Metrowater stops drawing water from Puzhal lake

The water managers were drawing water from the lake using pumps, as the lake had reached below sill level a few weeks ago. 

Until Saturday, the Metrowater was drawing six cubic per second (cusecs) of water every day. Presently, the lake has less than 2 million cubic feet (mcft) water against its total storage capacity of 3,300 mcft.

After taping water from Chembarambakkam and Cholavaran lakes using motor pumps for a short period, the Metrowater stopped taking water from these lakes several days ago.

Chembarambakkam, Cholavaram and Red Hills lakes have a combined storage of less than 4 mcft, whereas their combined storage capacity 8,026 mcft. On June 6 the previous year, the three lakes had storage of 2,574 mcft.

It is tapping 27 cusecs of water every day from Poondi lake, which yet to go below the sill level. At present, Poondi lake has storage of less than 40 mcft.

CMWSSB had cut the water supply to 500 million litres per day (mld) from 550 mld last week in order to extend the water supply till November.

“Chennai gets 180 mld water from Veeranam lake and we have taken steps to dig as many as nine borewells in Neyveli basin. This will provide 10 mld water to the city. Around 60 mld will come from mines in Neyveli and Paravanar river,” an official said.

The official added that Metrowater has also made arrangements to draw water from agriculture wells around Poondi and Tamaraipakkam areas. Pipe laying and other related works are underway to tap water from Erumaiyur quarries, Retteri, Ayanambakkam and Perumbakkam lakes.

Meanwhile, water levels in abandoned quarries around Sikkarayapuram quarries is fast depleting as the Metrowater is drawing around 10 mld every day.