Water-spread in the Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs is shrinking at a fast pace. In the last five days, water levels in these reservoirs have come down by 4.2 inches and 3.12 inches respectively. Every day, the water-level in the twin lakes is sinking by 2 meter cubic feet (MCFT).
On Tuesday, the water-level in the Osmansagar was 1,759.34 ft but on Wednesday it fell to 1759.27 ft. Himayatsagar also saw a drop from 1736.40 ft to 1736.34 ft on Wednesday.
Authorities expect the Osmansagar to go completely dry by month-end while water in the other reservoir might last a little later.
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The water spread in Osmansagar is just 3.039 sq. km now as against the actual size of 21.954 sq. km, while in Himayatsagar it is 31.535 sq.km against the actual extent of 190.55 sq. km. Both drawing of water and evaporation losses are causing levels to deplete at a faster rate.
Water supply may be hit
Considering the critical situation, present water supplies might be curtailed from 320 mgd to 312 mgd by June 1. As the mercury shoots up, the evaporation losses also go up from 9 to 11 inches from March to May.
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However, the Water Board has no plans to go in for the chemical process to minimise evaporation loss. “There is not much water spread to be saved now,” an official said.
Groundwater depletion in city
Meanwhile, there is also a significant depletion of groundwater in the city.
From March to April, the groundwater table has gone down by an average of 0.67 meters below ground level (mbgl).
Pizometers installed in 11 Mandals in the city report the same trend. In Ameerpet, the groundwater has sunk by 0.20 mbgl, Asifnagar by 0.90 mbgl, Kulsumpura 1.85 mbgl, Bandlaguda 1.00 mbgl, Charminar 0.60 mbgl, Khairatabad 0.40 mbgl, Marredpally 1.04 mbgl, Nampally 1.20 mbgl, Serlingampalli 0.05 mbgl, Saidabad 0.05 mbgl, Bahadurpura 0.05 mbgl.