The city-based NGO, Siruthuli’s efforts in construction of rainwater harvesting (RWH) structures in public places across the city has helped in improving the groundwater table, says a release.
The NGO said that the district is situated in the rain-shadow region of the western ghats. Prevailing rocky earth condition of the region prevents natural percolation of rainwater into the earth.
Sensing this, the Siruthuli had intervened and conducted a geo-hydrological study in 2004 to assess the feasibility of construction of rainwater harvesting structures to enable the recharge the groundwater table with the available run-off water that flows on the streets/roads of the city. This had resulted in recommendation of construction of about 2000 RWH structures across the city.
Following the survey, the NGO took strenuous efforts to construct RWH structures such as digging borewells and other structures across the city depending on the formation of the location. It has constructed over 600 RWH structures since 2005. These structures were constructed with the cooperation of the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation, Central Ground Water Board, Rotary Clubs of Coimbatore, corporates, individuals and private enterprises.
These structures efficiently recharge run-off surface water to the underground aquifers to increase the water level and its quality. This has resulted in creating sustainable groundwater table even where there is less rainfall.
The NGO proposed two types of RWH structures – rectangular shaped perforated slabs to cover up the top surface which specifically designed for roadsides to enable normal vehicle movement and the other one is circular shaped for the open spaces and grounds.
Due to the efforts taken by the NGO, the average yield and static water level of borewells has seen significant increase with high reduction in average drilling cost of borewells, the NGO said.
