Decrease in water level in Chennai lakes
Posted on: 23/Jul/2016 12:34:30 PM
The major lakes serving as the key source of water in Chennai are Poondi, Sozhavaram, Puzhal, and Sembarambakam lakes. The total volume of Poondi Lake is 3,231 million cubic feet and that of Sozhavaram is 881 million cubic feet. Puzhal Lake has a capacity of 3,300 million cubic feet, Sembarambakkam has 3645 million cubic feet capacity. The total volume of all these four lakes is 11,057 million cubic feet.
During the northeast monsoon rain last year, all these lakes reached their threshold and looked like ocean. The total volume of water in all these lakes is 9,848 million cubic feet.
Downfall in water level
This was followed by drastic reduction in water level due to unbearable heat and eventual increase in drinking water needs. According to the recordings done in 22nd May, the total volume of water is 5,405 million cubic feet. Likewise, in the past two months, there was depletion of 1,860 million cubic feet. In this month, there is 926 million cubic feet decrease in water level.
The decrease in water level I Poondi lake in one month is 414 million cubic feet, 6 million cubic feet in Sozhavaram lake, 181 million cubic feet in Puzhal lake, and 333 million cubic feet in Sembarambakkam lake.
Speaking about this, one of the officials at the Chennai water board stated that there is enough water in these lakes to meet the drinking water needs of people, in spite of this decrease in level. The northeast monsoon season will begin soon. Hence, there will be no concerns about water scarcity in Chennai. As of 22nd July last year, the water level in all these four lakes was 928 million cubic feet, to note.
