Sustainable Fresh Water Supply for Chennai City

Sustainable Fresh body of water bestow for Chennai urban center, Tamil Nadu, India A Status update Joseph Thomas, Chief Technology Officer, Villgro, Chennai, India 3H, IIT Madras explore Park, Kanagam Road, Taramani, Chennai, Tamil Nadu India 600113. Teleph oneness +91 44 6663 0400, netmailemailprotected org, mobile +91 98840 49116 Key actors line Rain pee increase, Sustainable irrigate system deliver, Urban fresh wet. Abstract Chennai urban center, one of the ruminate metropolises of India, is situated at the Yankee coastal edge of the State of Tamil Nadu. The city is more whole well-nigh-known by its older name of Madras.Currently, Chennai is inhabited by more than 7 trillion plenty in an argona of 176 sq km. Water every last(predicate)ow for for this tribe is chief(prenominal)tained by tapping a combination of come bulge terminus reservoirs and aquifers. The Chennai municipal Water show and Sewerage maturate (CMWSSB), a statutory body found in 1978, is responsible for peeing run and sewerage services in the Chennai metropolitan field of view. The main sources of unexclusive peeing onlyow in the city are the three reservoirs Poondi, Redhills and Cholavaram with an aggregate storage capacity of one hundred s eveningty-five million cubic metres (MCM).The some other major resource is grimes body of piss from the sanitary-fields in the Araniar-Kortaliyar basinful and the southerly coastal aquifer, and excessively a double number of well and tube-wells spread all crossways the city ( elaborate 1). Over-extraction of run a farming peeing resulted in a rapid ingress of sea irrigate, which extended from 3 km inshore in 1969 to 7 km in 1983 and 9 km in 1987i. Ground irrigate takes within the city besides fell and brackish body of wet began to appear, even in topical anestheticities which earlier had pricey prize ground peeing sources.The CMWSSB calculates irrigate availability found on come along and aquifer theatrical roles down the stairs its direct control. Since it perceived reservoirs and other climb tot as more signifi passelt for a pine time, very itsy-bitsy attention was pay to sub break through storage or ground piddle recharge. As an outcome of explore, through with(p) by several agencies the CMWSSB embarked on a parkway to create ground water system recharge facilities in the city, and later passim the State. This led to portentous changes in ground water levels and to the quantum of water available to the population of a growing metropolis. picFigure 1. Introduction The Chennai municipal Water hand over and Sewerage posting (CMWSSB) is solely responsible for providing drinking water and sewerage services to the residents of Chennai. One of Indias major metropolises, Chennai is situated at the Federal coastal edge of the State of Tamil Nadu. The city is more well-known by its older name of Madras. Currently, Chennai is inhabited by more than 7 million popul ation in an area of 176 sq km. The CMWSSB depends on surface reservoirs and ground water sources to maintain water supply to the residents.Supply is maintained through quadruple means. Since Chennai is essentially low and water supply is intermittent, most residents build underground sumps that blood line the water. Subsequently, the water is pumped up to an crash tank. In other cases, water tankers are dispatched by CMWSSB to various localities and the sumps are alter from the tankers. In other localities, CMWSSB has put in place above-ground water tanks and these are fill by the water tankers.In yet other places, residents collect water directly from the tanker, come upon Figure 2. pic Figure 2 alcohol addiction water collection from tankers directly by residents. Despite the seemingly abundant sources of water, Chennai suffers forever from water stress since the entire basin is dependent on fallfallwater. The annual rainfall in Chennai is 1200 mm ii. This quantum is, apt(p) the coat of the Chennai basin, sufficient to gain the require of the population. The difficulty is with the distri stillion of the rainfall.There are two wet seasons in Chennai. The first is the sulphurwest monsoon, which has patchy rains and contributes slightly 25% of the match rain and falls between May and September. This does non do much for ground water recharge. However, the Northwest Monsoon (Oct to Dec) is usually characterized by a series of storms that brings the remaining 75% of total rain in extremely scant(p) bursts. During this time, Chennai is prone to fountaining and, before 2003, a large part of this water would stick out been lost as run-off into the sea.CMWSSB traditionally centre its attention on increasing surface storage, transporting fresh water from long distances. equal the Telugu Ganga project probably one of the long-term canals built for water supply to the city that failed to ease the water problem. Another feat was to divert wat er from Chembaramabakkam and Veeranam tanks whereby the water rights of the rural comm unity were infringed. Drilling of borewells in the Cuddalore pat and installation of turbine pumps to tap 100mld whereby the groundwater which again supports the local agriculture community was depleted.None of these solutions were sustainable in the long run and yet CMWWSSB non diversional very little attention to ground water recharge that had that potential. In 1997, at the Shri AMM Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre (MCRC), Chennai, iii a psychoanalyze was conducted to understand the user experience. The translate surveyed 10,000 households in 155 corporation wards of Chennai. The focus was on how residents get their water needs met and how the water is utilised. Raw data from this study was raise analyzed by Dr. A Vaidyanathan and J. Saravanan iv.These studies clear established that the contribution of ground water could be as high as 80% in some cases. The abutting section lead take up a quick summary of the research and the succeeding sections will deal with the move taken by CMWSSB and other urbane society organisations to get rain water glean introduced. The final section will describe the results of these efforts on the ground water duck. The research and changes The survey conducted by MCRC was across 10,000 households, representing a roughly 1 percentage sample.Another 2 cholecalciferol surveys across, business, educational activityal, institutional, g everywherening bodyal and industrial establishments were undertaken between September, 1995 and January, 1996. The summary phase took up another year. The main recommendations of the study were to a) encourage prevalent liaison in water saving and ground water recharge b) resurrect and send water saving/replacement technologies in the domestic sector c) use surface water to reduce ground water usage d) encourage ground water recharge by adoption of inexpensive water harvesting ystems, modif y of water-ways and inspection and repair of existing recharge structures, such(prenominal) as temple tanks. In 1999 a subject Water Harvesters network was company up by the Centre for Science and purlieu (CSE) water harvesters advisory committee in fresh Delhi. Members suggested that a regional profit be initiated in Tamil Nadu to upgrade rainwater harvesting in Chennai v. professor M. S. Swaminathan, provided office space for the lucre unit in Chennai and Prof. A. Vaidyanathan agreed to chair the group.The Tamil Nadu unit of the national water-harvesting network was launched in April 1999. The network was meant to (i) provide an opportunity for individuals and institutions actively engaged in water harvesting, in Chennai, to share their familiarity and experience and promote free and blossom out interaction among them and (ii) to strive out to a wider reality in the city and outside to propagate the single-valued function of urban rainwater harvesting in terms of tec hnology, experience and its potential contribution in meeting urban water needs. It was Prof.Vaidyanathan who indeed asked for the raw data from the MCRC study and did his own assertion of the data and abridgment. In the bet onground base that came out of the analysis 3 the following was stated The present paper is meant to give an overview of the present and future needs of the city, the limited and expensive scope for augmenting surface supplies, the need for a two-pronged strategy of preservation/ cycle and Rain Water harvest-feast (RWH) to increase ground water recharge. This support the results of the MCRC study.Both the MCRC study and the CSE study highlighted the dependency of sight on multiple sources for their water outlay rather than just CMWSSB and the heavy dependance on groundwater by both. Thus the RWH campaign was okay up by squiffy research results of MCRC and CSE. These studies were necessary to convert the public and the policy returnrs. It should be mentioned here that the hence Chairman and Managing Director of CMWSSB, Ms. Shanta Sheela Nair understood these results and backed the RWH movement fully. In a 2006 issue vi Prof. Vaidyanathan and his colleague, J.Saravanan summarized the action of the government as follows In Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, the growing dependence on groundwater since the 1970s is discernible in the sinking of increasing numbers of open wells and deep bore wells. This trend, a symptom of the increasing water scarcity in the city, led to a liberal decline in groundwater levels as well as seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers. Faced with this crisis, the State government passed the Chennai Groundwater Regulation Act in 1987, which want mainly to curb the commercial groundwater exploitation within the city limits.In 2001, rainwater harvesting (RWH) became mandatory in multi-storeyed buildings. The incomparable and surd droughts in the ensuing two years intensified the groundwater crisis t o such a story that, in August 2003, the government passed an canon making RWH mandatory for all buildings (existing and new) in the city and throughout the State. It further set a deadline of October 31, 2003 for this process to be completed. A vigorous publicity drive positive(p) the public that the government was serious approximately implementing the policy-making plat plaster cast and providing technical advice and help in the design and look of RWH structures.This led to unprecedented activity across the towns and cities of the State, especially Chennai city, and the programme was seen as successful. In this endeavour, however, very some turned to the municipal corporation, private consultants or NGOs with the relevant expertness for assistance in designing and building their RWH structures. Most relied on plumbers or their own expertise. Independent experts pointed out several problems with the programme, noting that ) the time given for the death penalty of this ord inance was too short b) in that location were far too few professionals with the knowledge and experience needed to design book systems for the widely varying conditions c) the supply of apt and skilled labour to implement the whole kit was in any case inadequate to cope with the musical scale and speed of the programme d) the availability of select materials for execution of instrument was in any case inadequate and e) in that location was hardly any systematic execute to check the quality of the works inform to be completed.There were widespread but unproved reports that, simply in order to meet the stipulations, grossly inadequate RWH structures had been put in place the capacity as well as quality of design and implementation leaving much to be desired. This was an guinea pig of decentralisation that, despite the presence of a felt need, occurred without adequate consultation. The lawmaking in regard of RWH was welcome but the actual programme was poorly employ a nd monitored. Although the programme applied to all classes of housing, it neglected those living in informal settlements such as slums within the city limits.These areas could contribute benefited from RWH in public building and public spaces an aspect that received very little attention. Moreover, no steps were taken under this programme to reclaim tanks and wetlands in the city that, in the past, not only functioned as recharge structures but were also utilise as sources of domestic water by communities. The governing has since 2009 been working towards cleaning up the waterways of Chennai. This effort has seen the government draw on municipal corporation, private consultants and NGOs with the relevant expertise to work on this massive effort.There is a project with an outlay of Rs 1,400 crore (approx US $ccc million) to make the city flood lamp-freevii. In process 2010 the Chennai Metropolitan victimization Authority held a Seminar on Waterways in Chennai. The proceedin gs viii strike a list of 36 recommendations and some of them are re-produced here 1. The sequence of actions to rein in the problem may be (a) flood alleviation (b) prevention of pollution to the waterways (c) cleaning up of the waterways by removing encroachments & obstructions (d) restoration / meliorations to the waterways and its go along maintenance. . Floods are opportunities to augment ground water recharge to be facilitated by construction of check dams, filter wells, and underground tunnels/storage reservoirs, if the soil conditions and slopes permit. 3. Flood plains should be positive along the waterways in the areas outside the towns and cities, adopting the remembering model, as a solution against flood hazards these flood plains could be developed as parks or green belts for recreation such as camp sites. 4. Eco-engineering should also be adopted as a solution to bring nature back and rejuvenate the rivers. 5.It is recommended that corporate sector participatio n, and world-wide public participation, in planning and improvement of lakes and rivers should be encouraged. Cleaning up of rivers and conservation of water bodies should be thought of as a movement with the participation of all stakeholders including the general public. 6. Adequate public sensory faculty or so the hazards of pollution of water bodies and the curative measures has to be created by organizing community education campaigns. Getting the citizens involved is important, Saving Waterways should pop off a quite a littles movement. . practise of sewage for power generation and recycling of waste water should be encouraged. 8. Area development plans prepared at small level, such as Detailed Development Plans, should contain plans for ground water recharge, at least in large expound such as schools and public places. Sustainability measures should form part of the Integrated River Restoration Plans. What is evident here is that the outcomes of studies take time to apprehend down to the agencies man go out to make the changes required for sustainability. It also requires a good amount of political will.Much of the change of attitude of governmental institutions can also be traced backed to rugged political thrust to implement the changes. Results data on change in groundwater metre and quality has to be presented here, mostly based on media stories. Some researchers feel that the effectuate of rain water harvesting and subsequent ground water recharge are so noticeable that quantifying is not a priority. The Table on a lower floor (Figure 3) shows the number of rain water harvesting structures built by the Corporation of Chennai, as reported on its website. Rain Water Harvesting through with(p) by Corporation of Chennai Corporation possess buildings 1344 Structures Flyovers and Bridges 29 Structures Open low-lying areas 242 Structures Road Margins 945 Structures Corporation Streets 2698 Structures Corporation pool 1 No. Temple T anks 16 Nos. Residential / Commercial / Institution Buildings 329959 Buildings Figure 3ix An article published in a leading daily in Chennai, The Hindu, dated January, 31 2009 had many an(prenominal) interesting points to make about the results of RWH and ground-water recharge. x The CMWSSB study of 759 RWH observatory wells shows that ever since the installation of RWH structures in about 500,000 of its consumer households was make mandatory in 2004, there has been a 50 per cent trick up in the water level. According to the CMWSSB officials, over the last five years, the water level across the city has gone up by three to six metres. Similarly, the water quality in several areas has also showed improvement. The sustained familiar rainfall since 2004 and the appropriate maintenance of RWH structures in most households know been the principal reasons. Following the drought period of time in 2003, when Chennai received only about 690 mm of rainfall as against its normal of 1,200 mm, the water table had receded and, on an average, was at 7-8 metres below ground. In many places it was at 10 m depth and, in some, it was at 10 m.Following a good monsoon (2,064 mm) in 2005 and rainwater harvesting, the ground water table saw an appreciable rustle in several areas and the water table reached 1 m depth below ground. The total dissolved solids (TDS), which were earlier as high as 4,900 parts per million (ppm) in some areas, dropped to permissible levels of 500 ppm, greatly improving the quality of water (see Figure 4). pic Figure 410 Before the blast of every monsoon, Metrowater officials conduct a ergodic check of the RWH structures for their maintenance and create sentience about the need to keep these in good shape. Harnessing of rainwater that gets collected in storm water drain network would help reduce the inundation on roads and large volumes of water flow into sea every year..Unless rainwater runoff in both public and private spaces in the city i s harnessed, Chennai may lose out on the curious resource and may end up with water problems during the summer months, note rain-water harvesting experts. Conclusions This presentation has tried to show that it takes many years of persistent effort to language a problem in gracious society. In Chennai, and indeed the whole of Tamil Nadu, the problem was one of water stress. Research showed that the available rainfall could help people cope but fresh water from the rain was being lost to the sea. found on this, a proposal was made that ground water recharge was a viable, low-cost solution. This proposal had to be championed. Prof. Vaidyanathan and the then Chairman of CMWSSB, Shanta Sheela Nair, did just that.They showed with great determination and several pilot studies that rain water harvesting would be viable and worthwhile. They managed to convince the government of this, and RWH became a statutory necessary for all buildings in the state. Monitoring the metre and quality of the ground water has shown the significant changes this legislation has brought in. As a side-effect a greater understanding of the need to clean, keep back and secure all types of fresh water bodies has prevailed among the political circles, bureaucracy, NGOs and civil society. The people take for also shown great resolve in implementing the solution since it directly affects their lives.The type of study conducted by MCRC and CSE can be a methodology to assess the water sources, spending pattern, per capita availability and requirement particularly in developing countries. This way the water supply system can be cleanse planned and implemented to be sustainable. References i http//www. rainwaterharvesting. org/Crisis/Urbanwater-scenario. htm ii Balakrishnan, T. , adept Report Series District Groundwater Brochure, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu. Central Ground Water Board, South East Coastal Region, Chennai, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, November 2008. P ublished by Regional Director, CGWB, SECR, E-1, Rajaji Bhavan, Besant Nagar, Chennai -600090, Tel+9144 24912941/24914494, telefax +9144 24914334 Web www. cgwb. gov. in email emailprotected in iii Thomas, Joseph, Sustainable Fresh Water Supply for Madras (now Chennai) City, India (Contract No. S$P/95/0042) Final report submitted to UNICEF, 73, Lodi Estate , New Delhi 110 003, Printed by Shri AMM Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre, Tharamani, Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India 600 113, May 1997. iv A. Vaidyanathan & J. Saravanan, Chennais Water Supply Problems and Prospects (A background paper) National Water Harvestors Network Tamil Nadu Unit, Centre for Science and Environment. (undated circa 2000) v http//www. manage. gov. in/managelib/extdig/Jul99Water. htm vi Vaidyanathan, A. with Saravanan, J. The Urban Water Scene A Case Study -Water Situation in Chennai City in A.Vaidyanathan, Indias Water Resources Contemporary Issues on Irrigation. New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2 09-247 (2006). vii http//www. business-standard. com/india/ intelligence information/tn-govt-to-takers-1400-cr-flood-control-project/397769/ viii http//www. cmdachennai. gov. in/pdfs/SeminarOnWaterways/1. pdf ix http//www. chennaicorporation. gov. in/departments/storm-water-drain/introduction. htm x http//www. hindu. com/pp/2009/01/31/stories/2009013150010100. htm Acknowledgements The reference gratefully acknowledges the Villgro Innovations Foundation for the time given to write this paper. The valuable inputs from J. Saravanan also gave the creator the confidence to make some of the conclusions presented here.