The city’s major reservoirs are fast drying up and the resources may last only till this month-end.
With barely any rainfall so far this year, water supply to residents may be further reduced in a few weeks.
The sprawling waterbody in Chembarambakkam, which was brimming over with water after the deluge of 2015, is now a large patch of dry land and a grazing ground for cattle as it has hardly 7% of its total capacity.
While the reservoir in Cholavaram is completely dry, Chennai Metrowater is still drawing about 170 cubic feet per second (cusecs) from the reservoirs in Red Hills and Chembarambakkam. The four reservoirs have only about 6 % of their capacity.
Residents of Nandambakkam noted that their livelihood has been affected as many villagers depend on the Chembarambakkam lake for fishing in its surplus channels. The dry lake bed has also impacted the dipping groundwater table in villages such as Malayampakkam and Katrampakkam.
“We are trying to make use of alternative sources to offset the widening gap in sourcing drinking water,” said an official. Supply may come down from 500 million litres provided on alternate days to 420 million litres.
Desalination plants
Resources from the five water bodies, including Veeranam tank, contribute to nearly 65% of Chennai’s water supply. Besides plans to operate the two desalination plants to their optimum capacity of 100 mld each, the water agency has also kick-started the process to source water from 22 abandoned quarries from Sikkarayapuram, Mangadu.
A 3-km long pipeline is being laid to the Chembarambakkam water treatment plant from where it will be supplied to the city.
However, it will take another month for supply to be provided from the quarries and the Porur lake.
At present, the water agency is depending on about 240 agricultural wells hired in Tiruvallur district and its own borewells in Tamaraipakkam and Panchetti to sustain piped water supply.
“We plan to gradually step up draw from agricultural wells to 100 mld, increase operating hours and also hire more wells. 10 more borewells would be added in the Metrowater-owned well fields,” said an official.
The water agency also pins its hope on showers in June that may bring water to the Veeranam tank. About 50 mld is being drawn from the Neyveli belt as the tank is dry.
Meanwhile, the dry Chembarambakkam reservoir has also disappointed residents of three municipalities who were hoping to get water connections.
With barely any rainfall so far this year, water supply to residents may be further reduced in a few weeks.
The sprawling waterbody in Chembarambakkam, which was brimming over with water after the deluge of 2015, is now a large patch of dry land and a grazing ground for cattle as it has hardly 7% of its total capacity.
While the reservoir in Cholavaram is completely dry, Chennai Metrowater is still drawing about 170 cubic feet per second (cusecs) from the reservoirs in Red Hills and Chembarambakkam. The four reservoirs have only about 6 % of their capacity.
Residents of Nandambakkam noted that their livelihood has been affected as many villagers depend on the Chembarambakkam lake for fishing in its surplus channels. The dry lake bed has also impacted the dipping groundwater table in villages such as Malayampakkam and Katrampakkam.
“We are trying to make use of alternative sources to offset the widening gap in sourcing drinking water,” said an official. Supply may come down from 500 million litres provided on alternate days to 420 million litres.
Desalination plants
Resources from the five water bodies, including Veeranam tank, contribute to nearly 65% of Chennai’s water supply. Besides plans to operate the two desalination plants to their optimum capacity of 100 mld each, the water agency has also kick-started the process to source water from 22 abandoned quarries from Sikkarayapuram, Mangadu.
A 3-km long pipeline is being laid to the Chembarambakkam water treatment plant from where it will be supplied to the city.
However, it will take another month for supply to be provided from the quarries and the Porur lake.
At present, the water agency is depending on about 240 agricultural wells hired in Tiruvallur district and its own borewells in Tamaraipakkam and Panchetti to sustain piped water supply.
“We plan to gradually step up draw from agricultural wells to 100 mld, increase operating hours and also hire more wells. 10 more borewells would be added in the Metrowater-owned well fields,” said an official.
The water agency also pins its hope on showers in June that may bring water to the Veeranam tank. About 50 mld is being drawn from the Neyveli belt as the tank is dry.
Meanwhile, the dry Chembarambakkam reservoir has also disappointed residents of three municipalities who were hoping to get water connections.