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Is Chennai Tap Water Safe To Drink?

Do not Drink :(

LAST UPDATED: 11:41 am, May 31, 2021
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Can You Drink Tap Water in Chennai?

No, tap water is not drinkable.

Tap Safe includes data from many publicly available sources, including the WHO (World Health Organization), CDC (Center for Disease Control), and user submitted databases, but unfortunately there's not enough data about Chennai.

To see user submitted ratings of the water quality for India, see the "User Submitted Ratings" box on this page.

The tap water from Chennai, India, is certainly not safe to consume. Back in Chennai, all 10 samples collapsed in nine parameters, such as turbidity, odor, total hardness, chloride, fluoride, Ammonia, Boron, and Coliform. In contrast, all nine samples in Kolkata failed in ten grade parameters, the analysis revealed.

There were also complaints of mixing of water lines and spotting of live red worms in tap water.

People don’t drink straight from the tap, they boiled the water before consuming. And most households in India use purifiers or water filter. The government recommends not drinking any water.

Chennai Tap Water

Chennai is one of the most visited tourist destinations globally, with tourists from all over the world flying in to experience the blissful and scenic beauty of this beautiful city. This beautiful natural paradise was found on the bay of Chennai on the east coast of India. The region is endowed with spectacular natural beauty, lovely beaches, breathtaking backwaters, beautiful temples, and other historical monuments. The beautiful natural surroundings are full of lush green forests, hills, waterfalls, and exotic wildlife.

Regular tap water in Chennai has a very foul taste, but if you are traveling to this exotic paradise, it will be worth investing in bottles of pure water or filtered water. When you travel to India, there are many options available as water purification methods, especially in places like Chennai, where the water supply is not always safe. Many hotels and restaurants provide drinking water purified with the help of ultra-violet light to make it safe and clean. Even though the treatment method may seem a little expensive compared to homemade remedies, it is worth it.

If you plan a trip to Chennai, water will be the first thing you need to consider as it provides several essential nutrients like minerals and vitamins. It also plays a significant role in digestion and the metabolism of the body. Water from the natural lakes in Chennai has been recognized for its medicinal properties for centuries. These natural lakes are very clean and safe to drink, and have no side effects. Chennai is the ideal place to visit if you are looking for the best and affordable health facilities and services. There are many doctors and clinics in Chennai that can cater to your health needs and provide affordable treatment.

Chennai Drinking Water

Chennai is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, and it is located on the left bank of Chennai bay. This is also the most significant harbor globally with its wide range of commercial, residential, and recreational activities. Chennai is served by two main water pipes — the Chennai Harbor Freight and Chennai drainage system. The City of Chennai has an efficient and highly functional water system in place, and it supplies clean drinking water to all the citizens of Chennai. The city has many hotels and eateries that serve mouth-watering food.

The Chennai drinking water supply is insufficient, but you should keep in mind that you should have a safe storage tank for your drinking needs. Chennai has many lakes and ponds filled with water, and these lakes and ponds do not have any treatment plants with them. The drinking water in these lakes and ponds is not fit for consumption. So, it would be best if you made sure that these lakes and ponds are cleaned regularly. You can help the municipal Corporation in this regard by requesting them to take action against polluting these lakes and ponds.

There are many safe storage options available, but they are not very common. You may have a secure storage tank, or you may go for a bottle dispenser that has a storage tank in it. A safe storage tank helps you save the bottle of drinking water for a longer time, and thus you do not have to go through the hassles of boiling water and storing it. Many people are now taking care of their health by using these bottle dispensers and are pleased with this.

Chennai Water Crisis

The 2021 Chennai water crisis is a significant water scarcity situation in India, especially in the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu state. On 9 June, Chennai city water authority officials announced, “Day zero,” or the first day that no more water was available, was reached, after all the four major reservoirs in Chennai had all run dry. Chennai is the capital and biggest city of Tamil Nadu state and the southern region of India’s chief port. The last year’s record rainfall was the worst in over a hundred years. Chennai, the heart of India’s South Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, was also hit hard by the worst rainfall in over 100 years.

Chennai has not fully absorbed the rainfall and needs constant attention to keep its reservoirs replenished. The Southern most of the state of Tamilnadu is receiving only more petite than its total share of rainfall. The worst affected areas are Chennai suburbs and the Northernmost districts of Andhra Pradesh state. Chennai has not received any new water supply since the declaration of the shortage. Even the new supply ships dredging the lakes around Chennai have not increased the water supply to Chennai to what it needs.

Chennai is severely affecting the state’s fisheries, especially those in Andhra Pradesh, as low levels of water in the dams have meant less than adequate production of fish. This has led to severe fluctuations in the fishing industry as the cost of seafood has been steadily increasing. The price of seafood in Chennai has become so high that small fishing-oriented businesses are unable to survive. Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh governments have promised to replenish the supplies, but this may take some time, given the current conditions.

Chennai Piped Water

If you are looking for good quality water, Chennai Piped Water is the best place to go for. Chennai is one of the most beautiful cities and the most developed cities in India today. There is no doubt that the water supply in Chennai is the best in the country. The main water supply comes from the Chennai Central Water Commission (occasionally from the Chennai Thermal Power Project)

Chennai has the distinction of having a wholly mapped out coastline, the reason being that the city was found on the bay of the Arabian Sea and hence the name Chennai. Chennai has many historical sites and places like Kamarajaraman, Alagar Fort, Nayak Palace, Fort St George, Koodal Azhagar, Fort Cochin, and even the ruins of the Lumbini Mosque. It is one of the oldest cities in the world and one of the best-preserved ones.

It has two primary water supply plants, and each one is independently run. The head office of Chennai Piped Water Corporation is located at Chennai Central Waterfront, while the plants at Alagar Water Treatment Plant are located at Alagar Fort. Both the head offices have their technicians to serve any help to the clients. They control all the water supply processes, and they also install the latest systems like reverse osmosis.

Chennai Water Tankers

Chennai water tankers are the best ways to transport water from the city to different places, be it to homes or businesses. With water tankers, people can move water to and fro without the hassle of having a large and bulky water carrier at their disposal. There are so many advantages of using water tankers, which make them so popular with everyone irrespective of their need of transporting water from one place to another. Let us see some of the key benefits associated with water tankers.

Apart from being one of the cheapest means of moving water from one place to another, Chennai water tankers are also environmentally friendly. This is why Chennai water tankers have been approved by the Green Tribunal, an environmental watchdog body. The owners of such water carriers do not have to worry about the cost of purchasing and storing water as they can siphon water from a nearby reservoir. Some water tankers also come with self-cleaning features so that they can be easily maintained. This reduces the need for people to hire cleaning teams to keep the vessel clean after each use.

In a nutshell, all you need to do is fill up the container with water and then move it wherever you want. It is that simple and hassle-free! And when you go out to buy water tankers for your home or office, there are several different models available in the market, all of which boast various technological features that make them perfect for multiple applications. Some of the latest models come with advanced features like temperature control so that water inside the container does not become too hot or cold. Another advantage that the latest water tanks offer is the ability to reduce water loss. So, you can keep more water in the container and thus save money on your water bill.

Source of Water in Chennai, India

The current water supply from Chennai, India, originates from surface water and groundwater.

The present source of surface water is natural rainwater saved in three interlinked lakes: Pundi, Cholawaram, and Red Hills (see fig. 4.5). But, all three lakes are shallow and small in power. The whole water acquired from this system is approximately 250 million liters every day(mld).

The catchment area is agricultural so that, in years of rain, the inflow into the reservoirs reduces substantially since irrigation tanks, lakes, along with upstream diversion, have called on the available stream.

About 50 mld is extracted in well areas. Although groundwater makes a substantial contribution (equivalent to industrial requirements in the area), there are specific issues with aquifers that are shallow and have limited funds. As a result of the significant manipulation of groundwater, some delicate areas have experienced seawater intrusion. As a result, water from almost 40% of the wells is not of potable quality. Additionally, a significant recharge area from town is now covered by urban settlements, leading to a decrease in groundwater because of low groundwater recharge. There has to be a test on these agreements.

Other links:

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While in Chennai it is advisable to drink only bottled water. Do not trust water from small local restaurants as it may be from the tap, and avoid cold or iced drinks that are not commercially sold (Bigger chains of eateries and juice shops can be trusted to an extent). Eating fresh vegetables and fruits that have sat outside in the presence of insects can also be unhealthy, although bananas and coconuts are usually safe because they are opened only immediately before eating. Hot drinks in restaurants such as tea, coffee, and other local specialties are safe, as are packaged/bottled drinks such as Aquafina water, Frooti (a popular local mango drink) and others. If you have access to a stove, boiling tap water before drinking is also an option. Never eat from roadside shops as the food is prepared in the most unhygienic conditions.

Is Chennai Tap Water Safe To Drink? Tap water & safety quality

The estimated price of bottled water

$0.41 in USD (1.5-liter)

USER SUBMITTED RATINGS

Chennai tap water
  • Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 60% High
  • Water Pollution 73% High
  • Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 40% Moderate
  • Water Quality 27% Low

The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Chennai, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).

Related FAQS

Reminder

Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.

Sources and Resources

Current Weather in Chennai

CHENNAI WEATHER

Some of the Convenience Stores in Chennai

Shell Select Chennai
  • In & Out
  • Shell Select
  • Amma Naana Supermarket
  • HERO FANCY PALACE
  • Velayutham Stores
  • Save 'n' Joy Supermarket
  • Valaiguru Store
  • Star Mart
  • NEW SHANKAR
  • Murugan
  • Freshco
  • Moon Mart
  • More Supermarket

Estimated Price of Bottled Water

VolumeUSDEURGBPINR
1.5 liter$0.41€0.38£0.3331.17
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