Groundwater

Study shows excessive groundwater pumping tilted Earth by 31.5 inches

Scientists say the extensive groundwater pumping is the reason behind Earth's rotational drift of 31.5 inches. The water redistribution contributes approximately 0.24 inches to global sea-level rise

Groundwater to heat over 3 degrees C by century end, risking safety: Report

Groundwater is projected to warm by 2-3.5 degrees Celsius before the turn of this century, potentially risking water quality and safety, apart from threatening ecosystems depending on the resource, a new research has found. The "world's first global groundwater temperature model" predicted the highest warming rates in Central Russia, Northern China and parts of North America, and the Amazon rainforest in South America. A team of researchers, led by those from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, said while a lot of focus on climate change concerns weather events and water availability, we also need to think about how it impacts groundwater, critical to life on the planet. Warming of groundwater can adversely impact ecosystems relying on them, they said. "Rivers rely on groundwater to keep flowing during dry times. Warm waters hold less dissolved oxygen," explained study co-author Gabriel Rau from the University of Newcastle, UK. The model also estimated that by 2100, 60

Arsenic found in groundwater in 25 states, fluoride in 27 states: Govt

Arsenic has been detected in groundwater in parts of 230 districts in 25 states and fluoride in 469 districts in 27 states, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Bishweswar Tudu informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday. In a written reply, the minister said that the ground water contamination reported by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is mostly geogenic in nature and does not show significant change over the years. The CGWB under the Ministry of Jal Shakti conducts regular monitoring and assessment of groundwater quality including ground water contamination of Arsenic and Fluoride. The board has carried out various studies in collaboration with other institutions, he said. These studies indicate the occurrence of arsenic and fluoride in ground water beyond permissible limits -- set by the Bureau of Indian Standards -- for human consumption in isolated pockets in various states and Union Territories, he said. Arsenic has been reported in parts of 230 districts in 25 states and ...

India could lose groundwater by 3 times the current rate by 2080: Study

The rate of groundwater depletion could triple by 2080, if Indian farmers continued to draw groundwater at the current rate, which could threaten the country's food and water security, according to a new study. Warming climate has compelled farmers in India to adapt by intensifying the withdrawal of groundwater used for irrigation, the study led by the University of Michigan, US, found. As a result, the reduced water availability could endanger the livelihoods of more than one-third of the country's 1.4 billion residents and thus, could have global implications, the study published in the journal Science Advances said. "This is of concern, given that India is the world's largest consumer of groundwater and is a critical resource for the regional and global food supply," said senior author Meha Jain, assistant professor at the university's School for Environment and Sustainability. The study analysed recent changes in withdrawal rates due to warming by looking at historical data on

21 states, UTs adopted groundwater legislation, govt tells Lok Sabha

Twenty-one states and Union Territories have adopted and implemented the groundwater legislation that includes provision for rainwater harvesting, the Union Jal Shakti Ministry said on Thursday. Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Bishweshwar Tudu said the ministry circulated a model bill to all the states and Union Territories to enable them to enact a suitable groundwater legislation. "So far, 21 states/Union Territories have adopted and implemented the groundwater legislation on the lines of the model bill, including West Bengal," Tudu said in a written response. The states and Union Territories where the legislation has been implemented are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chandigarh (Regulations and Bylaws), Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep and Puducherry.

Statsguru: Adequate groundwater buffers can help reduce pain of drought

India had 398 billion cubic metres of extractable groundwater resources in 2022, recharged largely by the monsoons. The usage continued to go up even after 2011, but moderated after 2013

China sourcing Tibet's groundwater, selling it in plastic bottles: Report

It is a case of Chinese entrepreneurs stealing groundwater from Tibet and selling it back to Tibetans, who previously got it for free, Tibet Rights Collective reported

NGT asks panel to take remedial action in illegal groundwater extraction

The National Green Tribunal has directed a panel to take remedial measures over alleged illegal extraction of groundwater by 536 hotels in the bustling Paharganj locality in the national capital. While hearing a petition seeking execution of the tribunal's earlier order passed in April 2021, the NGT also directed the panel to look into the legality of groundwater extraction by the hotels and similar establishments, besides their compliance with norms, including consent conditions for extraction, and groundwater availability and replenishment measures. The petition had sought an injunction against "illegal" withdrawal of groundwater by 536 hotels operating in Paharganj. A bench of chairperson Justice A K Goel said though any application which clubbed multiple causes of action was not permissible under the rules, the tribunal could exercise suo motu (on its own) jurisdiction if there are serious violations of environmental norms. The bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Sud

Groundwater charges set to be levied on non-exempted users in Punjab

Charges for extracting ground water in Punjab will be levied on all non-exempted users, including the industry, starting next month, with the state water regulation and development authority notifying directions in this regard. The new directions, however, do not cover groundwater use for agriculture, drinking and domestic purposes, said an official statement here, adding that the Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA) has notified Punjab Groundwater Extraction and Conservation Directions, 2023. The directions also exempt government water supply schemes, military and central paramilitary establishments, urban local bodies, panchayati raj institutions, cantonment boards, improvement trusts, area development authorities and places of worship, it further said. The exemption has also been provided to all users who extract groundwater less than 300 cubic metres per month, it added. All non-exempted users shall have to submit an application to the authority for seeking

High arsenic concentration in groundwater of 18 districts in Bihar: Study

High arsenic concentration has been found in groundwater in 18 districts of Bihar, as well as its correlation with incidences of gallbladder cancer at these places, according to a new study, a senior official said. People in these districts are drinking water with arsenic concentration greater than the World Health Organisation's permissible limit of 10 microgram per litre, he said. The study by experts has found that out of the 38 districts, 18 have high arsenic contamination in groundwater. The worst-affected districts are Buxar, Bhojpur and Bhagalpur. The highest arsenic contamination (1906 ug/L) in groundwater is in Buxar, Ashok Kumar Ghosh, Chairman of the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), told PTI. Now, arsenic as a possible risk factor for gallbladder cancer has been found in the study. Public health intervention in the form of removing arsenic from drinking water is the need of the hour in the endemic regions of Bihar and Assam. Tackling arsenic pollution may help

National Green Tribunal directs sealing of illegal borewells in Noida

The National Green Tribunal has directed the authorities to seal all illegal commercial borewells in Noida. The tribunal has also directed the builders or project proponents to pay interim compensation -- at least 0.5% of their project cost. The green panel was hearing a petition regarding the illegal extraction of groundwater by 40 builders in Noida. The petition alleged that the authorities concerned had failed to prevent illegal commercial extraction of groundwater, resulting in its depletion. A bench of Chairperson AK Goel said the unregulated extraction of groundwater was detrimental to the environment and violated directions of the Supreme Court. The bench, also comprising Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, said regulation on groundwater extraction was necessary for conservation and to ensure adequate replenishment. The bench noted that according to the report of a joint committee comprising the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Uttar Pradesh

India's groundwater extraction stage at 60% in 2022, says report

In 2022, around 87 per cent of the total annual ground water extracted that is around 208.49 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) was for irrigation which in 2020 was around 89 per cent

High uranium concentration in groundwater in Bihar worries authorities

The high concentration of uranium in groundwater in certain districts in Bihar has left the authorities worried

Five states extract almost 50% of groundwater, shows Govt data

Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala account for 49 per cent of the overall extraction of groundwater in the entire country

Sinking city

Danger of land subsidence is increasing in NCR

From 58% to 63%, India pumped more groundwater between 2004 and 2017

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India on Tuesday pointed out that in the period between 2004 and 2017, the stage of extraction of ground water increased from 58 per cent to 63 per cent

Nature-based, people-centred solutions for water

The second in a series of weekly articles on the new National Water Policy

Mapping groundwater sources to aid in using it for drinking: Jitendra Singh

Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said on Monday CSIR is using the latest technology to map sources of groundwater in arid regions that will help use it for drinking

NGT slams Centre over inadequate measures to prevent wastage of groundwater

"Apart from writing a letter, there has to be specific time-bound action plans and monitoring which should include coercive measures for enforcement," the bench said

Scientists identify new potential groundwater 'arsenic hotspots' in India

Scientists have found an increased probability of high arsenic levels in well waters in parts of India where previously arsenic hazard was generally not considered to be a major concern