Chennai Metro Water supplied 1,245.97 million litres a day (MLD) on 2 September 2026, of which 1,160 MLD went to homes, according to figures reported by DT Next. That is roughly 20% more than the “nearly 1,040 MLD” the Board described in its 2023-24 annual performance report, against an estimated demand of 1,400 MLD.
The gap between what the city needs and what the pipes deliver has narrowed, but it has not closed, and Chennai still has no river that flows all year. Here is where the water comes from, how much reaches each person, and the numbers that are still missing from the public record.
Supply and demand, in official figures
| Measure | Figure | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Daily supply (CMWSSB report) | Nearly 1,040 MLD | 2023-24 |
| Estimated present demand | 1,400 MLD | 2023-24 |
| Treatment capacity, all sources | 1,510 MLD | 2023-24 |
| Daily supply | 1,230 MLD | July 2026 |
| Daily supply (of which domestic) | 1,245.97 MLD (1,160 MLD) | 2 September 2026 |
| Water connections | 7,70,292 | December 2023 |
| Metered connections | 24,095 (3.12%) | December 2023 |
The 2023-24 figures come from the CMWSSB Annual Performance Report. The July 2026 figure was given when the Chief Minister reviewed desalination works, DT Next reported. The report says plainly that the city has no perennial water source, which is why storage, desalination and groundwater all matter.
Where the water comes from
On 2 September 2026 the supply mix, as reported from CMWSSB data, was:
- Surface water (lakes and Veeranam): 1,035 MLD
- Desalination: 154 MLD
- Groundwater: 27 MLD
- Quarry water: 19 MLD
Those parts add up to about 1,235 MLD, a little under the stated total. Surface water supplied more than four-fifths of the day’s water, which is why the city watches lake levels so closely.
Desalination’s share swings with plant maintenance. The two Nemmeli plants have a combined capacity of 260 MLD, and the 100 MLD Minjur plant has been under renovation. A 400 MLD plant at Perur, estimated at ₹5,814.57 crore, is under construction with a 59 km pipeline to Porur and is expected to be commissioned in October 2027.
What the lakes hold right now
On 3 October 2026, the city’s supply reservoirs held 4,976 million cubic feet (mcft), about 38% of their combined capacity, Deccan Chronicle reported:
| Reservoir | Capacity (mcft) | Storage, 3 Oct 2026 (mcft) |
|---|---|---|
| Chembarambakkam | 3,645 | 1,305 |
| Puzhal | 3,300 | 1,856 |
| Poondi | 3,231 | 946 |
| Sholavaram | 1,081 | 134 |
| Kannankottai Thervoy Kandigai | 500 | 260 |
| Veeranam | 1,465 | 475 |
The northeast monsoon, which set in on 15 October, is expected to refill them. The state has also asked Andhra Pradesh for additional Krishna water.
How much each resident gets
No official per-person figure for 2026 was found. In a 2024 interview with Citizen Matters, Metro Water’s managing director said normal supply was 110 litres per person per day against a metropolitan standard of 135 litres, for about 80 lakh residents.
A rough check: 1,160 MLD of domestic supply divided by 80 lakh people gives about 145 litres a head. That is simple arithmetic, not an official figure, and it ignores leakage and uneven distribution. Households at the tail end of the network, in parts of the added areas, often get far less, and many still rely on tankers or borewells.
Who is connected
Of the 7,70,292 connections in December 2023, the Board’s report counts 6,70,652 domestic connections, 54,140 partly commercial and 21,402 commercial or institutional among the unmetered group, plus 24,095 metered connections. Wastewater is the other half of the system: the report gives an installed sewage treatment capacity of 899.80 MLD in the core city, though another section of the same report gives 727 MLD across four plants, so treat both as approximate.
The numbers still missing
Two figures that would tell residents most about efficiency are not in the Board’s public report. Non-revenue water, the share lost to leaks, theft and unbilled use, is not stated. Hours of supply per day are given only as a target for new connections, not as a city-wide measure. With just 3% of connections metered in December 2023, actual household use is largely estimated. The Board’s policy aims to meter all commercial and high-rise connections and most smaller homes by 2027.
The ₹3,108 crore Ring Main System, whose foundation was laid at Sholinganallur on 14 October 2026, is meant to let Metro Water move water between sources and zones, so that an outage at one plant does not leave a whole area dry.
Quick answers
How much water does Chennai get daily?
About 1,246 MLD on 2 September 2026, with 1,160 MLD going to homes.
What is Chennai’s water demand?
CMWSSB estimated present demand at 1,400 MLD in its 2023-24 report.
How much comes from desalination?
154 MLD on 2 September 2026, about an eighth of supply. Capacity will rise when Perur opens.
Are Chennai homes metered?
Very few. 24,095 of 7,70,292 connections were metered in December 2023.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- CMWSSB Annual Performance Report 2023-24 (Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board)
- New desal plant to reduce Chennai’s dependence on monsoon (DT Next, September 2026)
- CM Vijay reviews Perur plant works, Nemmeli plant (DT Next, July 2026)
- Chennai looks to NE monsoon as lakes drying up fast (Deccan Chronicle, 3 October 2026)
- Desalination plants will bridge Chennai’s water demand-supply gap: CMWSSB MD (Citizen Matters, May 2024)
