A single drop of water journeys across the land filtering through rocks and sand to become the invaluable resource we rely on – clean groundwater. This essential source supports life, fuels agricultural productivity and secures water for millions. In 2024, total annual groundwater recharge experienced a significant increase of 15 BCM (billion cubic metres), while extraction decreased by 3 BCM compared to the 2017 assessment. This progress underscores the importance of understanding groundwater’s availability, usage, and the challenges ahead.
The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), in collaboration with state groundwater departments, releases annual reports on groundwater resources. The ‘National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India, 2024’ offers a comprehensive state-wise overview, serving as a foundation for effective policies and management strategies.
According to the latest report, the total annual groundwater recharge is assessed at 446.90 BCM, with an extractable resource of 406.19 BCM and an annual extraction of 245.64 BCM. The report highlights increased recharge, mainly due to water bodies, tanks, and conservation structures and shows improvements in groundwater conditions in 128 units compared to 2023.
Positive advancements
The year 2024 has seen positive advancements in several key areas, with notable highlights including:
Total Annual GW Recharge has increased (15 BCM) substantially and Extraction has declined (3 BCM) in 2024 from 2017 assessment.
Recharge from tanks, ponds and WCS (water control system) has shown a consistent increase in the last five assessments. In the year 2024, it has increased by 0.39 BCM w.r.t. 2023.
With respect to the year 2017, there is an increase of 11.36 BCM in recharge from tanks, ponds and WCS (from 13.98 BCM in 2017 to 25.34 BCM in 2024).
The percentage of Assessment Units under Safe Category has increased from 62.6 per cent in 2017 to 73.4 per cent in 2024. The percentage of Over Exploited Assessment units has declined from 17.24 per cent in 2017 to 11.13 pc in 2024.
Clean groundwater
Maintaining groundwater quality is just as crucial as its recharge for sustainable water management. Key pollutants such as arsenic, fluoride, chloride, uranium, and nitrate pose serious health risks, either through direct toxicity or long-term exposure. Additionally, elevated electrical conductivity (EC) can indicate contamination from agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, or saline intrusion, while Iron contamination may lead to gastrointestinal issues, highlighting the importance of careful water quality monitoring.
To assess the critical areas impacted by contamination, the Annual Groundwater Quality Report for 2024 offers a comprehensive analysis of groundwater quality across India, drawing insights from data collected at over 15,200 monitoring locations and 4,982 trend stations. The report emphasises the importance of not only preserving groundwater but also ensuring its quality for effective, long-term water management. BIB