Showers in Tiruvallur help recharge acquifers, wells

CHENNAI: A steady spell of rain in Tamaraipakkam area in Tiruvallur district on Thursday has brought much cheer to Metrowater authorities, as it recharged aquifers in the region.
A senior official told TOI that the 17 cm of rain had brought in 72 million litres of water on a single day, and that the entire quantity of water will help recharge aquifers in the area.
Interestingly, Metrowater is drawing water from private and its own farm wells in Tamaraipakkam.
At present, the Metrowater is drawing about 35 million litres of water from the 100-plus leased private farm wells and 16 of its own wells, the official said.
Metrowater has been utilising this water source since the last 10 years.
“This source will be kept as a reserve. Only when the water levels dip in the city or when the city faces a water shortage, this source is utilised to draw water. When asked if this rain will bring in some water to the Poondi reservoir, the officer said that it will only help in recharging the aquifer in the surrounding areas.
This is the first ever major rain spell in the Tiruvallur district in the last couple of months. This spell will also be helpful to farmers in the region.
K Chandramouli, a farmer from Tiruvalangadu in Tiruvallur district, said the neighbouring areas near his villagereceived heavy rains, but not his village. However, villagers are getting ready to sow the seeds, hoping to see some good spell of rain in the days to come, he said.
In the last two years, this particular region did not receive adequate rainfall, due to which the farming activities were badly affected. At least this year, the villagers are expecting a good spell of rain.
The farmer pointed out that the village has an old tank that needs to be desilted. “If the tank is desilted, at least it will recharge thewater table in the area,” he said.