This summer, Chennai Metrowater’s well fields in Tiruvallur district will be rejuvenated after a gap of nearly a decade to tackle water shortage in the city.

The fast-depleting resources in the reservoirs, the major suppliers of drinking water to the city, have set the focus on well fields in Poondi, Tamaraipakkam and floodplains near Kosasthalaiyar river. Besides rejuvenating the 20 borewells in these well fields, the water agency plans to sink 16 more borewells to augment water supply.

Works to rejuvenate polluted Kolavoy lake to be taken up under Central plan

After several years of negligence, the much-abused Kolavoy lake, one of the largest water bodies in Kancheepuram district, might soon be rejuvenated. The lake, also known as Chengalpattu lake, will be the first water body in the Chennai region to get a new lease of life under the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) of the Union ministry of forests and environment.

Residents to get 20-litre cans at Rs. 12; novel project to boost local body’s income

Amidst the growing popularity of packaged drinking water, Mudichur panchayat near Tambaram has ventured into a novel project of supplying purified water in 20-litre cans at a subsidised price to its residents. The panchayat will soon begin distributing water that has been purified in a reverse osmosis plant and packaged in 20-litre cans. The cans will be supplied at Rs. 12 against the retail price of a maximum of Rs. 30.

Over the past few days, nearly 90 private water tankers have been caught transporting water without even a trace of chlorine

Does a private water tanker supply water to your locality? If that is the case, it is time that you checked how safe it is for drinking. A recent water quality test conducted by the Chennai Corporation and the Food Safety department showed that water transported in 90 private tankers across the city did not have even a trace of chlorine.

To increase accountability in water supply management, Chennai Metrowater will soon implement a system where the entire process, from sourcing to distribution of drinking water to residents, will be monitored through a centralised online network.

The water agency floated a tender recently to implement the project using real-time data acquisition and a matrix display system. According to sources in Metrowater, the centralised city water supply network will help the agency monitor the status of supply daily.

Water Resources Department attempts to rejuvenate contaminated waterbody under National Lake Conservation Plan

To infuse life into polluted lakes around the city, the Water Resources Department (WRD) has recently submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Environment and Forests to restore these water bodies under the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP). The NLCP’s objective is to rejuvenate urban and semi-urban lakes that have been polluted by the release of sewage into them.

State Pollution Control Board says water unsuitable for potable purposes

The lake in Udhagamandalam, popularly known as Ooty, is, according to a study by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), one of the most polluted water bodies in the State. Its water quality, the study says, is unsuitable for potable purposes. A major tourist attraction in the popular hill station, the lake now emits a foul odour, thanks to untreated sewage being let out into it.

For over a week now, residents of Sixth Street, R.V.Nagar, Anna Nagar, have been putting up with stench, flies and sewage on the road. Sewage has been overflowing from manholes. Residents across the city face similar problems.

Residents of R.V. Nagar said some of the houses in the area had also experienced reverse flow of sewage from the underground sewerage network. “Though a complaint was registered with the Metro Water office, the problem is yet to be solved,” said a residen

The 136-year-old Red Hills reservoir, one of the city’s major primary drinking water sources, is set to be improved after several decades. The Water Resources Department (WRD) has not taken up any major project at the reservoir since 1994, except for maintenance work worth Rs.5 lakh every year.

The WRD has now called for a tender for the project, worth Rs. 10.16 crore, to strengthen the reservoir. The water level in the reservoir now stands at 8.43 feet. The department has not stepped up the level for a few months now, in order to facilitate repair work.

Residents of many merged areas who have to now manage with groundwater and private water resources as they do not have a proper water supply network, may soon get one.

Chennai Metrowater is set to complete detailed projects reports for a comprehensive water supply and sewerage network for the expanded city by August. While some municipalities such as Valasaravakkam and Alandur, which have come under the ambit of the city, already have the network, work is still progressing in Ambattur, Madhavaram, Pallikaranai and Ullagaram-Puzhuthivakkam.