Ground water level in city rise by 0.80 metre due to rainwater harvesting

Chennai:

The average ground water level in the city rose by 0.80 metres due to implementation of rainwater harvesting, according to Chennai Metro Water.

A Chennai Metro Water report said that the water level below ground was 4.20 metre but after the rain water harvesting, the water level has improved to 3.20 metre deep.

The ground water levels in Tiruvotiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Thiri-Vi-Ka-Nagar, Ambattur, Anna Nagar, Teynampet, Kodambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Adyar, Perungudi and Sholinganallur improved due to water harvesting after monsoon, the report said.

The ground water level in Alandur which was 7.45 metres deep before monsoon rose to 4.80 metres due to rain water harvesting, a Metro Water report said.

Similarly, the ground water level in Perungudi which was at six metre deep rose to 4.20 below ground level.

The report also said that the groundwater quality (Total Dissolved Solids) also improved in the range of 500 to 1700 PPM.

Interestingly, this comes after the city installed eight lakh rain water harvesting structures in the city. This also comes as Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority plans to carry out rainwater harvesting audit though a network of NGOs pioneered in this field.

The biggest challenge for ground water depletion is heavy extraction of ground water. According to estimates, the city requires 1100 mld of water a day while Metro Water supplies around 830 MLD a day. As such nearly 300 mld of water is extracted from the ground.