Forests Minister and Dakshina Kannada district-in-charge B Ramanath Rai said in a statement that water would be supplied to industrial units and citizens on alternate days from tomorrow.
Industries like Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals and Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers and the New Mangalore Port would also get water once in two days.
The Minister said water storage at 'Thumbe vented dam' and at AMR Hydel Power Project's vented dam at Shambhoor, on the upstream of Thumbe, was enough for supplying for only 12 days. If water was supplied on alternate days, drinking water could be supplied till May 12.
Water level at Shambhoor stood at 13.9 metres against the maximum level of 18.9 metres. The dam's water level on the same day last year was 17.8 metres.
The deficit in rainfall in Dakshina Kannada was 12 per cent last year and its impact was being felt now. Rai appealed to the people to use minimum water and not waste it.
Mayor Harinath said the corporation would stop supplying water to construction sites from Tuesday. The builders who were getting water from the corporation would have to make their own arrangements.