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Siruvani Dam Water Level Plummets to 12 Feet - Coimbatore Faces Drinking Water Crisis

SimpliCity News Team · 05 May 2026

Coimbatore: The water level at Siruvani Dam, which provides uninterrupted drinking water supply to numerous wards of Coimbatore Corporation, has alarmingly dropped to just 12 feet.

With the reservoir's total capacity being 50 feet, the current water level decline has created a precarious situation that could severely impact drinking water distribution across the city in the coming days.

The dam, located in Kerala territory, has been experiencing a gradual decrease in water volume, causing significant concern among officials. During normal conditions, approximately 100 million litres per day (MLD) of drinking water is drawn from Siruvani Dam. However, with the current water level crisis, the extraction capacity has drastically reduced.

As the water has now reached near the bottom of the reservoir, only 35 to 40 million litres per day can be extracted. This sharp reduction has led to a severe supply crisis - many areas in Coimbatore now receive drinking water only once every 10 to 15 days. Residents in elevated areas have complained about receiving water at extremely low pressure.

Since Siruvani Dam is situated within Kerala's forest area, cooperation from the Kerala government is essential for water extraction and maintenance operations. Kerala does not permit Tamil Nadu to store water up to the full 50-feet capacity of the dam. Citing safety reasons, they maintain the water level at only 45 feet, resulting in Tamil Nadu losing approximately 120 million cubic feet of water storage - equivalent to a 5-feet depth.

Considering the prevailing drought conditions, Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board officials have submitted requests to Kerala's Irrigation Department to raise the dam's water level and release additional water.

To tackle the Siruvani drinking water shortage, Coimbatore Corporation administration is implementing alternative arrangements. Accordingly, areas not receiving Siruvani water are being supplied additional water through the Pillur Combined Drinking Water Scheme.

Furthermore, water tankers have been planned for distribution in the most backward wards and areas experiencing acute water scarcity. Corporation Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran has appealed to the public to use drinking water very judiciously due to increasing summer heat and depleting water sources.

Citizens have been advised not to use drinking water for washing vehicles or watering gardens, and to utilize water only for essential needs. A permanent solution to Coimbatore's drinking water problem will only arrive when the southwest monsoon begins in the coming days, increasing water inflow to Siruvani Dam. Until then, the government is implementing various emergency measures to manage the prevailing shortage.

Siruvani Dam water crisis Coimbatore drinking water shortage Kerala water level monsoon water supply M Sivaguru Prabhakaran Tamil Nadu

Siruvani Dam Water Level Plummets to 12 Feet - Coimbatore Faces Drinking Water Crisis

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