Chennaiites may have to use Metrowater sparingly in summer

It may not be to the extent they had to, this summer, but have to be circumspect, as they are now, courtesy the northeast monsoon, which has not been as bountiful as it had been when.

CMWSSB planners told DT Next that with the existing storage (5.25tmcft in all four city reservoirs put together) they would be able to manage beyond summer, even till August 2018, if they maintain the supply at the current rate of 650mld (million litres per day). 

The four major reservoirs supplying water to the city, Chembarambakkam, Cholavaram, Poondi and Puzhal only have less than 50 per cent (5.23tmcft as on Wednesday) of their joint total storage capacity of 11.257tmcft. 

“We can scale up the supply marginally from 650mld by tapping water from Veeranam, the two desalination plants and Kandaleru, but increasing it to 830mld might not be all that easy at this juncture. We would have restored supply of 830mld to the city if the joint storage were 9-10tmcft, but the reality is different. However, May – June 2018 will not be as difficult as it was early this year,” said a senior CMWSSB, requesting anonymity. 

“We hope there would be another spell before the monsoon season retreats, but Met predictions are not encouraging. Even if it rains, the catchment areas should receive good rain. which seems unlikely now,” the officer added. Even for increasing the supply marginally, CMWSSB has pinned its hopes on Andhra or rather Kandaleru reservoir, from where the city had only received a measly 3plus tmcft last year. 

“It was a drought like situation even in Andhra last year, so they had difficulty in sharing water with us. Water position is better in Kandaleru this time. We are hopeful that they would oblige,” a senior Metro Water engineer opined. Notably, Kandaleru has only 20.2tmcft (7tmcft more than the same day the corresponding year) as on Wednesday.