Metrowater to increase piped water supply beginning today

Chennai: From Wednesday, residents can expect a better supply of piped water as Metrowater has decided to increase the quantity from 525mld (million litres a day) to 650mld.

A senior Metrowater official said the steady flow from Kandaleru reservoir in Andhra Pradesh to Poondi reservoir and continuous rain in catchment areas of the city’s four main reservoirs Red Hills, Cholavaram, Poondi and Chembarambakkam led to the decision.

By increasing the supply, the city’s water managers aim to achieve two objectives – to extend the reach and to increase the duration of supply.

In many areas, people residing at tail-end of streets used to complain of either poor or no supply. Now, with the increase in quantity, such complaints should come down as water can reach more houses due to good pressure, hope water managers.

Over the past six months, the duration of supply was for about 30 minutes and that too on alternate days. Now the duration is likely go up, said the official.

Another official said during the corresponding period last year, the agency was supplying 675mld. “If the rain continues in the catchment areas of the four reservoirs and the inflow of Krishna water continues steadily, we can further increase the supply which can touch last year’s quantity soon,” he said.

One of the major sources of water for the city during the peak summer was Veeranam lake.

The water body got filled twice last year. Now, the storage level in the lake stands at 1,148mcft against its capacity of 1,465mcft. “If rain continues in Cuddalore, water level in the lake will reach capacity in the next couple of days,” said theofficial.