Storage in city reservoirs at three-year high

According to Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metro Water) data, the four lakes – Poondi, Cholavaram, Red Hills and Chembarambakam – have a combined storage of 6,014 (million cubic feet) mcft against their total storage of 11,257 mcft as on Sunday, which is 53.42 per cent of their combined storage capacity.

In comparison, the combined storage was only 1,175 mcft on the same day last year.

Of the four lakes, Poondi, which was bone dry during the peak water crisis, has 1,520 mcft of water against its capacity of 3,231 mcft, while Red Hills lake (Puzhal lake) has 84 per cent of its total storage capacity. The lake, which was fed by Krishna river water diverted from Poondi lake, has 2,794 mcft of water against its total capacity of 3,300 mcft. The last time the combined storage crossed 6 tmc was in April 2016.

A Metro Water official explained that a large amount of water presently stored in Poondi and Red Hills lakes came as the State’s share from Krishna river. “Recent rains have also added to the storage in the lakes as well as in the abandoned quarries in Erumaiyur, Sikkarapuram and other areas, from where we tap water during times of crisis,” the official said. According to the official, the city requires one tmc of water every month in case the water manager increased the water supply to 850 million litres a day (mld). If the Metro Water continues to supply 650 mld, 0.75 tmc is enough for one month of city’s water needs, including evaporation loss, as a significant amount of water comes from desalination plants.