

In comparison, the water level stood at 79 feet with 140 mm of rainfall during the same period in 2025. The lake recorded 79 feet with 72 mm of rainfall in 2024, while 2023 saw a level of 82 feet 1 inch with 445 mm of rainfall.

An unusually harsh summer hit Nainital in 2025, but abundant monsoon rains later replenished the reservoir to a peak of 12 feet, the officials pointed out.

The Irrigation Department regularly released excess water from the lake during September last year.

Officials use four British-era exit gates, locally known as ''daanth'', to monitor and discharge excess water when required. Measurement scales marked on these gates indicate the water level, where the zero mark represents the lowest level during peak summer.

Experts said Naini Lake largely depends on underground natural water sources and surrounding oak forests to retain and recharge groundwater. Traditional rainwater harvesting systems, locally called ''patnalas'', used to allow rainwater to seep into the ground.

Widespread concretisation through roads, hotels and residential buildings now prevents rainwater absorption, lowering the groundwater levels, they added.

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