Water stock in 4 lakes may run out in 15 days

As on May 9, the combined water storage in the four lakes was 239 million cubic feet (Mcft) against the total combined storage of 11,257 Mcft. Even though the lakes reached dead storage, the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) is drawing water using motor pumps at Poondi and Redhills lakes. It had already stopped drawing water from Cholavaram and Chembarambakkam lakes.

According to the CMWSSB data, the water storage Poondi and Redhills lakes have a storage of 162 Mcft and 70 Mcft respectively, while Cholavaram and Chembarambakkam lakes have storage of 6 Mcft and 1 Mcft respectively. One Mcft roughly works out to over 2.83 crore litres.

On May 9, 2004, the lakes had a combined capacity of 164.90 Mcft storage. Between 2005 and 2018, the storage levels in the lakes reached below 1,000 Mcft only once (as on May 9) in 2017. On May 9, 2017, the lakes had storageof 628 Mcft.

Meanwhile, CMWSSB officials said that the present storage in the lakes would last for around 15 days and after that drinking water would be drawn from other sources. The board also have decided to cut the water supply to 500 million litres per day (MLD) from the present supply of 550 MLD.

“Veeranam lake has reached its full capacity as the government released water from Mettur Dam. Chennai is receiving 180 MLD water from Veeranam lake and works are underway to dig as many as nine borewells in Neyveli basin. This will provide 10 MLD to the city. Around 60 MLD will come from mines in Neyveli and Paravanar River,” an official said.

Apart from increasing sources from Neyveli and Cuddalore, the board has decided to draw 120 MLD from agriculture wells around Poondi and Thamaraipakkam areas. Water would be drawn from Erumaiyur quarries, Retteri (pic below), Ayanambakkam and Perumbakkam lakes.

But, the residents have already started to feel the pinch as the CMWSSB has failed to supply adequate water. “Even though the water is being supplied regularly, the quantity is not enough. We depend on groundwater, which is also depleting quickly,” S Suresh, a resident of Choolaimedu said.