Abandoned quarries in the city’s southern suburbs may soon be used as regular sources of water supply.
Chennai Metrowater is planning to approach the Kancheepuram Collectorate to seek land to set up permanent pumping infrastructure to draw water from the Sikkarayapuram quarries near Mangadu.
Metrowater has started drawing water from quarries and transporting it through a 4.5-km-long pipeline to the Chembarambakkam treatment plant on a trial basis. “We are using high pressure pumps mounted on pontoons for drawing water from the quarries. The pumps, imported from the U.S., have a capacity to draw 1.25 million litres of water per hour. It is functioning through a temporary set-up now,” said an official.
For the quarries to be turned into storage points for the city’s water supply, the water agency needs land to set up a permanent pumping facility.
“We need nearly 25,000 sq ft of land to provide interconnection works and electricity connection and make them viable storage points,” the official said.
These have a potential to store and supply nearly 350 million cubic feet (mcft) of water.
Metrowater plans to draw water from the quarries from March. It will be blended with water from the Chembarambakkam lake when it reaches its dead storage. Water from the quarries will be supplied to Chennaiites after nearly two years.
About 30 million litres a day (mld) would be drawn from the Sikkarayapuram quarries. Twelve more quarries in Erumaiyur, which could supply 10 mld, have been kept in reserve.
Krishna water
Reservoirs continue to be a regular source, supplying 550 mld to the city on alternate days.
Krishna water flowing into the Poondi reservoir, one of the major city lakes, since early this week, has raised hopes of boosting storage. There has been a steady increase in inflow and the lake received 200 cusecs on Friday. Officials of the Water Resources Department said the lake received nearly 42 mcft so far.
“Andhra Pradesh authorities have assured us that they would step up supply in a phased manner, as water is being drawn enroute for irrigation,” an official said.
