Monsoon rainfall brings marginal inflow to reservoirs in Chennai

Officials of the WRD say the reservoirs earlier received marginal inflow in August. | Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ

Inflow has begun trickling into Chennai’s reservoirs with the onset of the Northeast monsoon after prolonged dry weather. Heavy rainfall is expected across several districts, including Chennai, on Saturday, with intense spells likely in parts of the north and the Western Ghats districts.

The key waterbodies in Poondi, Chembarambakkam, and Red Hills, which contribute a major share of the drinking water for the city, received marginal inflow after nearly three months. The city’s five reservoirs, which includes Cholavaram and Thervoy-Kandigai, have a combined storage of 3.8 thousand million cubic feet, which is nearly 33% of their total storage capacity.