Rains Bring Relief as Water Levels In Chennai Reservoirs Increase

The last 48 hours alone witnessed an increase by 5.5% across the four reservoirs in Chennai.

The arrival of the Northeast monsoon has brought some cheer to the residents of Chennai, despite complaints of the waterlogging that has been reported from different parts of the city.

In what has come as a relief for the drought-hit city, water levels in the four reservoirs increased by 5.5% following heavy rains in the last 48 hours in Chennai.

The total capacity of the four reservoirs is 11,057 mcft and the current storage is 1,713 mcft. An official from PWD told The News Minute that the total increase in the water levels in the four reservoirs is 5.5%.

Before the rains, there was about 10% water in the four reservoirs and after the rains it has increased to 15.5%. The water level increase in Red Hills reservoir is also about 4-5%. The total capacity of the reservoir is 3300 mcft.

PWD Official

According to the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), the storage at Red Hills reservoir was 614 mcft on Wednesday, as against its full capacity of 3300 mcft. The storage capacity on the same day last year was 413 mcft.

Chembarambakkam received an inflow of 1970 cusecs.

An official from Public Works Department (PWD) told The News Minute that the depth of storage of Chembarambakkam lake has reached 8.95 feet. “The total depth of storage is 24 feet. The capacity of the lake is presently 617 mcft and the total capacity is 3645 mcft. On Monday, the capacity was 308 mcft, and on Tuesday, it went up to 452 mcft and now there is 617 mcft of water,” said the official.

Water levels at Poondi and Cholavaram also increased compared to the storage last year.

Times of India reported that between Monday morning to Tuesday morning, Chennai received enough rain to fulfil the drinking water needs of the city for 10 days.

While the four reservoirs account for 25% of Metrowater’s daily supply of 520 MLD, TOI reported that that officials would increase the daily supply if the monsoon was above normal.

Metrowater’s daily supply was cut from 831MLD last December following the failure of the Northeast monsoon in 2016.

According to the Meteorological Department, the Nungambakkam observatory in Chennai recorded a rainfall of 41.3 mm for 24 hours from Tuesday morning 8:30am to Wednesday morning and Meenambakkam recorded 28.8mm of rainfall.

Ponneri in Tiruvallur district received the highest rainfall, with 10 cm in the last 24 hours.

The Met Department forecast that the current spell of rains is expected to continue for the next two to three days. Over the next 25 hours, north coastal Tamil Nadu will witness heavy rains while south coastal parts of the state will witness heavy rainfall.

The upper air circulation which was lying over Sri Lanka and adjoining Gulf of Mannar yesterday is now lying over Sri Lanka and South West Bay.

Balachandran, Area Cyclone Warning Director

(This article was originally published on The News Minute)