CHENNAI: Chennai Metro Water is now planning to tap the aquifer in the Kosasthaliyar river basin to supply additional 10 MLD to the city. It is learnt that a tender worth Rs 78 lakh has been floated to construct 10 borewells to tap water from the aquifer in the river, which is one of the three rivers that flow in the Chennai Metropolitan Area.
This comes as reservoirs in Red Hills and Cholavaram have dried up. Poondi (20 million cubic feet) and Chembarambakkam (85 mcft) are also on the verge of drying up.
Chennai Metro Water sources told Express that they would be tapping water only for a short period. Interestingly, Metro Water is now trying to identify new sources of water to quench the thirst as the existing sources are also getting depleted. “We have utilised 50 per cent of water from the 22 stone quarries in Sikkarayapuram,” said a Metro Water official.
The city is getting 30 million litres of water a day from the quarries, which is supplied to Mylapore, Aminjikarai, K K Nagar, Valasaravakkam and parts of South Chennai. This is likely to last only for next 50 days. Even the supply of 4 MLD water from Porur Lake would not be last a month. “We have tested the water in Eramaiyur quarries in Mudichur. It will soon be supplied to the city,” he added.
Metro Water officials said that they had restricted the water supply to the city to 430 MLD as rains remain elusive. However, there is hope in the form of inflow from the Cauvery to the Mettur Dam.
Interestingly, a majority of water is also being supplied to the thermal power plants here. “We can’t have dual crisis. We are ensuring that the power stations are up and running.”
Already plans are there to provide treated sewage water for power plants but the proposal is still being worked out. A thermal power station requires about 3-5 litres of water to produce one unit of power.
The official also said that a tender would be floated on August 31 for setting up a 150-MLD desalination plant.
This desalination plant would be funded by German funding agency KfW. Similarly, a 400-MLD desalination plant in Nemelli, which is financed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is still being worked as Chennai Metro Water has to submit a revised detailed project report.
However, the only solace for Metro Water to battle the drought is 180 MLD of water from the two desalination plants in Nemelli and Minjur. During the water crisis in 2003-04, this was also not there and people were dependent on rains to provide them with water.