Originally, Red Hills was a small tank with a capacity of 500 Mcft. To support the city’s water supply and irrigation needs, the tank’s capacity was increased by raising the bund between 1866 and 1876. The capacity was further increased by raising the Full Tank Level (FTL) between 1969 and 1972. This tank has become a major source of water supply for Chennai, serving as the first terminal tank in the city’s water supply augmentation system.
Under the Krishna Water Supply Project, Krishna water flows into Red Hills Tank from Poondi Tank via a feeder canal. A baby canal also feeds Red Hills Tank from Poondi Reservoir through Cholavaram Tank. To store Krishna water, the capacity of Red Hills Tank was expanded to 3300 Mcft, with a water depth of 21.20 feet. The tank supplies water through conduits and meets the needs of Chennai city after treatment at the Kilpauk and Puzhal water treatment plants. It remains a key component in the city’s water supply infrastructure.
