Chennai water supply cut by 60 litre/person/day
TNN | Jan 21, 2019, 05:54 IST
Representative imageCHENNAI: Drinking water supply in Chennai by Metrowater has been cut by nearly half with three reservoirs going dry, and storage in Red Hills too on the verge of running out. Usually Chennai gets 830 million litres a day(mld), which works out to 140 litres a day per resident. Supply was reduced to 650mld in December when the monsoon failed. It has been further cut to 450mld to 480mld now, which means 60 litres less a day per person.
The main source for drinking water now are the two desalination plants at Nemmeli and Minjur, which supply 100mld each. Apart from this, 180mld is drawn from Veeranam water supply project. Some 60mld is now pumped from agricultural wells and metrowater-owned wells; this could go up to 100mld in summer. Besides, the quarries in Sikkarayapuram could provide 30mld.
Metrowater is also planning four plants to treat wastewater. Its Koyambedu plant will be functional by June. “Before we start using it, we have started creating awareness on recycled water. We have held meetings with industry owners, academic institutions and residents welfare associations. We have asked them to use recycled water from their sewage treatment plants as well. That water is right now being dumped into storm water drains or lakes,” said an official.
Kodungaiyur plant to be ready by June
A similar plant at Kodungaiyur will be ready by June.
Similar plants of capacity 10MLD each will be set up at Nesapakkam and Perungudi. Tenders have been called for them. The treated water will be sold to industries at 40% less rate than normal drinking water.
“When it comes to Chennai, residents need not worry. We have enough sources of water and there will not be any major issue. There will be some problems with the pressure of water and the volume of flow will reduce. But required water will still be supplied,” said a metrowater official.
Residents in several areas, however, said they were more worried about the impact of pipeline restoration and maintenance work at the desalination plants.
Mahesh M, a resident of Kilapauk area, said, “We were told by metrowater that pipeline restoration work would stall water supply for a day. It has been a week and we still do not get required water supply.”
The main source for drinking water now are the two desalination plants at Nemmeli and Minjur, which supply 100mld each. Apart from this, 180mld is drawn from Veeranam water supply project. Some 60mld is now pumped from agricultural wells and metrowater-owned wells; this could go up to 100mld in summer. Besides, the quarries in Sikkarayapuram could provide 30mld.
Metrowater is also planning four plants to treat wastewater. Its Koyambedu plant will be functional by June. “Before we start using it, we have started creating awareness on recycled water. We have held meetings with industry owners, academic institutions and residents welfare associations. We have asked them to use recycled water from their sewage treatment plants as well. That water is right now being dumped into storm water drains or lakes,” said an official.
Kodungaiyur plant to be ready by June
A similar plant at Kodungaiyur will be ready by June.
Similar plants of capacity 10MLD each will be set up at Nesapakkam and Perungudi. Tenders have been called for them. The treated water will be sold to industries at 40% less rate than normal drinking water.
“When it comes to Chennai, residents need not worry. We have enough sources of water and there will not be any major issue. There will be some problems with the pressure of water and the volume of flow will reduce. But required water will still be supplied,” said a metrowater official.
Residents in several areas, however, said they were more worried about the impact of pipeline restoration and maintenance work at the desalination plants.
Mahesh M, a resident of Kilapauk area, said, “We were told by metrowater that pipeline restoration work would stall water supply for a day. It has been a week and we still do not get required water supply.”
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