Ernakulam is in for acute water crisis

Kochi: Even as the state government has declared all 14 districts drought-hit, many places in Ernakulam, which registered a deficiency of 40 per cent in the northeast monsoon and 24 per cent in the southwest monsoon, are heading towards acute water scarcity.

An ongoing study to assess the groundwater depletion, being conducted by the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishat (KSSP) with the technical assistance of the Cetre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) revealed that the watertable in the eastern parts of the district has dropped by 2.5 to 3 metres.

“Though it is a regional study being conducted in 10 selected wells in Mulanthuruthy panchayat, the phenomenon of watertable depletion is similar in other areas, especially in the eastern parts of the district.

The study which started in May 2013 will be concluded by February, 2017,” said Suresh A.A of KSSP.

Water samples are being taken four times a year from the selected wells. The samples are also being tested for quality. “Chemical contamination and the presence of high level e-coli have been identified,” he said.

A recent survey conducted by the SCMS Water Institute indicated that the groundwater level in the city will decline by one metre in the next 10 years.

According to Dr. Sunny George, director of the Water Institute, scanty rainfall is one of the major reasons for the drastic fall in the watertable. “But other factors like over-exploitation of groundwater have to be considered and a comparative analysis with the Groundwater Department data is also important. No agency has any data on the extent of groundwater exploitation,” he said.

Meanwhile, in view of the depleting water level, local bodies in the eastern parts from where a huge quantity of water is being transported to the city are planning to introduce curbs on water sale.