Evolving water self-reliance through surface and groundwater sharing and management

forwater — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 06:31:06 +0000

Evolving water self-reliance through surface and groundwater sharing and management forwater Tue, 01/03/2023 - 12:01

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Groundwater overexploitation is a significant problem in many parts of India, especially in groundwater dependent dry land regions such as Maharashtra. However, villages with unexplored groundwater resources often fall within the “dark zones” categorization and therefore are not allowed to access their water resources. In this project, two partners collaborated to help create access to groundwater resources and ensure sustainable management in one such village in Pune district.

ACWADAM, with its understanding of geohydrology, demystified the concept of managing groundwater through systematic field research. This was followed by defining a set of groundwater management protocols based on the characteristics of the aquifer. This exercise also demonstrated that different management methods need to be evolved, as aquifer boundaries differ from administrative boundaries.

GGP, is an organization that has more than three decades of experience. It pioneered the Pani Panchayat model through which GGP motivated the people of the village to collaborate to harness their water resources for common good. GGP used ACWADAM’s scientific understanding and helped the villagers access groundwater in a sustainable manner. The project illustrated the potential of participatory watershed management to address water security issues. Measures such as optimum usage of pumps, modified cropping pattern which could match water availability and raise productivity etc. were adopted.

Findings from this project have the potential to influence small scale appropriate approaches to groundwater/aquifer management techniques in rural areas.

Outputs

ACWADAM conducted extensive geo-hydrological studies,over a period of 6 months, on existing water sources, rainfall patterns, water quality and other features. It was established that though in a dark zone, the groundwater in the project villages was untapped.
The Pani Panchayat model was adopted – sustainable methods of water utilization with priority to drinking water were evolved, such as:
- Irrigation schemes are undertaken for farmers,
- Water is allocated on the basis of the family rather than size of land,
- Cropping is restricted to seasonal crops, with low water requirement,
- Over 550 acres of land was irrigated
Over 10 Water User Groups (WUGs) with around 275 members were formed.
Over 10 Community-Lift irrigation schemes were completed.
The government granted over 10 electricity connections to community groups (which was unavailable because this was a dark zone) to create water sources in the village
Over 10 Self-Help Groups were formed.
Around 6 old wells were deepened and over 12 wells were dug.
It was demonstrated to the government and groundwater agencies that aquifer boundaries do not match administrative boundaries and that groundwater status needs to be based on more granular data so that villages which haven’t developed their groundwater potential do not get penalized because they are located in a dark zone.

Focus Area

Participatory Groundwater Management

State

Maharashtra

Implementing Partner

ACWADAM

Outreach

250

Duration

Thu, 01/01/2009 - 12:00 - Fri, 01/01/2010 - 12:00

Path Alias

/our-works/evolving-water-self-reliance-through-surface-and-groundwater-sharing-and-management

Integrated domestic water management in Maharashtra

forwater — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 06:20:56 +0000

Integrated domestic water management in Maharashtra forwater Tue, 01/03/2023 - 11:50

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One third of the state of Maharashtra is drought prone as it falls in the rain shadow belt and receives erratic showers. The project examined ways to enhance implementation of drinking water and sanitation projects to create an Integrated Domestic Water Management (IDWM) model for replication in villages prone to water scarcity. Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) worked on an integrated watersheds approach in the villages, which was useful in strengthening and protecting the water source. All community members now have access to water sources with a reported increase in water levels and availability through the year. Since the meter system has been introduced and water tariffs fixed with the involvement of the people, there is complete recovery of operation and maintenance costs. Awareness about hygiene practices and water budgeting has gone up. Water supply to all schools in the project area has also been secured and the students have been made aware of, and also practice good hygiene behavior.

Outputs

Through the use of IEC material and workshops awareness was generated on health and hygiene.
Training on water budgeting was given to project villages.
Fixed the defunct government piped water supply systems with improved systems for equitable water distribution and use.
Borewell recharging was done for over 15 borewells.
Recovery of Operations and Maintenance Costs through tariff collection.
The project has leveraged over Rs. 150 lakh, for provision of drinking water and construction of latrines, from Bharat Nirman and Total Sanitation Campaign. Over 380 families were motivated to construct toilets and around 5 families were motivated to construct Ecosan toilets.
Over 280 soak-pits and 320 kitchen gardens were constructed.

Focus Area

Water security

State

Maharashtra

Implementing Partner

Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR)

Outreach

4100

Duration

Tue, 01/01/2008 - 12:00 - Sat, 01/01/2011 - 12:00

Path Alias

/our-works/integrated-domestic-water-management-maharashtra