Groundwater level rises by 3 mts after spell of rainfall

Chennai: The brief spell of rainfall in Tamil Nadu, in addition to replenishing the reservoirs and water bodies in the state, has considerably increased the groundwater levels. According to a statement from Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD), the groundwater table across the state has risen by an average of three meters.

The average water level which was 17.5 m below the ground level in May is now at 14.5 m, said TWAD Managing Director C.N. Maheswaran in the press release. Further, the water table across state is being monitored through 1286 wells with the water level being measured and documented twice a year, before and after southwest and northeast monsoons respectively, stated the release.

Out of the districts, Vellore witnessed the highest increase in the groundwater level. The groundwater level now stands at 9.3 m below the ground as against  21.3 m in May. Krishnagiri recorded the lowest increase, by 0.7 m, said, officials.

In the summer months of 2019, the city witnessed one of the worst droughts in its history.  A study conducted during the time had revealed that the city’s water table had gone down by an average of 8 meters. The water levels in Chennai’s four main reservoirs were also recorded at their lowest in seven decades, with the water volume in the four reservoirs cumulatively adding only up to just 1.3% of the total capacity.

To tackle the crisis, the Tamil Nadu government had mandated rainwater harvesting in all houses. As part of this, the TWAD has till now created 12, 568 rainwater harvesting structures to recharge the groundwater table, said the release.

Meanwhile, the combined water level of the Chennai’s four main reservoirs- Poondi, Cholavaram, Red Hills and Chembarabakkam stands at 3131m mc ft as of Thursday. The total capacity of the four reservoirs put together is 11257 mc ft.