It is that time of the year when Chennaiites get concerned about dipping groundwater levels. It is also the best time to prepare for harnessing rainwater.
Two institutions will soon be able to reap the benefits of rains with the support of Rain Centre, a city-based voluntary organisation.
R.K. Mutt in Mylapore and Cancer Institute are set to become self-sufficient to meet their water needs as the Mandavelipakkam-based centre has helped secure funds from a company.
Like many other large institutions that depend on private water supply, these organisations too spend a large sum on water. Cancer Institute, which receives hundreds of patients daily, does not have sufficient water sources. Both its campuses lack proper rainwater harvesting structures, Rain Centre’s director Sekar Raghavan said. While the Canal Bank Road campus needs 1.5 lakh litres of water every day, the one on Sardar Patel Road purchases up to 10 tankers of water on a daily basis.
He added that work is on to provide a total of 12 recharge wells running for a depth of 15 feet on both the premises. “Summer is the right time for constructing rainwater harvesting systems as groundwater level will be below 10 feet. It is important to tap the right type of soil for good percolation,” he said.
A.V. Lakshmanan, advisor, Cancer Institute, said: “The initiative will help recharge the borewells. We expect to cut down on our water expenditure. We spend Rs. 60 lakh every year.”
At the R.K. Mutt campus, spread over 5.5 acres, the centre has recently completed its project.
Mr. Raghavan said most of the rainwater that stagnated on the premises was draining into the stormwater drains.
“We realised that as the top layer of soil was clayey, water did not percolate. We have provided 16 recharge wells at several points at a cost of Rs. 9 lakh,” he said.
With these structures, the Mutt will be able to save 2.9 crore litres of water every year.
“We want to reach out to such organisations and make them self-sufficient in their water needs,” Mr. Raghavan added. For details, the Rain Centre can be contacted at 044-24616134/24918415.
