Potable water is critical to the development of cities, particularly those like Bombay which was historically a centre of maritime trade and a bustling financial capital. Till the mid-19th century, most of Bombay’s water needs were met by either private household wells, or public water tanks and fountains, several of which were constructed by notable philanthropists from all faiths.

However, water shortages were not unusual and the colonial administration experimented with several different measures to reduce the pressure on water systems. In 1858, the first plans for transporting water from Vihar Lake, a distance of 90 kilometres, were initiated.

Hydraulic engineering and notions of public hygiene, particularly in relation to the military, soon paved the way for the closure of several wells and tanks deemed unsanitary or malaria-infested. Piped water came to symbolise moral, social and scientific progress as Mumbai evolved, and today very few tanks, wells or public fountains remain in use.

This timeline explores the development of water systems and services in the city from the 1600s to the present, punctuated by key milestones of growth and disease which have defined the shape of potable water for residents.