Even as some localities on elevated levels in the city went without drinking water supply for the last few days due to fast depleting water table at the water sources, the Tiruchi City Corporation has embarked on a multi-pronged strategy to tackle the situation.
Normally, drinking water is supplied twice a day, one hour each in the morning and evening. But the Corporation had stopped supplying water in the evenings to most households since the first week of May. Moreover, it maintains water supply for just 20 minutes a day.
The water supply situation has turned to be precarious for the last few days. According to Corporation sources, water supply could not be maintained in several elevated areas in Karumandapam, Airport, Edamalaipattipudur, Cantonment, Peria Milaguparai, Puthur, Woraiyur, Rock fort and others due to sharp fall in yield, forcing the residents to look for tanker lorry supply.
Till last week, the Corporation was able to get a water yield of 118 MLD as against the total capacity of 122 MLD from 11 water works. It has come down to 117 MLD.
Admitting that several areas have been facing drinking water supply scarcity, a senior officer said the actual realisation in the field could be around 100 MLD due to heavy line loss and overdraw in a few areas.
The Corporation had so far dug 52 borewells on the Cauvery River to pump water to the wells so as to pump out water to different parts of the city. However, several of them had gone dry as the water table had gone down below the bore reaches, causing sharp dip in yield. The situation was likely to worsen further in the weeks to come.
Alternative day supply
N. Ravichandran, Commissioner cum Special Officer, told The Hindu that there were some issues in drinking water supply in the city due to fast depleting water table. There was a plan to introduce a system of alternative day supply to tide over the situation.
As per the plan, the city would be divided into two parts and supplied water on alternate days. A decision would be taken in a day or two.
In addition, the Corporation has decided to sink nine more borewells for up to 100 feet. Of them, five wells would be dug up on the Cauvery river and four on the Coleroon.
