Description of the '2500 recharge wells for Bellandur' campaign and 3 case studies of residential units that have dug recharge wells.

1. Groundwater recharge in Bellandur
1.0 Context
Bellandur, a suburb to the southeast of Bengaluru, has experienced rapid growth due to the
thriving IT sector. This expansion has brought about challenges like urban commuting,
waste management, and water resource management. The suburb struggles with water
management due to the lack of piped water and an inadequate supply from the Bengaluru
Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). Most residential units rely on private
borewells, but insufficient yields have forced them to turn to costly private water tankers.
In 2019, Bellandur faced a severe water crisis. Even though residents were ready to pay
high prices, securing water tankers was a challenge. In response, BWSSB licensed water
tanker businesses to supply water at fixed rates. They also projected that Bellandur would
get Cauvery water by 2020 but wouldn't have an adequate supply until the Cauvery 5th
phase in 2024. Recognising the need for sustainable water management, residents started
the "2500 Recharge Wells for Bellandur" campaign to recharge groundwater.
This case study delves into the campaign and its success stories.
2.0 Introduction
Spanning 26.4 sqkm, Bellandur is the largest ward in Bengaluru Urban District, housing
approximately 100,000 people. It falls outside the jurisdiction of Bruhat Bengaluru
Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and is managed by the Bengaluru Urban District.
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2. The suburb's water management challenges stem from a decreasing groundwater table, the
absence of piped water, and limited supply from BWSSB. Most residential units depend on
private borewells, and during dry seasons, water tankers charge exorbitant prices.
3.0 Water situation in 2019
In 2019, borewell yields reduced significantly before the monsoons. As groundwater
depleted, residents had to rely solely on water tankers, which raised their prices more than
fivefold. Despite their willingness to pay, finding a tanker proved challenging.
4.0 Citizen and Institutional Engagement
A proactive citizen group, involved in various civic issues, approached the BWSSB chairman,
Mr. Tushar Girinath, highlighting the challenges in obtaining water and the lack of Cauvery
Water Supply.
4.1 Licensing commercial water tankers
As Bellandur falls under BBMP, commercial tankers weren't registered. Responding to this,
BWSSB licensed these tankers and set a fixed price for water supply.
4.2 Status of BWSSB’s Cauvery water supply
Residents inquired about the Cauvery water supply. The BWSSB indicated that Bellandur
would receive water by 2020, but adequate supplies would only be possible after
implementing the Cauvery 5th phase in 2024. This spurred the residents to seek long-term
water management solutions.
5.0 Engagement of civil society
Residents formed the Kasavanahalli Development Forum (KDF), which later merged with
60 other associations, becoming the Bellandur Development Forum. Mr. Vishnu Prasad, a
member, compared Bellandur's water issues to those in other regions. Realising the
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3. potential of rainwater harvesting (RWH) due to the low groundwater levels and the absence
of Cauvery water, he initiated the Recharge Wells campaign for Bellandur.
5.1 The campaign “2500 Recharge Wells for Bellandur”
The campaign's goal was to recharge the groundwater to increase the declining
groundwater table, aiming for long-term water security in Bellandur.
5.1.1 Why 2500?
While working on other civic initiatives for Bellandur, KDF discovered that there were
around 50,000 residential units in Bellandur. To achieve adequate groundwater recharge, a
minimum of 5% of the residential units would need to dig recharge wells. Therefore, the
campaign aimed to dig 2500 recharge wells.
5.1.2 Engagements with Experts
Mr. Vishnu Prasad and his team researched the best RWH practices through resource
materials and by meeting and discussing with experts on the ground. Mr A R Shivakumar
from the Karnataka State Rainwater Harvesting Committee, Mr Ayyappa Masagi, popularly
known as Water Gandhi, and Mr Luke Dhanaraj, an RWH consultant, were the initial experts
who inspired the campaign.
Three workshops were conducted for Bellandur residents by domain experts. The sessions
were led by Ms Shubha Ramachandran of Biome Environmental Trust which ran the
“Million Wells for Bengaluru” campaign, Mr Luke Dhanaraj, and Mr Ananth Kodavasal, an
expert on STPs.
Ms Shubha Ramachandran made a presentation on the significance of digging recharge
wells to increase the groundwater table. Biome shared visual materials on recharge wells
and shallow and deep aquifers, which were widely circulated among the residents.
The Upper Ponnaiyar watershed spreads over an area of 33 sqkm around Outer Ring Road
and Sarjapura Road, and there are 11 lakes and several old open wells in the area. Even
though there are hard rock outcrops in various parts of the watershed, this area allows for
the presence and use of a shallow aquifer.
- Shubha Ramachandran, Biome
Mr Luke Dhanaraj provided a session on the technicalities of digging recharge wells and
also offered guidance and consultancy to approximately 30-40 apartments in the area.
Mr Ananth Kodavasal emphasised that while the importance of recharging was being
realised, reducing groundwater extraction was equally crucial. The team engaged with Mr
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4. Kodavasal for a session on Sewage Treatment Plants, addressing the standards for treated
wastewater and other green standards.
These sessions played a crucial role in educating the community about the significance of
RWH and best water management practices, motivating them to accelerate the campaign.
5.1.3 Promoting the campaign
The KDF extensively utilised social media platforms to promote the campaign. Platforms
such as Facebook, residents' WhatsApp groups, and Twitter were widely used. The
campaign received endorsements from a few apartments that initially dug the recharge
wells. These success stories were widely shared on social media platforms, inspiring other
residents to dig recharge wells (RWs) in their residences. These platforms also distributed
communication materials on RWs, aquifers, RWH guidelines, and more, which effectively
raised awareness.
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5. 5.1.4 Number of RWs dug
Around 360 RWs were dug until the outbreak of the pandemic. The number of recharge
wells dug during the pandemic has not been documented.
5.1.5 Challenges
As Mr Vishnu Prasad stated, persuading the residents was the primary challenge. The
residents faced major constraints, such as
● The high cost of digging recharge wells
● The belief that the responsibility for providing water rests with the Government
● Limited open space availability for digging RWs
● The absence of incentives or rebates from the BWSSB for households implementing
RWH
One of the main issues in this part of the city is the lack of a feeling of belonging and
responsibility. A major part of the population is non-native and are people working in the
IT/corporate sector, where some of the struggles are partially hidden from view. More
awareness might be necessary to counter this issue.
- Neelima Ramesh, Resident, Sterling Ascentia
6.0 Future plans
The BWSSB has stopped accepting Cauvery connection deposits from the Bellandur area as
it cannot meet the demand. Until 2024, specifically during the Cauvery 5th phase, Bellandur
will struggle to receive an adequate Cauvery water supply. Thus, the Bellandur
Development Forum plans to continue the campaign in the coming years, digging more
recharge wells and progressing towards water sustainability.
7.0 Case studies of residential units
Many apartments volunteered to join the campaign by digging recharge wells. Three case
studies of these residential units address the challenges of convincing residents, the cost of
digging recharge wells, space constraints, financial challenges, effective reuse of treated
wastewater to reduce freshwater demand, digging recharge wells to mitigate flooding, and
the addition of withdrawal wells for seepage issues.
7.1 Aditi Elite Apartments
Located in Phase 2, Bhoganahalli, Bengaluru, Aditi Elite was constructed in 2017 and
handed over to the residents’ association in 2018. It comprises 88 flats housing around 400
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6. residents. The complex does not receive water from the Cauvery and mainly relies on
in-house borewells.
Aditi Elite Apartments faced challenges regarding space constraints and convincing
residents about the cost of digging recharge wells (RWs).
Rainwater harvesting: The apartment harvests rooftop rainwater, storing it in two sump
tanks with capacities of 70,000 and 40,000 litres. Yield from two borewells, along with
rooftop rainwater harvesting, ensured no water shortage. However, both sump tanks would
fill up rapidly even with moderate rain, causing excess water to flow into stormwater
drains.
To safeguard groundwater for the future and maintain borewell yield, the Residents’
Welfare Association (RWA) joined the “2500 Recharge Wells for Bellandur” campaign. They
dug four recharge wells, each 30 ft deep and 3-5 ft wide, in November 2019. The overflow
from the sump tanks was directed into these wells.
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7. There were concerns among residents about recharge wells potentially affecting the
structural integrity of the apartment building. By consulting experts, the RWA assuaged
these fears, suggesting that recharge wells be dug 2 ft away from column pillars.
Return on investment
To convince the residents of the benefits of rainwater harvesting, the RWA highlighted the
financial advantages. The apartment spent Rs 2.5 lakhs on rooftop rainwater harvesting and
digging four recharge wells, averaging a cost of Rs 2,850 per flat. Given the water scarcity in
the area, they would typically spend at least Rs 1 lakh monthly on water tankers. However,
their water management initiatives resulted in savings of Rs 12 lakh annually, and Rs. 36
lakh over the past three years.
Whenever it rains, I check for water levels in the recharge wells. It gives so much joy to see
recharge wells brimming with water. Last summer, we were expecting we may need water
tankers, but our borewell yield was sufficient. This year it is already summer, and we don't
see any water scarcity. The return on investment on RWs is huge. Previously we were getting
water at 200 ft, and now we are going deep to 1000 ft but still not getting good water. A lot
of rainwater is going to waste. I wish we could dig a recharge well every 100 meters. Every
street in Bengaluru should have a recharge well.
- Ashok Mruthunjaya, Aditi Elite Apartments
7.2 Ittina Anai Apartments
Located in Kempapura, Yemalur, Bellandur, Ittina Anai was constructed in 2006. It spans an
area of over 1 acre and consists of four blocks with 72 flats. The apartment does not have a
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8. BWSSB Cauvery water connection and does not plan to obtain one, citing the high advance
deposit and inadequate water supply.
The “2500 Recharge Wells for Bellandur” campaign emphasised reusing treated
wastewater to alleviate the demand for freshwater. Ittina Anai serves as an exemplary
model in this regard.
Use of treated wastewater for potable purposes
The apartment initially had a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) installed by the builder, using
the Activated Sludge Process with a capacity of 40 KLD. However, the STP's efficiency
decreased when inflow exceeded its capacity, leading to problems such as turbidity and
odour.
The RWA joined the “2500 RWs for Bellandur” campaign and took measures to conserve
water. They upgraded the STP to an SBR (Sequential Batch Reactor) with a capacity of 90
KLD. The treated wastewater (TWW) became cleaner, odour-free, and crystal clear, and was
reused for all purposes, including drinking.
Rainwater harvesting
The apartment did not face water shortages. To ensure future water security, the RWA
installed recharge wells. Rainwater from all four blocks and paved areas is directed to
storage sumps and six recharge wells placed strategically throughout the premises.
We have achieved zero liquid discharge (ZLD), where not a drop of water that comes into
our campus goes out of our campus!!
By revamping and upgrading our STP, we have experienced that we are able to reuse all our
TWW and do not discharge even a single drop into the drains. This has further reduced our
dependence on our borewell and has helped us use the borewell less, thereby saving about
25% of our electricity costs by way of running the borewell for fewer hours. The recharge
wells have increased the yield of the borewell from 1.5 to 3.5 inches, and this means that we
are getting more litres of water in less borewell run time. Our water table rose from 180 feet
to 80 feet in just one season of rain.
- Treasurer, RWA
7.3 Mantri Espana
Located in Kariyammana Agrahara, Bellandur, Mantri Espana was constructed in 2015,
spanning 14 acres with 336 flats. It receives Cauvery water from the BWSSB. Due to its
proximity to Bellandur Lake, it has faced issues of groundwater seepage and flooding
during monsoons.
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9. Rainwater harvesting
Rooftop rainwater harvesting was introduced during construction, with three rainwater
sumps, each with a capacity of 2 lakh litres, connected to a Water Treatment Plant.
Ms Seema Sharma, a resident, attended an awareness session organised by the Bellandur
Development Forum, inspiring her to introduce the recharge wells campaign in her
apartment.
The community decided to dig recharge wells in phases due to funding constraints. Seven
recharge wells were dug over a period of 4 years.
Future Plans: The Managing Committee (MC) plans to assess seepage issues, dig more
recharge wells, evaluate existing borewells, implement individual household metering, and
explore sustainable water management options.
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