Heavy downpours leave Vizag reservoirs brimming

Following the heavy downpours recently, reservoirs in the city have received huge inflows. All the waterbodies are brimming.

As per readings obtained form the Water Supply Department of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), water level at the Yeleru reservoir, which supplies almost 40 million gallons per day (MGD) of water out of the required (average 90 MGD) to the city is at 80.98 metres as on September 1 (Monday) against its maximum level of 86.56 metres. Its minimum storage level (pumping level) is 71.50 metres.

Thatipudi reservoir supplies around 10 MGD of water to the city. As on Monday, the water level of Thatipudi is 293.30 feet against its maximum storage level of 297 feet. The minimum storage level is 251 feet. Similarly, Raiwada reservoir’s maximum storage level is about 114 metres, while the present storage is 113.50 metres, as against the minimum storage level of 99 metres.

Water level at the Mehadrigedda reservoir stands at 59.30 feet against its maximum storage level of 61 feet, while its minimum storage level is 44 feet. Water level at Mudasarlova reservoir stands at 159.03 feet against its maximum storage level is 169 feet.

Similarly, the Gambheeram reservoir’s water level is 123 feet against its maximum level of 126 feet while Gosthani’s level is 29.40 feet against its maximum level of 35 feet as on September 1 evening.

Water from the Yeleru reservoir and the Godavari river (surface flow) is supplied to the city through Visakhapatnam Industrial Water Supply Company (VIWSCO). Of the total 79 MGD of water supplied to GVMC, about 42 MGD comes from these two water sources. The next major source is Raiwada (15 MGDs), followed by Thatipudi (10 MGDs), according to a GVMC official.

Visakhapatnam recorded excess’ rainfall in the present southwest monsoon season (starting from June 1). It recorded 553.38 mm of rainfall against its average of 436.84 mm with 26.68% excess.