Increased Water Discharge from Chembarambakkam Reservoir Anticipated as Rainfall Persists
Posted on: 29/Nov/2023 9:56:51 AM
Amidst consistent rainfall in the catchment areas, the Water Resources Department (WRD) is set to raise water discharge from the Chembarambakkam reservoir on Wednesday. With a steady inflow of 500 cubic feet per second (cusecs), the reservoir is rapidly approaching its full capacity.
To manage the increasing water levels, the WRD plans to release 1,000 cusecs into the Adyar river at 9 a.m. as a precautionary measure. The current water level stands at 22.35 feet, inching close to its full capacity of 24 feet. The reservoir is currently holding 3,210 million cubic feet of water against its capacity of 3,645 mcft.
Wednesday`s rainfall, measuring 1 cm, has contributed to the reservoir`s rise. Localities surrounding the water body have experienced light to moderate rains in recent days, resulting in surface runoff flowing into the lake.
Responding to consistent rainfall, the WRD had previously increased the release to 200 cusecs on Tuesday. With forecasts predicting more rain in the upcoming days, water discharge will be adjusted gradually based on monsoon inflows.
As a precautionary measure, shutter gates were opened last month, releasing a minimum of 25 cusecs. Residents in low-lying areas along the Adyar river, including Kundrathur and Tiruneermalai, were advised by the Kancheepuram district administration to take necessary precautions.
Simultaneously, the water levels in other reservoirs crucial for Chennai`s water supply, such as Poondi and Red Hills, are under close observation. Following overnight rainfall, these reservoirs have seen significant inflows.
The total storage across six water bodies, including the Veeranam tank used to supplement city water supply, currently stands at 10.3 thousand million cubic feet against their combined capacity of 13.2 tmcft as of Wednesday.
