Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Chennai Reservoirs Fall as City Awaits Northeast Monsoon
The lakes and reservoirs that help provide drinking water to Chennai have much less water than they did at this time last year.
The city is waiting for the northeast monsoon, which usually brings rain to the area.
Cooler weather could help the remaining water last longer by slowing evaporation.
Officials estimate supplies could last five months in that case, or three months if it stays hot.
If rain is delayed, the government may treat water stored in nearby stone quarries and use it.
Desalination plants will also keep supplying water.
A large proposed project would create more places to store rainwater and help reduce flooding.
Chennai’s reservoirs hold 4,976 million cubic feet of water, down from 9,159 million cubic feet on the same date last year.
Storage is lower than last year at Poondi, Sholavaram, Puzhal, Veeranam and Kannankottai-Thervoy-Kandigai; Chembarambakkam holds 1,305 million cubic feet.
Officials say current supplies could last five months if cooler weather reduces evaporation, but only three months if temperatures stay high.
The city may draw on rainwater in 23 stone quarries at Sikkarayapuram if the rains are delayed; desalination plants will also continue supplying water.
A proposed Rs. 22,004 crore project aims to add 20.5 tmc of storage and improve water conservation and flood mitigation.
- Who
- Chennai residents and the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board.
- What
- Reservoir storage is substantially lower than last year, and officials are preparing options to maintain drinking-water supply.
- When
- The storage comparison is with the same date last year; the northeast monsoon is predicted to begin in the second or third week of October.
- Where
- Chennai and the surrounding districts whose reservoirs supply the city.
- Why
- Low reservoir levels, possible reduced rainfall, and continued evaporation have made future water supply dependent on the monsoon.
- Current combined lake storage
- 4,976 million cubic feet
- Storage on the same date last year
- 9,159 million cubic feet
- Chembarambakkam storage
- 1,305 million cubic feet, compared with 1,830 million cubic feet last year
- Estimated supply duration
- Five months if cooler weather reduces evaporation; three months if temperatures remain high
- Stone quarries considered as a water source
- 23 quarries at Sikkarayapuram, with depths of 300 to 400 feet
- Proposed augmentation and flood mitigation project
- Estimated cost of Rs. 22,004 crore; planned additional storage capacity of 20.5 tmc
- Expected northeast monsoon onset
- The second or third week of October, according to the article’s account of the India Meteorological Department forecast