CleanupBot at 06:36, 22 March 2026

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{{Short description|Lake in Kancheepuram District, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Chembarambakkam Lake
| native_name ={{native name|ta|செம்பரம்பாக்கம் ஏரி}}
| image = File:East Chembarambakkam Lake SE Aerial Jul25 A7CR 06036.jpg
| caption = Aerial view of the lake from the southeast
| alt = Aerial view of the lake from the southeast
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = [[Kancheepuram district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[South India]]
| pushpin_map = Tamil Nadu
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of the lake within Tamil Nadu
| coords = {{Coord|13.01158|N|80.06063|E|type:waterbody_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| type = [[Reservoir]]
| inflow =
| outflow = [[Adyar River]]
| catchment =
| basin_countries = India
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|3800|acre|km2}}
| depth =
| max-depth =
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation =
| islands =
| cities = Chennai
}}

'''Chembarambakkam Lake''' is located in [[Kancheepuram district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India, about {{Convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Chennai. It is the biggest of the two important rain-fed reservoirs, the other one being the [[Puzhal Lake]], that supply drinking water to Chennai city . The [[Adyar River]] originates from this lake. A part of drinking water supply to Chennai metropolis is drawn from this lake. This was the first [[artificial lake]] built by [[Rajendra Chola I]], the son of [[Rajaraja Chola]], and Thiripuvana Madeviyar, prince of [[Kodumbalur]].

During [[2019 Chennai water crisis|Chennai's water crisis of 2019]], Chembarambakkam Lake dried up.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/chennai-news/despite-searing-heat-piped-water-supply-cut-by-40-per-cent-in-chennai-2055480|title=Water Crisis In Chennai, Desperate Locals Pay Double For Private Supply: 10 Points|website=NDTV.com|access-date=2019-06-19}}</ref>

==The lake==
Chembarambakkam lake was known as Puliyur Kottam. It is one of the 24 {{lang|ta-Latn|kottams}} (villages) that existed even during the later [[Chola]] period in Thondai Mandalam which had [[Kanchipuram]] as its headquarters. The lake was built by [[Rajendra Chola]], the son of [[Rajaraja Chola]].<ref>{{cite news
| last = J
| first = Mohan
| title = A lifeline that ravaged Chennai
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| date = 9 December 2015
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chembarambakkam-a-lifeline-that-ravaged-chennai/article7964069.ece
| access-date = 9 December 2015}}</ref>

The full tank level is {{Convert|85.40|ft|m|2|abbr=on}}. The full capacity of the lake is 3,645 million cubic ft (3.64 Tmc ft)(103215 million liters)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Live storage, water levels and rainfall data for Chennai Lakes |url=https://numerical.co.in/numerons/collection/5e127ba3545c9d1c18f23221 |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=numerical.co.in}}</ref>.However, acute sedimentation has eroded more than 40% of its water holding capacity.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Kotteeswaran
| first = C.S.
| title = Water, water... not many lakes to store
| newspaper = Deccan Chronicle
| location = Chennai
| url = http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/water-water-not-many-lakes-store-787
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111205034318/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/water-water-not-many-lakes-store-787
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 5 December 2011
| access-date = 2 Dec 2011}}</ref> There is an ancient [[Shiva]] temple and Kanni Koil located here.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

==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&nbsp;mm from the Chembarambakkam water treatment plant at a cost of {{INR}} 650 million, which will run parallel to the existing one for over 6.5&nbsp;km.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-01-28 |title=Metrowater moots a third pipeline |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/metrowater-moots-a-third-pipeline/article2840616.ece |access-date=2024-05-13 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Chembarambakkam tank.jpg|Chembarambakkam tank, drinking water provider of Chennai
File:16-lock view of chembarambakkam tank.jpg|16-lock view of Chembarambakkam tank
File:Main 5-lock view of chembarambakkam tank.jpg|Main 5-lock view of Chembarambakkam tank
File:Water gushing out of tank when water released during the sep-oct of 2011.jpg|Water gushing out of tank when water was released during Sep-Oct of 2011
File:Water gushing out of tank when water released during 2011.jpg|Water gushing out of tank when water was released during 2011
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|India}}
* [[Puzhal lake]]
* [[Water management in Chennai]]
* [[Birding in Chennai]]

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{reflist}}

{{Chennai Topics}}
{{Hydrography of Chennai}}
{{Hydrography of Tamil Nadu}}

[[Category:Lakes of Chennai]]
[[Category:Reservoirs in Tamil Nadu]]

{{Chennai-geo-stub}}

Chembarambakkam Lake - Revision history

CleanupBot at 06:36, 22 March 2026