2 days of rain add 67 mcft to Chennai’s drinking water supply

According to Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) data, the Redhills lake is receiving an inflow of 460 cubic feet per second (cusecs). “Redhills lake is also receiving the water from Poondi lake, as the Krishna water from Poondi was released to it,” a CMWSSB official said.

Meanwhile, the Poondi lake, Cholavaram lake and Chembarambakkam lakes received an inflow of 266 cusecs, 69 cusecs and 230 cusecs respectively. “Till November 20, three lakes had zero inflow,” the official added.

The data said the total storage in the four lakes has gone up to 1,645 mcft on Thursday, up from 1,578 mcft on Tuesday. “Despite all the lakes receiving inflow, the CMWSSB has not increased the outflow. Now, Cholavaram has been receiving 69 cusecs, but we are maintaining zero outflow as earlier,” the official said.

Even as they are elated over the change in fortunes over the last couple of days, the CMWSSB officials are hoping for more spells of rain in suburban areas of the city, particularly the catchment area, which would increase the storage levels at the lakes, thus ensuring uninterrupted water supply in the coming summer.