Water to be drawn from Rettai Yeri next month: Water supply board

Chennai’s major providers of water, Poondi, Puzhal, Sembarambakkam and Sholavaram have succumbed to draught. Due to this, the city is facing major water crisis. 

The city uses about 820 million litres of water per day. Currently, only 550 litres is being provided. The draught has left the city in desperate need of water. The water supply board in the city is undertaking measures in order to combat this crisis. 

According the chief of the water supply board in the city, Hariharan, there is currently 143 million cusecs of water in Poondi lake and 45 million cusecs in Puzhal. This can be sustained till the 31st of this month at a rate of 55 million litres per day and later, 20 million litres per day till the 10th of July. 

180 million litres of water is being drawn from Meenjur, Nemmeli desalination plant and another 180 million from Veeranam lake. 

Around 95 million litres of water is being drawn from over 316 agricultural wells per day while Sikkarayapuram provides around 30 million litres of water. This will come in handy to the city till the month of June. Following this, measures to draw water from the Erumaiyur quarry are being taken. 

Research revealed that water from Chennai’s Rettai Yeri, Perumbakkam and Ayyambakkam lakes can be consumed by the public. Hence, water will be drawn from Rettai Yeri next month. From there, around 10 million litres of water will be transferred to the Kilpauk water treatment plant. 

As many as 13 bore wells are being set up at Magaral, Keelanur. In this, 6.5 million litres of water is being drawn from 7 bore wells. 

Due to the preventive measure taken by the Chennai Corporation, it is unlikely that the city will face water scarcity. The public are also requested to use water responsibly and cooperate with the officials. 

Hariharan also advises the public to refrain from washing cars, using corporation’s water for gardening and using showerheads excessively.