With summer just in its initial phase, the city is already gearing up to tackle the water demand for hotter days ahead — which apparently will be the rainy days for borewell services in the city.
According to officials from the Public Works Department (PWD), the groundwater level has gone down by nearly one metre when compared to a measure of the same data last year.
“We don’t anticipate a water crisis as the ground level has not gone down drastically. The measurement difference is around 0.8 metres on comparing the measurement of groundwater level from last March, but the water demand can be managed,” said an official of the Water Resource Organisation of PWD.
But this decrease in groundwater level has increased the demand for borewells in all major places in and around city, especially in places like Choolaimedu, Ayanavaram, Valasaravakkam and Saidapet.
“The demand for drilling borewells has increased in the last one week. Till last week we used to take up only one or two services per day, but now we are getting nearly five to six per day,” said Dhanapal of Amma Borewell services in Choolaimedu.
Apparently, the depth of drilling for a borewell has increased, especially in Choolaimedu, Sunguvachathiram and Thirumangalam, where nearly 400 to 500 feet has to be drilled to get water.
However, in areas such as Saligramam, Vadapalani, Saidapet and Adyar, the level to be drilled is around 100 feet, say many borewell servicemen.
With this change, the charges for a borewell has also considerably increased. The price ranges from `250 to `1,400 per foot, with inflation playing its part in the increase in cost of PVC and labour charges. Thus, a total amount of `25,000 is required for 100 feet.
“Last year, we somehow managed, but this year we had to increase the depth of the borewell. The amount charged has increased but we have no other option but to pay,” said Lakshmi, a resident of Choolaimedu, who also says that the Metro Water has been regular, and this is helping in managing the water crisis for now.
Meanwhile, some borewell servicemen also say that the demand is not too good and attribute the reason to the elections.
“In areas like Adyar and Adambakkam, there is no crisis as such and the business is dull. Also, due to the elections, many builders are not working right now, due to which there is not much business,” said Vignesh of Vignesh borewells from Adambakkam.
On the whole, this summer is expected to bring in a huge demand and servicemen will be working in full swing, at least after elections.