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25 years water guaranteed if bore wells are recharged

Udupi: Karavali receives 4,000 mm of rains every year and it is vital that this water is used to recharge the bore wells, asserted rain water harvesting expert Dr N G Devraj Reddy, who spoke with Udayavani after participating at the absorbing water into bore wells programme at Karje in Hosuru.

What is the need for recharge?

If the existing water resources are conserved, there will no need for bore wells in the district. Already, more than 60 bore wells in Udupi district have been recharged, he said.

How to recharge?

Casing pipe with 180 perforations must be used to an 8 feet wide 10 feet recharge pit. Aqua Med, nylon and sand filter is wrapped around the casing pipe. Big stones must be filled to 5 feet, followed by 40 mm gravel to 2 feet, followed by 20 mm of gravel for another 1 foot. Upon this, powdered stone must be laid. Then the rain water (water from the clouds as well as water flowing on the ground) must be directly filled into the recharge percolation pit. Only Rs 500-1,000 is enough to directly send the water from the roof to the pit.

How many types?

The underground water table will increase within 1 km radius of the recharge pit. There are 15 types of examples for this. It will cost Rs 20-40,000. Once a recharge pit is created, it can be used for 25 years.

Chitradurga first

Chitradurga district comes first in recharging bore wells through water percolation pits. 5,000 bore wells were given a rebirth in 2015 through Employment Guarantee Scheme. People have found success through the rain water percolation pits in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Gujarat.

How to conserve?

There are lakhs of springs in undivided DK. Along with its conservation; work should be done in growing forest and planting traditional plants. Sources of spring must be increased. 25% of land in a private property must be reserved for greenery. The water used once in the house must be made to be used for the third time. Example, water used for bathing and washing clothes can be used for plants and washing vehicles.

1 crore liters of water in 1 acre of land!

“In one year 1 crore liters of water falls on 1 acre of land in Udupi. Only 10% of this water is retained, 90% goes to waste,” points out Dr N G Devraj Reddy, Rainwater Harvesting Expert