HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has started drawing surface raw water from the Himayatsagar reservoir. Presently, five additional seven millions gallons of water per day (MGD) is being pumped through a pontoon (floating) pumping mechanism established on the surface water of the reservoir.
Previously, the Water Board was drawing between 2.80-3.00 MGD from the Himayatsagar at 1,730 feet. Now an additional 5 MGD is being drawn from the new surface-level extraction using barge-mounted pumps. The pontoon is equipped with two 150 HP pump motors—one operational and the other as a standby—to ensure reliable water extraction.
Though water is being drawn from the system at 1,730 feet, it has been decided to reduce intake from below the depth of the reservoir and instead water from one metre below the surface level, as water below one metre would have good aeration with dissolved oxygen and no foul smell.
HMWSSB officials told TNIE that in the coming days more water will be drawn from the surface level as per the requirement. The floating equipment was fixed with two pump motors.
The additional water will be supplied to the surrounding localities of the city near to the reservoirs and within the areas of ORR limits. The current capacity of the reservoir is 2.967 tmcft, as against 2.967 tmcft.
Emergency pumping from Nagarjunasagar soon
Meanwhile, all arrangements are in place to draw water from the dead storage of Nagarjunasagar. About 10 emergency pumping motors would start soon to draw 900 cusecs of water. However, the Irrigation and Command Area Development Department (I&CAD) is yet to give a nod for emergency pumping. Once ICAD stops drawing water, then the Board will use emergency pumping to draw water.