BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST

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Wells in/around Lakes (Both for Recharge and Discharge)

Freshly desilted lakes also serve the purpose of ground water recharge. However, over a period of time and with the deposition of silt, the recharge rates from a lake significantly reduce. This is also the expectation because if lakes were to continuously recharge, there would be no water left in most lakes – which is required for the fishes, birds etc. Hence a fine balance has to be maintained between water levels in the lake as well as allowing for the water to recharge ground water.

In this context 2 options for wells are proposed

Option 1: Recharge Wells in the center of lakes, which take the overflow water from the lake and allow for it to pentrate deeper into the ground.

Notes:

- the top of the well is above the lake bed so that no silt goes in as well as only overflow water goes into the well. Hence when there is less water in the lake, no water goes into thewell

1# 264, 6 th Block, 6 th Main, BEL Layout, Vidyaranyapura, Bangalore 560097, + 91 80 2364

1690, rainwaterclub@gmail.com , www.biome-trust.blogspot.com ,www.rainwaterclub.org

Illustration 1: Well in Pond - on a smaller scale

BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST

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- the wells can be dug only when the lake is dry

- there can be multiple such wells in every lake

2# 264, 6 th Block, 6 th Main, BEL Layout, Vidyaranyapura, Bangalore 560097, + 91 80 2364

1690, rainwaterclub@gmail.com , www.biome-trust.blogspot.com ,www.rainwaterclub.org

Illustration 2: Schematic of Well in Pond

BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST

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Option 2: Withdrawal Wells on the lake periphery

Traditionally most lakes had 1 or 2 wells close to them. These were the points for withdrawal of water. As the local shallow area around the lake is normally saturated, there is fair likelihood of getting water in shallow wells adjacent to lakes. In recent times, this hasbeen demonstrated by the Renuka school near Kaikondrahalli Lake that is using a shallow well as its source of water. Wells near Jakkur Lake are sources of Water too

The well can be designed as a cultural piece as well as utility piece.

3# 264, 6 th Block, 6 th Main, BEL Layout, Vidyaranyapura, Bangalore 560097, + 91 80 2364

1690, rainwaterclub@gmail.com , www.biome-trust.blogspot.com ,www.rainwaterclub.org

Drawing 1: Well near Jakkur Lake

BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST

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4# 264, 6 th Block, 6 th Main, BEL Layout, Vidyaranyapura, Bangalore 560097, + 91 80 2364

1690, rainwaterclub@gmail.com , www.biome-trust.blogspot.com ,www.rainwaterclub.org

Illustration 3: Open Well near Renuka School