Rains bring hope but water levels in reservoirs yet to improve

CHENNAI:

The rains have brought hope of a good North East monsoon for water managers as the dried up reservoirs supplying water to the city is again gurgling with water.

A Metro Water official told Express that the water levels in the four reservoirs --- Poondi, Cholavaram, Red Hills and Chembarambakkam is still being categorized as dead storage despite the catchment area getting good showers.

The water levels in the four reservoirs had slipped to double digit but due to rains it crossed the three digit mark and now the capacity is 395 million cubic feet. “But, it is far from adequate as anything below 445 million cubic feet is categorized as dead storage,” a Metro Water official said.

Interestingly, Chennai Metro water is now again drawing 75 to 100 million litres of water per day from Chembarambakkam and Red Hills. “A few months ago, we had stopped drawing water from the reservoirs as it has nearly dried up. Now due to rains in the catchment area, water is being withdrawn,” he said.

Interestingly, Chennai Metro Water is still dependent on ground water to quench the thirst of the city. “We are now planning to tap the acquifer in Kosasthaliyar river basin to supply additional 10 MLD of water to the city,” Metro Water sources said.

It is learnt that a tender worth Rs 78 lakh has been floated to construct 10 bore-wells to tap water from the acquifer in the river, which is one of the three rivers that flow in the Chennai Metropolitan Area.

Currently, the water supply to the city continues to be restricted to 430MLD as against the usual supply of 835 million litres per day.

Interestingly, Metro water is now trying to identify new sources of water to quench the thirst as the existing sources are also getting depleted. “More than 70 per cent of water from the 22 stone quarries in Sikkarayapuram has been utilized,” said the source.

 Lake levels

Poondi:

Full Capacity: 3231 million cubic feet

Storage last year: 536

Current level: 28mcft

Cholavaram:

Full Capacity: 881 million cubic feet

Storage last year: 66mcft

Current level: 25 mcft

Red Hills:

Full Capacity: 3300 million cubic feet

Storage last year: 578mcft

Current level: 110 mcft

Chembarambakkam:

Full Capacity: 3645 million cubic feet

Storage last year: 1082mcft

Current level: 232mcft

Capacity of four reservoirs: 11057 million cubic feet

Last year level: 2,262 mcft

Current level: 395