Mumbai/Bombay: once a small island city, is today India’s biggest metropolis. And its commercial capital as well. Historically, the settlements here, as elsewhere in the world, came up around the reserves of potable water – they could be natural reservoirs or rivers. Later, when the population started increasing speedily – leading to water scarcity, new schemes of water management were devised. This book is a unique effort of its kind to explore Mumbai’s water heritage, focusing on water resources and habitation in and around the city: from early times to the 20th century. Several water projects apart, the author also examines Mumbai’s ‘fountains’ as architectural specimens – together with many engaging colour photographs.