write paragraph describing the water supply situation in your area
Answers
Chennai’s water situation is severe. The capital city of the southern state Tamil Nadu represents the fourth largest metropolitan area in India accounting for a population of 8.7 million in 2011. Due to rapid population growth, difficulties regarding the provision of water demands have been arising. Extreme weather conditions during past years such as dry periods and heavy rainfalls increased the impact on the water supply infrastructure systems. Additionally, the risk of salt water intrusion exists due to the coastal location.
Chennai is entirely dependent on its groundwater resources. Within the city area, groundwater rises at various levels due to soil differences, but is averagely at 5 to 6 m below surface. Chennai’s river basin mainly comprises three rivers which drain into the Bay of Bengal. As the rivers are highly polluted with sewage and waste, they are not available as drinking water sources. Instead, four water reservoirs north of the city are used which are mainly filled by monsoon rainfalls.
98 percent of the households within Chennai have an access to water either from privately used bore wells, hand-pumps, and taps, the public metro water network or tanks. Over two thirds of the households have private wells to cope with the intermittent availability of the pipe water network which delivers water only for a few hours each day.