Water managers pin hope on new low pressure

“We can easily manage the water supply till December with the present level and supply from Veeranam lake. However, we need a good spell of rain for uninterrupted supply after December,” a CMWSSB official said.

“Now, we draw only 265 MLD (million litres per day) from the city lakes and receive 180 MLD from Veeranam lake. If we supply 830 MLD to the city, 1 TMC will last for around 45 days. Our storage now is around 1.6 TMC,” the official said.

CMWSSB is supplying 675 MLD on alternative days against the requirement of 830 MLD.

The official expressed hope that the new low-pressure would bring more rains to the city. “However, we have taken steps to bring water from 22 abandoned stone quarries and Porur lake. Stone quarries alone hold 1.5 TMC,” the official said.

The official said that the Metro Water has decided to bring water from agricultural wells in Tiruvallur district and added, “We will go for those options only if rain fails.” Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department has predicted that the low-pressure in the Bay of Bengal would strengthen into depression and bring rain to the city.