In the city of Visakhapatnam, there has been a notable increase in water levels in both reservoirs and groundwater sources, all thanks to the abundant rainfall experienced in July. The city saw a remarkable 78.8% excess in rainfall during the current southwest monsoon season, effectively reversing the water scarcity that plagued it earlier in the year.
According to local officials, the copious rains have positively impacted the water levels in various reservoirs managed by the Visakhapatnam Industrial Water Supply Company, as well as boosting groundwater levels by 2 meters compared to the previous month. In June, the groundwater level was at 10.52 meters, but it has now risen to 8.936 meters, with the Bheemli area now reporting levels above the minimum required threshold.
Official records indicate that Visakhapatnam received 187.4 mm of rainfall in July, more than double the usual 39.5 mm. This abundance of rain has brought much-needed relief following a summer characterized by severe water shortages. During the summer months, the city struggled with a water supply deficit, providing only 193 million gallons per day (MGD) against a demand of 285 MGD, well below the required norm of 135 liters per capita per day. The peak summer period saw a bulk demand and agreement quantity of 373 MGD for the city.
K.VN Ravi, the superintending engineer for water supply at the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), confirmed the favorable impact of the recent rains, stating that almost all water resources under GVMC’s jurisdiction, including reservoirs and rivers, now exceed the minimum drawdown level due to the abundant rainfall over the past week.
Reservoirs throughout the region have also reported significant rises in water levels. For instance, the Yeleru Reservoir, a crucial water source for the city, saw its levels increase from 70.05 meters on July 5 to 79.50 meters by the end of the month. Similarly, the River Godavari, another vital water source, witnessed an increase from 14.10 meters to 16 meters during the same period. Various other reservoirs in the vicinity have experienced similar improvements in water levels.
The Thatpudi Reservoir in Vizianagaram district saw an elevation from 290.70 feet to 291.70 feet between July 5 and July 25. The Raiwada Reservoir recorded a rise from 107.90 meters to 108.50 meters, while the Meghadri Gedda Reservoir experienced a slight decrease from 18.30 feet to 18.10 feet. The Gosthani River and the Ghambeeram Gedda Reservoir maintained stable levels at 30 feet and 123 feet, respectively, while the Mudasarlova Reservoir saw a minor increase from 161.8 feet to 162 feet.
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