Groundwater level highest in 10 years

HYDERABAD: The State’s water table has registered the highest ever rise in the last 10 years, thanks to the copious rainfall this season and the consistent good monsoon during the last four years.

The replenished water table is good news for the State as ground water meets nearly 50 per cent of the irrigation requirement and about 80 per cent of domestic supply including the Rural Water Supply schemes.
Initial jitters

Though the delayed monsoon caused jitters initially, the State has received 8 per cent more than the normal rainfall till August-end.

This surplus rainfall, coupled with good monsoon in the previous year, has translated into significant rise in groundwater levels with the State average ‘Depth to groundwater levels’ peaking to 7.88 metres till August 2008. It went up by 1.71 m over last year’s 9.59 m, according to the data generated by 1,017 Piezo Meters of the Groundwater Department that monitor the groundwater table.
Previous best average

The previous best average of 9.06 metres was recorded in August 1998.

However, the State experienced successive drought from 2002 onwards and the water table plummeted to 12.46 metres in the water year 2004-05.

The 20 per cent excess rainfall during 2005-06, turned the tide for the State and the build up of water table began, resulting in the best level of 7.88 metres as against August 2007 level of 9.59 metres, said Director, Ground Water, B.M. Muralikrishna Rao.
Groundwater levels

The groundwater table in every region, including the drought prone Rayalaseema, showed significant improvement.

Coastal Andhra recording the best rise with a water table depth of 6.2 metres against 6.51 m in the corresponding period of 2007, Telangana 7.77 m (10.76 m) and in Rayalaseema 11.93 m (13.92 m) of last year.

In terms of feet, the average water table rose across the State by 5 ft, considered to be a good position.

While the Twin Cities recorded a depth level of 5.16 m this August (6.53 m last year), RR district’s recorded 8.52 m up from depth of 13.34 m.