VMC’s recharge wells plan may prove futile: GES study

Vadodara: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) is mulling to promote groundwater recharge through recharge wells in residential societies across the city. But the entire exercise may turn out to be futile in the long run.
But a hydrogeology study done by city-based Gujarat Ecology Society (GES) suggests that the city needs more wetlands and water bodies to maintain the water table rather than artificial recharge.
The civic body has planned to promote groundwater recharge by building recharge wells in residential societies. While the VMC has proposed to bear the majority of the expenses, the resident welfare associations will have to shell out nearly a quarter of the total expenditure.
The study done by an intern of GES Nirav Dhadankar under the guidance of Dr Jayendra Lakhmapurkar shows that the groundwater in Vadodara city does not have lateral movement as the bedrock is flat.
There are three layers of aquifers and most of the water through tube wells is drawn from the second layer which is the biggest aquifer. An aquifer is a body of rock or sediment that holds groundwater.
“If we observe the aquifer along the Vishwamitri river originating from the base of Pavagadh hill, there is a lateral movement till Vadodara city and further after Vadodara city until the river merges with Dhadhar River,” said Lakhmapurkar. “Since there is no lateral movement in Vadodara city, the water recharged through tube wells overflows,” he added.
Researchers suggest that more groundwater bodies and more wetlands with connections for slow percolation of water should be developed instead of recharge wells.
The city has already lost 40 hectares of wetlands since 2005. “Another problem with recharge wells in the city is that they may need regular maintenance as dirt and other particles may get accumulated,” Lakhmapurkar said.
The researchers also raised concerns about the industrialization and concrete developments around the origin of Vishwamitri River. “Due to industrialization and urbanization in Halol, Jarod and Savli, there are high possibilities of groundwater contamination which will affect Vadodara city directly in future,” Lakhmapurkar said.
“Villages near Mahisagar river are complaining about contaminated groundwater due to pollution caused by industries in Nandesari. A similar situation may arise in Vadodara too,” said Dr Deepa Gavali, director of GES. The contaminated groundwater can have several health hazards as neither RO system nor boiling water can purify it.