Chennai's groundwater levels witness a dip

After Chennai groundwater levels saw a good improvement in the last three months of 2020. The average groundwater level in January dipped by nearly a metre, compared to December 2020, according to official data with the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board. The average groundwater level in December had improved by nearly one metre compared to November 2020.

“As Chennai received a copious amount of rainfall ever since the monsoon began, the groundwater levels had seen an improvement. Since rains have stopped and groundwater extraction is continuing, levels have seen a dip. However, there will not be any problem for drinking water for the next one year,” said an official.

The highest reduction was in the Teynampet zone where the level reduced by 0.88m. This was followed by Adyar (0.77m) and Alandur (0.60m), Royapuram (0.60m). Perungudi and Kodambakkam zones, which usually witness water shortage during summers, also witnessed a dip. While the level reduced by 0.27m in Perungudi, it reduced by 0.42m in Kodambakkam.

However, groundwater continues to be the lowest in the Royapuram zone. While in November, it was available at a depth of 4.89m, in December at 4.64m, it is now available at 5.24m. “But despite the dip, groundwater levels are better compared to last year. There was also reduced dependence on groundwater levels this year due to lockdown,” said the official. Meanwhile, the storage level at Chembarambakkam, Red Hills, Cholavaram, and Poondi, the four reservoirs that supply drinking water to the city, is substantially higher than on the same day in 2020.

It was 3,276 mcft (Chembarambakkam), 3,192 mcft (Red Hills), 3,055 mcft (Poondi) and 875 mcft (Cholavaram). Last year, the levels stood at 1,799 mcft, 2,680 mcft, 1,712 mcft and 72 mcft respectively.