Workers repairing the Veeranam transmission pipeline at Pudhupakkam on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

Water supply to some southern parts of the city was hit on Saturday due to a leak in the pipeline that supplies water from Veeranam tank near Kelambakkam.

Residents said they did not receive piped water on Saturday. C.R. Balaji of Mandaveli said the MRC Nagar distribution station usually supplied drinking water to areas such as Mylapore and Mandaveli. Water supply was regularly being disrupted due to various reasons, particularly due to interconnection works scheduled for Chennai Metro Rail projects. Such sudden leaks in the pipeline or repairs in the network only add to the woes of residents, he added.

The total quantum of water supply provided by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) also took a hit on Saturday. It was reduced to nearly 908 million litres a day (mld) compared to the nearly 1,032 mld supplied on Friday. It was being reduced gradually since February 27. This summer, the CMWSSB is looking to tap resources mainly from reservoirs to manage the city’s water needs.

Drawal suspended

Water drawal from the Veeranam tank was suspended on Saturday as the leak in the massive 1,875 mm diameter pipeline was observed on Vandalur-Kelambakkam Main Road at Pudhupakkam. This pipeline is interlinked with the Nemmeli desalination plant to enable the switch to desalinated water during droughts.

CMWSSB officials said the water supply would be restored on Sunday once the repairs to the Veeranam transmission pipeline were completed.

The city’s water supply has been temporarily reduced to enable pipeline interconnection works being carried out by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited in various parts of the city. The water pressure has also been reduced in some areas to avoid damage to the water supply network owing to ongoing works.

With the reservoirs in Chembarambakkam, Poondi, and Red Hills having nearly 90% of their total capacity, the water agency plans to increase the drawal from the waterbodies to meet the city’s needs and reduce production at the Nemmeli desalination plants this summer. This will also prepare the reservoirs for Krishna water supply from Andhra Pradesh later this year. The daily water supply would be stepped up to 1,050 mld in a few days after the ongoing works are completed, officials added.