High rainfall, yet 40% of the wells depict decline in groundwater

Team Udayavani, Jul 20, 2018, 10:48 AM IST

In the span of a month, water has declined in more than 50% of the wells; the solution, water percolation pits.

A decline of water level by half-a-meter has been witnessed at wells in Kayyur Cheemeni, Badiyadka, Bandadadka, Kuttikkol, Delampady, Karadka, Kanhangad, Neeleshwar, Kumbanje, Trakkaripura, Mooliyar, Chengala, Paivalike, Puttige, Yenmakaje, Manjeshwara, Mangalpady, Varkady and other panchayats. Meanwhile, the water level in 40 wells at Kodom-Cheluru, West Yeleri, East Yelari and other panchayats has increased by up to 2 meters.

Kasaragod: Though there is enough rainfall, the groundwater level has declined in close to 40% wells in the district. But, at some places, the same water level has increased by up to two meters.

It is understood that the fall in water levels in close to 40% of the wells in the district is due to the research done on 66 wells in the district by the district groundwater department. Though there were heavy rains from June 10^th to July 10^th, the water level in the well has declined by almost half, in a span of one month. At the same time, water level has increased to more than expectation in up to 60% of the other wells. In 26 observation wells, the water level has declined by half-a-meter while, in four wells the water level has declined by up to 2 meters.

The groundwater department officials explain that according to the calculations, though there was a flood, the amount of water getting absorbed into the ground is quite less. It has been observed at observational wells in Cheemeni, Delampady, Chengala and Kinanuru-Karimdalam panchayats, that though there was heavy rain, the water level in the wells has declined, they informed.

In the month of June, the total rainfall was measured at 1,142.37mm. In comparison to last year’s rainfall, the amount of rainfall this year is more. Yet, of all the wells in the district, the rainfall has not helped in increasing the water level in almost half of the wells. The water from the downpour simply flows away through the water drains and gutters. It is being supposed that once the monsoon season is over, water problems will arise.

Only flowing water and no absorption is the reason

Water percolation pits must be created for the water to drain down into the ground. In this way, the water drains down into the ground and increases the water in groundwater table. Due to the change in farming methods and the rise in buildings due to urbanization, rain water is not getting drained into the ground but instead, just flowing away, explain the experts from the groundwater department.