Bengaluru to dig 1,500 recharge wells in parks to boost groundwater levels

Bengaluru is set to enhance its rainwater harvesting capacity with the construction of nearly 1,500 recharge wells across 306 city parks by October 2025. This initiative, led by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in collaboration with United Way Bengaluru, aims to bring the city's total recharge wells in 510 parks to 4,239.

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Each well has an annual water conservation capacity of 1,28,100 litres. If completed as planned, the project will enable Bengaluru to harvest up to 543 million litres of rainwater per year. BBMP’s horticulture officials report that existing recharge wells have already shown a positive impact on groundwater levels.

These wells, 40 feet deep and 5 feet in diameter, are designed to capture rainwater and improve groundwater tables. While quantitative data on groundwater improvement is lacking, residents near parks with recharge wells have reported better water availability.

However, experts warn that these efforts are insufficient for the city’s growing water demands. Bengaluru requires at least 10 lakh recharge wells to meet its current groundwater extraction of over 1,000 million litres daily, reportedly according to Biome Environmental Trust’s Shubha Ramachandran.

Geo-tagging is being introduced to monitor recharge wells, with BBMP prioritizing installation in 332 parks. Each pit, capable of collecting 4,270 litres per cycle, is expected to fill at least 30 times annually, significantly aiding groundwater replenishment.