Intense activities on rainwater collection in public wells
Posted on: 07/Sep/2019 3:53:27 PM
In order to overcome the shortage of water, one of the steps already initiated is making proper arrangements for the collection of rainwater. It is estimated that 19 million litres of water will be available through this measure! So, intense activity is in progress for this at various places.
In the Anna Nagar region, activities are in progress to collect the rainwater discharged from the terraces in the houses to 16 public wells and thereby generating 19 million litres of water per year.
There has been an acute water shortage in Chennai this year. The scarcity of water was quite acute especially during the months of May, June, and July.
The groundwater level also decreased substantially. Thus, the government was struggling to meet the demand for water from the Chennai residents.
It was so acute that there was a change even in the daily lifestyle of Chennai Metro City residents! People were seen running after water helter-skelter carrying many empty vessels! As even the water required for minimum emergency purposes was not available, hotels/lodges, restaurants, and some schools were closed! The people went through extreme hardships even as the eater resources kept drying up!
However, there has been a change recently. As it had been raining in the Chennai Metro City quite frequently since the last few weeks, the groundwater level has increased to a good extent.
In this scenario, the Chennai Metro City Corporation has initiated full-fledged actions for the collection of rainwater. The Chennai Metro City Corporation has decided to make the necessary arrangement for collecting up to 2 Lakhs litres of rainwater per year from its own buildings, private owners’ buildings, and the houses under its jurisdiction.
One squad has been deployed for each ward to execute the above plan; 200 squads have been formed and the work progress is in full swing.
CMWSSB (Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board) has renovated 16 old wells in the Anna Nagar region as centres for collection of rainwater. The rainwater draining from the terraces of buildings and houses/residences is taken on pipes to the water purification centre set up near the 15 old wells. The water is purified here and then let on to the 15 wells.
For this collection of rainwater, 5 wells are located in Anna Nagar Region Ward 94, SIDCO Nagar. 6 wells are located in the ward 99 in Thirumangalam 2nd Avenue. 5 wells are located in ward 100 in the Moovendhar Nagar. With this activity, the groundwater level in this locality has risen considerably!
The officials informed further that with rainwater collection arrangement in an additional 16 public c wells, 19 million litres of rain water can be collected every year.
Further, this rainwater collection arrangements/associated activities are in progress done jointly with CMWSSB in the buildings such as government schools, corporation and government buildings, etc.
It is certainly expected that the groundwater level would increase to appreciable level once these activities get completed paving the way for managing the drinking water shortage in future.
