Groundwater level up post rain

The rain in December last year wreaked havoc on the lives of people in Chennai and neighbouring districts. But what the rains also brought about was a rise in the groundwater levels. The increase in water level in Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Cuddalore, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts, has helped ease the burden of residents living in areas that usually face water shortage. 

PWD sources said other districts have also recorded an increase in the groundwater levels despite not receiving much rainfall. The department’s observation wells have reported a noted increase in December 2015 compared to the same month in 2014. 

The ground water levels in Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram and Cuddalore districts which were 4.96 metres, 3.84 metres and 6.20 metres below ground shot up to 2.11 metres, 0.82 metres and 2.94 metres, revealing a rise of 2.85 metres, 3.02 metres and 3.26 metres respectively. Asked about this, officials said, “it means that Chennai and surrounding districts will not suffer from water shortage the coming summer.” But the highest increase was in Vellore district where ground water levels shot up from 8.29m below ground to 3.35m, an increase of 4.94m. Wells in Dharmapuri increased by 4.29m, while Tiruvannamalai revealed a rise of 4.31m. The lowest water level rise was in Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts where levels rose by mere 0.26 m and 0.08 metres respectively. 

The increase in rain affected Villupuram district was 3.93 metres shooting up from 5.66 metres below ground level to just 1.73 metres. Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts showed increases of 0.75 metres and 2.27 metres, officials stated. As the state looks up to the North East monsoon for cultivation, the main delta districts of Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam had their ground water levels rise by 1.8 m, 1.96 m and 0.50 metres respectively bringing cheer to farmers opting for well irrigation.