Chennai: Now, get real-time data on rainfall, groundwater level – Times of India

Chennai News

CHENNAI: Residents in the city can soon get to know the groundwater level and rainfall at the click of a button. Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), popular as Metrowater, is getting ready a digital portal that will make available the required data in real-time.
“The portal, which is in its final stages and will be the first of its kind in the state, will be launched soon,” said Metrowater executive director T Prabhu Shankar.
The agency is setting up digital water level recorders (DWLR) to monitor the groundwater level in all its 200 depots. So far, about 145 groundwater monitoring devices have been set up. The project is expected to be completed by end-December when the portal will go live. “So far, we have installed 15 DWLRs each in Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Ambattur and Anna Nagar zones. About 18 have been fit in Teynampet, 14 in Thiruvottiyur and 10 in Alandur. In other zones, work is in progress,” said an official.
“These devices will provide the level of the groundwater instantly. This data will be shared with the Metrowater headquarters and will be available on the portal as well. Presently, data is available only once a month. This device will make it easy for the data to be available at all times.”
About 15 rain gauges have already been set up in all 15 zones. “Rain gauges will also be set up in the five reservoirs,” said an official.
Presently, thanks to the back-to-back cyclones and the northeast monsoon rain, the groundwater level in the city is at a comfortable. It is the least in Royapuram zone, at 4.8 metres, and between 1 metre and 3 metre in all other zones.
“The project cost is 2.68 crore. The work began in August this year. Work on the portal is also simultaneously taking place and by January first week, it will be completed,” said an official.
Residents planning to sink a borewell can easily check the groundwater table with the device that will also help us understand the water use in particular areas, he added.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/chennai-now-get-real-time-data-on-rainfall-groundwater-level/articleshow/79812924.cms