The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Sustained supply possible thanks to reservoirs’ storage

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 02, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Sustained supply possible thanks to reservoirs’ storage

Staff Reporter

Cumulative storage of four reservoirs is 8,000 million cubic feet

The storage recorded during the same period last year was about 7,100 mcft
Kandaleru reservoir release has also contributed to this position

CHENNAI: City residents can expect sustained drinking water supply every day for another year with the cumulative storage of the four reservoirs touching 8,000 million cubic feet (mcft) on Thursday.

A Chennai Metrowater official said that unlike last year, the comfortable storage of the reservoirs, including Chembarambakkam that augments the supply, was reached even as the northeast monsoon began.

The storage level recorded during the same period last year was about 7,100 mcft. The maximum storage achieved by December last was about 8,200 mcft.

With the storage level now crossing 8,000 mcft, adequate water supply for the city can be assured till next northeast monsoon. The city is now being supplied with 645 million litres a day, he added.

Less groundwater extraction

The situation also translates into relatively less extraction of groundwater from the Metrowater-owned wells in the fringes of the city, the official said.

The extraction from wells at present is about 30 mld.

Around 4,300 mcft of water received from Kandaleru reservoir under the Krishna Water Project till Monday also augmented the storage of the reservoirs.

The city supply also includes 180 mld from the Veeranam lake, the official said.

RWH workshops

In an attempt to create awareness of maintenance of rainwater harvesting structures, Metrowater organised workshops.

Apart from Metrowater officials, representatives from various non-governmental organisations also clarified the residents’ doubts at a meeting held here on Wednesday.

A Metrowater official said such meetings would be periodically conducted at the area offices in the weeks to come.

Metrowater staff would also be engaged in a drive to check the structures across the city for proper maintenance.

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