Chennai records dip in groundwater level – Times of India

CHENNAI: Most parts of the city recorded a dip in the groudnwater level in June compared to May.
With the exception of Tiruvottiyur and Royapuram, all other zones recorded a drop. Madhavaram reported the maximum drop of about 0.83m in June.

Metrowater makes note of the water levels every day using digital groundwater level recorders.
An official said the level at Tiruvottiyur and Royapuram could have remained at the same level as the recorders are placed close to the beach and hence the level is usually good in these areas. If one goes further west in the same localities, one has to dig deeper for groundwater.
In areas such as Ambattur, which has clayey soil, followed by sand and shale, resident should draw water from shallow aquifers during monsoon months and from deeper aquifiers during the summer. This will ensure that locals get groundwater supply through the year and also help in recharging the groundwater table, the official said.
Hydrogeologist J Saravanan said the city’s groundwater table is in good position.
“I used to get calls every May and June for digging new borewells, in case the old ones had dried up. But this year so far, I have not receieved many calls in this regard,” he said.
Recently in Pallavaram, his team dug a bore well and found that water was available at a depth of just 40ft. In most residential localities, existing bore wells continue to yield water. This clearly showed that depletion of groundwater table is very marginal in most parts of the city, he added.