The cyclonic storm ‘Laila' that brought heavy showers to the rain-starved city recently also had a favourable impact on groundwater level.
According to the Chennai Metrowater officials, the water table witnessed an increase of 0.3 metre to 0.7 metre immediately after the showers on May 19 and 20. While Nungambakkam registered 170 mm of rainfall on these two days, Meenambakkam recorded 145 mm. Subsequently, the level sustained at 0.2 metre to 0.4 metre across the city.
The average water level, which was 4.22 metres in April, increased to 4 metres after ‘Laila.' The Chennai Metrowater found these details during a survey recently in 60 observatory wells across the city.
In hard rock areas, including Guindy, Velachery and Saidapet, the water table has increased from 4.35 metres last month to 4 m.
Similarly, the water table in sandy areas such as Triplicane, Thiruvanmiyur, Royapuram and Tondiarpet has increased from 3.8 m in April to 3.4 metres. Localities with clay soil condition such as K.K.Nagar, Vadapalani, Chetpet and Perambur have witnessed an increase of 0.3 metre in the water table.
Proper maintenance of rainwater harvesting structures by most residents also helped in sustaining the increase in water table, an official said.
The water level in southern suburbs, particularly those along East Coast Road where residents complained of overexploitation of resources, has also improved. Many residents said that water level in shallow wells saw an increase by five to seven feet following the showers.
In a bid to encourage water conservation and proper sewage disposal among consumers, The Chennai Metrowater launched a campaign recently.
Boards with messages urging residents not to waste drinking water; not to dump solid waste in sewer network and diagrams showing construction of diaphragm chambers have been installed at public places, including some government buildings and all the Metrowater offices.
