City reservoirs storage
Posted on: 03/Oct/2017 12:57:28 PM
With heavy rains in the catchment areas of city reservoirs during the weekend, there is good inflow of water in the water bodies, thus meeting the need for drinking water for the Chennai City residents. At a time when the Chennai reservoirs need more water inflow to get filled up, this steady increase in dams across the state.
Water Resources Department, Red Hills state that on Monday, the highest volume of inflow of 967 cusecs is received in the city reservoirs. All these four reservoirs, altogether have a storage of 568 million cubic feet on Monday. About 200 mcft of water is received in the past 2 days. Although the resource is lesser than the total capacity of 11,057 mcft, the level of water now will be sufficient enough to meet the city demands for the month. For improved water supplies, Chennai residents will likely have to wait for the northeast monsoon.
There is good inflow of water to the Red Hills reservoir, as all the 14 lakes are almost full or close to brimming levels. In spite of receiving intermittent rain showers, it has not got converted into inflow, because there is no uniform rain in the catchment areas. Much of the flow has got percolated along the parched lakes. Whenever there is rain, we expect speedy realization from this month, said an official.
Increased hope for Veeranam
On Monday, the total storage in Mettur dam in Salem district has increased to 58,358 mcft.
WRD officials state that it may take about 5 or 6 days for water in Mettur dam to reach Kallanai. 10 percent of the total supply to Kallanai will get released to Veeranam tank via Vadavar channel.
Even in the remaining parts of the state, the southwester monsoon seems favorable to the dams. The water level in key dams including that of Mettur, Bhavanisagar in Erode, Mullaiperiyar and Sathanur in Thiruvannamalai are likely to get augmented. As compared to last year, about 15 major reservoirs have got increased storage of the range 50 to 60 percent of the total storage capacity.
Renowned weather bloggers also state that the southwest monsoon has recorded 414.3 mm rainfall in the state and tout this to be the highest measured since 1996.
In spite of limited spells of about 3 to 4 this season, each of the spell lasted for 4 days, thus providing surplus inflow in the dams. There is at least 30 percent storage in dams including Vaigai in Theni and Papanasam. In a few districts like Chennai and Cuddalore, the reservoirs are now looking forward to the northeast monsoon and get their resources replenished.
More rain showers expected
The meteorological department forecast states that northern parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are likely to receive incessant rain showers for about 2 more days.
Officials further state that the weather systems including cyclonic circulation over Rayalaseema and neighborhood and the other trough along north Odisha to north Kerala will impact the state.
