The Hindu (Chennai)

City’s reservoirs have enough storage to avoid shortage in water supply during summer

The current supply of 1,045 million litres a day is expected to be sustained during peak summer. Nearly 1,000 mld is provided to residents, including those living in the added areas of the city

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Chennai is all set to avert drinking water shortage this searing summer, as the available water is expected to last till September or early October.

The current daily water supply of 1,045 million litres a day (mld) is expected to be sustained during peak summer also. Of this, nearly 1,003 mld is being provided to residents, including those living in the added areas of the city.

In a bid to minimise loss by evaporatio­n amid relentless heat, water from Poondi reservoir is being transferre­d to build storage at the waterbody in Red Hills from where Chennai gets a portion of its water supply.

The Water Resources Department has put o its proposal to seek Krishna water till July, as Andhra Pradesh was facing a water crunch. The water level at Kandaleru reservoir in A.P. is critically low, WRD oˆcials here said.

“We plan to seek Krishna water discharge for the next spell after the onset of southwest monsoon. The reservoirs that feed Chennai’s drinking water needs su er an evaporatio­n loss of 20-25% during harsh summer days,” a senior WRD oˆcial said.

The city’s Šve major reservoirs, including Chembaramb­akkam, have a combined storage of 6,702 million cubic feet (mcft), which is 57% of their capacity as on Tuesday.

Water is being transferre­d to Red Hills reservoir with a dual purpose — reduce evaporatio­n loss and facilitate execution of long-pending work to replace the shutters of Poondi reservoir and ensure dam safety. The project is likely to be completed by mid-June.

Both Poondi and Chembaramb­akkam have vast catchment areas, unlike the waterbody in Red Hills. With limited catchment area, Red Hills has received 425 cubic feet per second (cusecs) on Tuesday. The storage at the reservoir stands at nearly 90% of its capacity.

“We are also clearing water hyacinth in Chembaramb­akkam and Red Hills reservoirs. Waterbodie­s in delta and Cuddalore districts are being desilted this summer,” the oˆcial said.

Noting that Chennai was not in a drought situation, oˆcials of Metrowater said desalinate­d water had o set the dip in Veeranam water supply.

“We will exhaust the water reserve in Chembaramb­akkam reservoir and then use the water stored in abandoned quarries for city supply. Evaporatio­n loss will be more in Chembaramb­akkam reservoir than in the quarries,” an oˆcial said.

While the water agency had lined up bu er sources, including quarries in Sikkarayap­uram and Erumaiyur, and 300 agricultur­al wells in Tiruvallur district, it has reserved them for situations that could arise owing to drop in monsoon rainfall after June.

Metrowater has also engaged 20 additional lorries to meet increasing demand for paid tanker trips, particular­ly from merged areas. It now operated, nearly 4,064 trips a day, which is 250 trips more than last month.

 ?? B. VELANKANNI RAJ ?? Comfortabl­e position: The city’s major reservoirs, including Chembaramb­akkam, have a combined storage of 6,702 mcft, which is 57% of their capacity.
B. VELANKANNI RAJ Comfortabl­e position: The city’s major reservoirs, including Chembaramb­akkam, have a combined storage of 6,702 mcft, which is 57% of their capacity.

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