Chembarambakkam Lake


Chembarambakkam lake is a lake located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, about 25 km from Chennai. It is one of the two rain-fed reservoirs from where water is drawn for supply to Chennai City, the other one being the Puzhal Lake. The Adyar River originates from this lake. A part of water supply of the metropolis of Chennai is drawn from this lake.
During Chennai's water crisis of 2019, Chembarambakkam Lake dried up.

The lake

Chembarambakkam lake was known as Puliyur Kottam. It is one of the 24 kottams that existed even during the later Chola period in Thondai Mandalam which had Kanchipuram as its headquarters.
However, acute sedimentation has eaten more than 40% of its water holding strength. There is an ancient Shiva temple and Kanni Koil located here.

Pipelines

There are two pipelines existing from the lake's water treatment plant. The existing pipeline on Poonamallee Bypass Road has the capacity to convey only half of the 530 million litres that can be treated at the plant. In 2012, Chennai Metrowater started evaluating the feasibility of laying a third pipeline with a diameter of about 2,000 mm from the Chembarambakkam water treatment plant at a cost of 650million, which will run parallel to the existing one for over 6.5 km.

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