City thirsty even after rains

Last Sunday, the city and suburbs received around 7 cm rainfall and yet, there is not a single drop of water in our taps. Despite heavy rains, lakes that supply water to Chennai Metro Water and Sewerage Board had received a mere 25 million cubic feet while the rest of the water has probably mixed with sewers and drained into the sea. 

Water experts express concern over this and point their fingers at officials’ apathy and poor rainwater management. They opine that unless there is a proper system to store rainwater, the city will never be able to get over its water crisis. 

Though around 30 main water bodies are located in Chennai region, the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) is taking from just four lakes, Chembarambakkam, Poondi, Cholavaram and Redhills. 

When asked why there was no rise in the storage level in the lakes following good rains, the SE said, “There was not much rain in the areas where these lakes are located.”

But, should the PWD have a facility to divert water from across the city to these storage reservoirs? 

Even though Rain Water Harvesting and water recycling systems were earlier implemented, they have failed miserably. Sekhar Raghavan, director of The Rain Centre, who initiated RWH in the city, said, “Rainwater is directly being let into Adyar, Buckingham canal and Cooum river through storm water tunnel and finally it reaches sea.” He suggested that the officials should take measures to divert rainwater to the waterbodies and establish many more recharge wells. 

The RWH, which was implemented in 2003 should be in a full-fledged manner, the expert said an added that the PWD officials should undertake lake improvement  works and create more number of small waterbodies in the available places. 

Raghavan said that the PWD is taking up lake improvement works just ahead of South-West and North-East monsoons and they leave works half-finished stating that works cannot be taken due to rains. He stressed that such works should be undertaken during summer and made a yearround activity.  

R Manikandan, a city-based hydro-geologist, pointed out that establishing small ponds and observatory wells in many places will pave the way for good water man agement system. “The fact remains that around 250 tmc of water during 2015-rains mingled with the sea and we do not seem to have learnt any lesson from it. If the officials saved flood water, City would not have faced acute drinking water scarcity this year,” the geologist added. 

An official from Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) said that they were indeed planning to implement ‘Sustainable Water Security Mission’, in which rainwater will be diverted to nearby waterbodies. “If such a system is implemented, there will be no water issue in the Chennai city,” the official said. Public Works Department (WRD) which plays the main role in taking up maintenance works of water bodies rarely takes minor works and they have never deepened any lake to improve storage capacity for the last several decades. 

When asked, a PWD official said, “We will soon send proposal to create link canals and lay pipes from rivers to nearby lakes to store rainwater.” They had also communicated to corporation officials for creating proper storm water system, as there may be sewage-mixed rainwater, he added.

Establish recharge wells across the city. 

Rain Water Harvesting  System should be improved. 

Rainwater should be diverted to water bodies through storm water system. 

Set up open well in every household and apartment complexes. 

Water ways should be created