With the onset of South West Monsoon in Coimbatore, there is expectation that the rains will help improve groundwater, just as it did last year.
The average increase in water level in the district during last year (May 2018 to May 2019) has been around 3.37 metre below ground level (MBGL), say sources in the ground water division of the Public Works Department.
The maximum increase in water level in the district was recorded in Sarkar Samakulam Block, where the water table went up from 22.87 to 10.55 MBGL. Madukkarai Block saw the next big increase from 15.50 to 10.27 MBGL. The minimum increase of 0.2 MBGL was recorded in Valparai Block.
Even parts of the Coimbatore city saw an increase in water table in the last one year – Town Hall from 10.12 to 9.80 MBGL, Uppilipalayam from 13.82 to 12 MBGL, Ganapathy from 8.20 to 8.10 MGBL and Rathinapuri from 13.80 to 11.50 MGBL.
The only place where the water table went down was in Saravanampatti - from 22 to 24.75 MGBL.
This has largely to do with the excessive SW Monsoon rainfall the district received in 2018. As against the 50-year average of 210 mm, Coimbatore had received 303.5 mm. September 2018 saw the highest rainfall among the four SW Monsoon – 115.7 mm against the average 68 mm.
The impact of the Monsoon saw the water table go up significantly in September 2018 in several places in the district. Following a good North East Monsoon too, the water table went up further.
But in the last five months, since the end of the North East Monsoon season, the water table has slipped but not reached the 2018 levels.
Environment activists say that for the water table to improve, the Public Works Department or the Coimbatore Corporation should dredge tanks and clean canals, as suggested even by the Central Ground Water Board, which has said that desilting of existing ponds will be the most cost-effective measure to improve water table.
Water conservation expert K. Mylswami says the Corporation should also look at rejuvenating the 350-plus rainwater harvesting structures across the city. The move will recharge aquifers and improve water table.
As for the members of the public, they can look at harvesting run-off and rain water falling on the terrace.
