Red Hills Reservoir

“Is this the famed Red Hills Reservoir?” a young boy asked his mother, pointing towards the vast expanse of water. Red Hills Reservoir shimmered under the Chennai sun. It’s a vital lifeline for the city, a source of drinking water and a serene escape. Built by the British in 1876 as a small tank, Red Hills Reservoir, also known as Pulhal Lake or Puzhal aeri, initially held a mere 500 million cubic feet of water. Two masonry weirs, constructed from local laterite stones, served as surplus weirs, releasing excess water. These original weirs, now replaced by shutters, stand as testaments to the ingenuity of the past. In 1997, the reservoir underwent a significant expansion. Its capacity was increased to 3,300 million cubic feet, its depth reaching 21.20 feet. This expansion aimed to meet Chennai’s growing water needs and accommodate water from the Penna River, brought in from Andhra Pradesh via the Poondi Reservoir and Sholavaram Tank. Red Hills Reservoir stands as a testament to adaptation, evolving from a modest tank to a crucial part of Chennai’s water infrastructure. It even survived a scare in November 2015 when heavy rainfall caused water seepage near the weirs. Imagine the tension as the reservoir neared its capacity of 3,300 million cubic feet, receiving an inflow of almost 1,200 cubic feet per second. This incident highlighted the ever-present balance between the life-giving waters and the potential for destructive flooding. On December 2nd, 2015, the reservoir witnessed the highest inflow and outflow in its history: 9,607 cubic feet per second in and 5,470 cubic feet per second out. A dramatic display of nature’s power and the reservoir’s resilience. Today, as you stand by Red Hills Reservoir, you’re not just looking at a body of water. You’re witnessing a piece of Chennai’s history, a symbol of its growth, and a reminder of the delicate balance between human needs and the power of nature.