CHENNAI : Chennai will get an additional 4 MLD of water from the Porur Lake, once the the drinking water supply scheme is inaugurated by Municipal Administration and Water Supply Minister S P Velumani on Tuesday.The water from the lake will be treated by a temporary water treatment plant and supplied to the city through Veeranam pipeline, which passes through the lake.
As of now, rains have failed to cheer the water managers with reservoirs going dry and the city totally dependent on desalination plants, underground water and quarries.The city which used to get a supply of 830 MLD of water is now getting only half the supply with residents pinning their hopes on the Metro Water and private tankers to supply water.
Reeling out statistics, Chennai Metro Water spokesman said that the city is currently getting 200 MLD of water from desalination plant,120 MLD from agriculture wells, 80 MLD of water from Neyveli mines and 30 MLD of potable water from 22 stone quarries in Sikkarayapuram.
Meanwhile, efforts are being made to pump out the dead storage in Red Hills to add to the water distribution system.
Levels of lakes
Poondi
Full capacity: 3231 million cubic feet
Storage last year: 950 mcft
Current level: 18 mcft
Cholavaram
Full capacity: 881 million cubic feet
Storage last year: 79 mcft
Current level: 0 mcft
Red Hills
Full capacity: 3300 million cubic feet
Storage last year: 1090 mcft
Current level: 5 mcft
Chembarambakkam
Full Capacity: 3645 million cubic feet
Storage last year: 1869 mcft
Current level: 56 mcft
Capacity of four reservoirs: 11057 million cubic feet
Last year level: 3,988 mcft
Current level: 79 mcft