Chennai Drinking Water and Drainage Clearance Board

Chennai’s thirst, a tale as old as the city itself. Before the Chennai Drinking Water and Drainage Clearance Board, life revolved around shallow wells and communal tanks. Imagine Chennai in 1870, a city reliant on the whims of nature. The Chennai Drinking Water and Drainage Clearance Board’s story begins in 1872. A humble masonry anicut, a simple weir, was constructed across the Kosathalaiyar River. This marked the start of an organized water supply. Unfiltered water flowed through open channels, a precursor to the complex network we know today. A major leap occurred in 1914. The Chennai Drinking Water and Drainage Clearance Board introduced filtration and pumping, a revolutionary change. The Jones Tower, an intake tower at Redhills Lake, became a symbol of progress. An underground conduit, a marvel of engineering, carried raw water to Kilpauk. Slow sand filters purified the water, and steam engines powered the pumps. The city’s thirst was finally quenched with clean water. The Chennai Drinking Water and Drainage Clearance Board didn’t stop there. In 1944, the Poondi Reservoir, later renamed Sathyamoorthy Sagar, was built. This new reservoir captured the Kosathalaiyar River’s flow, further securing the city’s water supply. Between 1946 and 1966, the Chennai Drinking Water and Drainage Clearance Board expanded its reach. Rapid gravity sand filters increased treatment capacity. New pumping mains and trunk mains extended the network, bringing water to more homes. The Chennai Drinking Water and Drainage Clearance Board also recognized the value of groundwater. Well fields at Tamaraipakkam, Panjetty, and Minjur were developed. These provided water to industries and, later, supplemented the city’s supply. By the late 20th century, the Chennai Drinking Water and Drainage Clearance Board oversaw a complex system. Surface water from reservoirs and groundwater from well fields combined to quench the city’s ever-growing thirst. The Chennai Drinking Water and Drainage Clearance Board’s story continues to evolve. New treatment plants, desalination plants, and pipelines are constantly being added. The Chennai Drinking Water and Drainage Clearance Board stands as a testament to the city’s resilience. From simple weirs to advanced treatment facilities, the Chennai Drinking Water and Drainage Clearance Board has ensured that Chennai’s taps never run dry.