Hyderabad groundwater dips despite heavy monsoon, raising summer shortage concerns

Despite heavy monsoon rains, Hyderabad’s groundwater levels dipped by 1–3 metres in several areas, according to the Ground Water Department. Officials blame poor percolation, illegal borewells and rapid urbanisation, warning of a likely water crisis in summer if trends continue.

Hyderabad: Despite the city experiencing bountiful rains this monsoon, the Ground Water Department’s recent data report indicate a scenario of the groundwater reserves not replenishing as they should have.

Based on the comparison of September and October’s groundwater report, the groundwater table across the city saw a significant dip in certain areas such as Asif Nagar, Charminar, Saidabad, Marredpally, Khairatabad, Musheerabad, and Himayat Nagar. In these areas, the groundwater table dip is found to range between a metre to 3 metre.

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Failure of incessant heavy rains this monsoon to replenish the groundwater resource in the city highlight the need to find solutions of tapping the rain runoff and ensuring it percolates to water table. At the present trend, where the groundwater table doesn’t replenish adequately and is continued to be drawn to meet the needs of a growing city could pose a crisis during the summer months.

The city and its suburbs experienced heavy to very heavy monsoon rainfall that exceeded normal levels, causing the twin reservoirs of Osman Sagar and Himayath Sagar apart from Hussain Sagar to brim and stormwater drains to overflow causing severe inundation in residential colonies.

There was an expectation given the bountiful monsoon that groundwater percolation would provide relief in the months to come, but that did not materialise. In fact, the tanker demand supplied by the HMWSSB also saw a decrease in tanker bookings. GWD officials attribute the decline to increased extraction and reduced percolation due to indiscriminate digging of illegal borewells.

“Though, bountiful rainfall reported, it could not percolate due to concrete roads and massive construction activity across the city and suburbs,” analysed a senior GWD official.

Environmentalists point out that the situation highlights the need for sustainable practices to ensure the long-term availability of water resources. The HMWSSB, GHMC, HMDA, and allied wings are encouraged to implement stricter rainwater harvesting measures and promote recharge pits to address the issue.

Groundwater table (metres below to ground level) recorded in September & October:
Area October September

Asifnagar 3.44 2.00

Bandlaguda 4.56 2.46

Bahadurpura 6.25 6.02

Charminar 5.52 4.62

Musheerabad 3.10 1.80

Ameerpet 7.55 5.25

Khairatabad 3.59 2.55

Marredpally 5.62 5.00

Musheerabad 3.80 2.59

Tirumalagiri 4.29 2.76

(Source: Ground Water Department, Hyderabad District)