Chennai’s average groundwater level increased by 0.44 metres in October

According to data released by the Metrowater on Thursday, the city’s average groundwater table has increased by 0.44 metres in October, when compared to September. Among the 15 zones, Anna Nagar (0.92 metre), Valasaravakkam (0.64 metre), Thiru Vi Ka Nagar (0.74 metre), Madhavaram (0.66 metre) and Manali (0.55 metre) have recorded a rise in groundwater level by more than 50cm. Presently, groundwater is available at a depth of 2.43 meters (shallow aquifer) in Sholinganallur and 3.64 meters in Manali zone. Among the core city zones, groundwater level is highest in Adyar at 3.92 meters. Tondiarpet and Royapuram have groundwater at a depth of 6.18 metres and 6.44 metres respectively. Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Anna Nagar, Teynampet and Kodambakkam are at 5.22 metres, 3.57 metres, 4.44 metres and 5.02 metres respectively. The Metro Water has several observation wells (open wells) across the city to measure the groundwater levels every month.

 When asked, an official said that the level increased due to the monsoon and proper maintenance of rainwater harvesting structures and community wells.

 Meanwhile, water storage levels in the four lakes — Chembarambakkam, Red Hills, Cholavaram and Poondi — that supply drinking water to the city have double the amount of water they had in 2019. On Thursday, the lakes had a combined storage of 6,342 mcft against previous year’s storage of 3,107 mcft. Current water storage in the lakes is more than 56 per cent of their total capacity (11,257 mcft). Among the four lakes, Chembarambakkam and Red Hills lakes had storage of 2,538 mcft and 2,266 mcft respectively. Meanwhile, Poondi lake had 1,400 mcft and Cholavaram had 138 mcft. On the other hand, Chembarambakkam lake, that has the highest storage this year, had only 386 mcft of water in 2019.