Just 15 days’ water in reservoirs, Chennai could face crisis if rain fails
TNN | Nov 6, 2018, 06.16 AM IST
CHENNAI: The water in the four reservoirs that serve the city could run out in 15 days if it does not rain soon in the catchment areas in Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts.
In fact, Cholavaram and Chembarambakkam are almost dry, holding just 2% and 6% of their total storage.
The combined storage in the four reservoirs on November 3 was 1,758 million cubic feet (mcft) against 2,114mcft recorded the same time last year. Water managers say the present storage is enough to supply the city for another 15 days. Various other sources such as the Veeranam lake, agricultural wells and desalination plants will ensure supply for another two months. But after that, there will be a crisis if the monsoon continues to play truant.
“We expect rain in November-end and in December. Even if it rains for 15 days at night alone, these reservoirs will reach half capacity, which is enough for us to sail through summer,” said a Metrowater official.
The city currently received 675MLD (million litres a day) of water from Metrowater of which 520MLD is for households. Generally, the supply was around 830MLD. This year, 165MLD was being pumped from Veeranam reservoir every day, 100 MLD from Nemmeli desalination plant and 100 MLD from Minjur desalination plant.
“We will continue to supply water to residents every alternate day and there is no rationing. We have started looking at various alternative sources already,” said an official. Metrowater has called for tenders to pump water from the quarries located near Chembarambakkam reservoir. These 22 quarries that are 70m deep will help the city with a minimum of 30MLD water.
Another 80MLD will be pumped from agricultural wells. Apart from this, Metrowater has also called for tenders to pump from lakes in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur.
TNN | Nov 6, 2018, 06.16 AM IST
CHENNAI: The water in the four reservoirs that serve the city could run out in 15 days if it does not rain soon in the catchment areas in Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts.
In fact, Cholavaram and Chembarambakkam are almost dry, holding just 2% and 6% of their total storage.
The combined storage in the four reservoirs on November 3 was 1,758 million cubic feet (mcft) against 2,114mcft recorded the same time last year. Water managers say the present storage is enough to supply the city for another 15 days. Various other sources such as the Veeranam lake, agricultural wells and desalination plants will ensure supply for another two months. But after that, there will be a crisis if the monsoon continues to play truant.
“We expect rain in November-end and in December. Even if it rains for 15 days at night alone, these reservoirs will reach half capacity, which is enough for us to sail through summer,” said a Metrowater official.
The city currently received 675MLD (million litres a day) of water from Metrowater of which 520MLD is for households. Generally, the supply was around 830MLD. This year, 165MLD was being pumped from Veeranam reservoir every day, 100 MLD from Nemmeli desalination plant and 100 MLD from Minjur desalination plant.
“We will continue to supply water to residents every alternate day and there is no rationing. We have started looking at various alternative sources already,” said an official. Metrowater has called for tenders to pump water from the quarries located near Chembarambakkam reservoir. These 22 quarries that are 70m deep will help the city with a minimum of 30MLD water.
Another 80MLD will be pumped from agricultural wells. Apart from this, Metrowater has also called for tenders to pump from lakes in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur.
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