THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the heat has intensified and the summer rains have dwindled to nothing, the water level in many water reservoirs in the state has drastically reduced. If the summer rains do not arrive, a situation including drinking water shortage will ensue. The situation at Peppara Dam in Thiruvananthapuram district is concerning. Currently, only 78 days worth of water remains in the dam.

The supply of drinking water to the capital city is facilitated by transferring water from Peppara Dam to Aruvikkara Dam for purification. Therefore, if the summer rains do not intensify, the water supply will face a crisis by mid-June. Peppara Dam has permission to store 107.5 meters of water. As of April 6, the water level in the dam is at 102 meters. During summer, the water level typically drops by 5 to 7 cm per day.

The water level in Peppara has been decreasing since March. 3,60,375 million liters of water are pumped from Peppara to the stream for city use. Estimates suggest that this water serves around 12 lakh city dwellers daily. If the summer heat intensifies, the water level may drop by up to 10 cm per day. Drought conditions are severe in the catchment area of Peppara Dam.

The maximum storage capacity of Peppara Dam within the limits of Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is 110.5 meters. The forest and wildlife department has granted permission to the water authority to store water up to 107.5 meters only. It is concerning that without summer rain, water cannot be transferred from here to the stream bank. In 2017, water supply to the city was disrupted due to the drying up of Peppara Dam caused by delayed summer rains and monsoon.