Krishna water, rain bring hope to Chennai

Apart from Poondi Lake, water level in other lakes, that supplies water to Chennai, is also brimming due to intermittent rains for past one week. 

According to Metrowater data, the collective water level as on October 7 in the four lakes — Chembarambakkam, Cholavaram, Red Hills and Poondi — stands at 1,168 mcft against the total combined capacity of 11,257 mcft. Corroborating their claims, the water managers pointed out that the combined storage in four lakes stood at 742 mcft on the same day previous year and said that there is no acute water scarcity in the city at present.

A senior Metrowater official said that the current water level could meet drinking water supply for the next one and half months. “As meteorology department predicted copious rainfall this monsoon, chances of water scarcity in the city is less likely,” the official added.

Further, the inflow of Krishna water into Poondi allowed the water managers to draw water for drinking from Poondi Lake. “Currently, we are drawing 24 MLD (Million Litres per Day) from Poondi after a short gap and decreased outflow in other three lakes,” the official said.

Presently, the Metrowater has been supplying 650 MLD (Million Litres per Day) against required 830 MLD to stretch the storage until the onset of monsoon. Of the 650 MLD, 200 MLD of water is being supplied from Nemmeli and Minjur desalination plants (100 MLD each), whereas Veeranam Lake supplies 180 MLD. Poondi, Sholavaram, Chembarambakkam and Redhills lakes assist with remaining supply. 

Although 24 MLD is taken from Poondi Lake, water supply to the city continue to be maintained at 650 MLD.