CHENNAI: As storage in the reservoirs is fast depleting, Metro Water on Saturday said the ground water situation in the city was not that alarming when compared to last year.
“A comparison of the average water level in 15 areas of Chennai City during October 2015 and October 2016 shows that there is a rise in the water level in the range of 0.13 mt to 1.72 mt below ground level except in two areas,” a Metro Water spokesperson said. There is a decline in ground water level below 0.20 mt in Thiruvottiyur and Tondiarpet, he added.
Metro Water also said comparison of ground water level and quality has to be done with the same month of the previous year, not between different months, because the water level is always at a lower level during July of every year when compared to January. It is expected that the ground water level will improve when north-east monsoon intensifies.
Metro Water monitors ground water level and quality (TDS) every month through a network of 145 observation wells spread over 426 square km. In Chennai city, the subsoil condition varies such as sand, clay and hard rock formations. The recharge and percolation rate varies according to the soil types.