When the lake levels dropped below 7 per cent, the BMC began using reserve water from Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa starting from the first week of June. The BMC drew 48,432 million litres of water stored below the lake's lowest drawable level (LDL). Consequently, when heavy rain began in early July, Upper Vaitarna lagged behind the other lakes as it took over a week to raise its water level to the LDL. Being located upstream of Vaitarna lake, it is typically the last lake to fill up each year.

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Tulsi Lake began overflowing on July 20, followed by Tansa on July 24. Vihar and Modak Sagar both overflowed on July 25. To manage flood risks, five gates of Middle Vaitarna were opened on August 4 after it reached 95 per cent capacity, and the five gates of Bhatsa, the largest lake, were also opened on August 4 when it reached 90 per cent capacity.