The failure of north east monsoon has begun to adversely affect Chennai. Metrowater will stop taking water from four reservoirs in Chennai, including Chembarambakkam and Poondi within a week.
Metrowater will draw groundwater from alternative sources in Thiruvallur and Neyveli to continue supply of 470 to 500 million litres of water per day, reported The Times of India.
Chembarambakkam, Poondi and Cholavaram reservoirs have gone completely dry. An official told TOI that they stopped taking water from these reservoirs after residents from Mogappair and Triplicane began complaining that the water supplied was muddy.
Now, the Metrowater only draws water from the Redhills reservoir which could provide up to 20 million litres of water. Reports claim that last year the capacity of all the reservoirs was 41% which has come down to 1% this year.
Different areas in Chennai like Alandur and Korattur are already facing a decline in the supply of frequency of water supply despite the Chennai Metrowater resorting to desalination and water from quarries, the Neyveli basin.
The Hindu reports that the four reservoirs will be dredged for water. The four water bodies supply up to 65 per cent of the drinking water for Chennai. All the four reservoirs have a combined capacity of 11 tmcft.
The report adds that only 80% of their capacity could be stored due to siltation. The height of the bund of these lakes was raised up to two feet to increase storage by 200 mcft. An official said that they may be able to store at least 2,500 mcft in the lakes once the dredging process is done.