Now Reading: Visakhapatnam groundwater rises after rain but stays below 2025 level
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Visakhapatnam groundwater rises after rain but stays below 2025 level
Groundwater levels in Visakhapatnam district have improved after heavy rain but remain deeper than a year ago. The real-time district average on 29 September stood at 7.20 metres below ground level, compared with 5.91 metres on the same date in 2025, a difference of 1.29 metres. The monthly average up to 25 September was 9.88 metres, up from 11.51 metres in August, a rise of 1.63 metres.
The district received 337.6 mm of rain between 21 and 26 September from a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal. Cumulative rainfall since 1 June stood at 654.9 mm on 29 September, 15% above the normal of 571.2 mm. Monthly readings in Visakhapatnam Rural showed rises at Endada and Arilova but a 1.34-metre fall at Madhurawada.
District Groundwater Officer Kankipati Pushpa Latha said variations reflect local geography and recharge conditions. She noted that Madhurawada has extensive concrete surfaces and lacks recharge pits. She called for mandatory recharge pits or rainwater-harvesting systems in every house, with rooftop water channelled through filters to recharge structures or borewells.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The data show that even a 15% surplus monsoon has not erased the deficit from earlier years: the water table remains 1.29 metres below the September 2025 level. The fall at Madhurawada, despite heavy rain, points to the role of built-up surfaces and the absence of recharge infrastructure. District Groundwater Officer Pushpa Latha makes clear that the September reading is an instantaneous snapshot and that full infiltration may take 10 to 15 days. Her call for mandatory recharge pits in residential areas highlights a gap between policy for commercial buildings and the absence of such rules for homes.
Source: thehindu.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
