Water is the elixir of life. While our blue planet is enveloped by vast expanses of water, it’s the hidden treasures beneath our feet, the groundwater, that often quench our thirst. Integral to both our ecosystems and daily lives, groundwater is a silent force of nature. Yet, with declining water tables and rising contamination, the precious fluid faces pressing challenges, emphasizing the indispensable role of groundwater consultants.

The Modern Groundwater Consultant: Today’s groundwater consultants are a blend of geologists, hydrologists, and environmentalists. Armed with a robust educational background, they leverage cutting-edge tools and technologies, from GIS mapping to digital hydrological models. Far from just being “water finders”, they have transformed into guardians of water quality and conservators of its quantity.

Duties and responsibilities: A groundwater consultant’s role is multifaceted:

• Site Assessments: Before any drilling, consultants assess the potential of groundwater presence by studying the geological formations and predicting water quality.

• Water Quality Testing: Once water is found, it’s tested for various parameters, ensuring it’s fit for consumption or its intended use.

• Sustainable Extraction: With the growing emphasis on sustainability, consultants design extraction plans that balance human needs with ecological preservation.

Case Studies: Consider the township that faced an acute water shortage. A groundwater consultant not only identified a new water source but also set up a rainwater harvesting system, turning the crisis into an opportunity for long-term water security. Or the agricultural belt that was depleting its groundwater rapidly. With the insights of a consultant, they adopted drip irrigation, ensuring their fields remained green while conserving water.

The Importance of NOC (No Objection Certificate): With groundwater becoming a contentious issue in many regions, regulatory oversight has increased. Before tapping into underground sources, obtaining a groundwater NOC is paramount. Consultants guide individuals and entities through this complex maze, ensuring compliance and sustainable usage.

Future Trends: The world of groundwater consulting is on the brink of transformation. With advancements like AI-driven prediction models and satellite-based groundwater monitoring, the field is becoming increasingly tech-savvy. Sustainability is no longer a buzzword but the core around which strategies are woven, as consultants strive to ensure that the taps never run dry.

Embedded within the post are informative visuals—diagrams that delve into the layers of groundwater, charts that capture the fluctuating water table trends, and infographics that spotlight the expansive duties of a consultant.

In conclusion, groundwater, while often out of sight, should never be out of mind. As custodians of this precious resource, groundwater consultants bridge the gap between nature’s bounty and human needs. It’s high time we valued this hidden treasure and the experts who helped us access it responsibly.

GROUND WATER CLEARANCE

GROUND WATER CLEARANCE / PERMISSION TO ABSTRACT GROUND WATER

About Ground Water Clearance

In accordance to the guidelines issued by Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) dated 24th September 2020, constituted under the Environmental Protection Act, All Industries, Infrastructure & Mining projects withdrawing Ground Water are required to get prior permission that is No objection certificate (NOC) from Central Ground Water Authority or State Specific Ground Water Authority whichever is Applicable .

Non-compliance of NOC conditions may attract a Penalty.

What are the Various Authorities that are Providing Ground Water Clearance?

Central Ground water Authority has been constituted to regulate and control development and management of ground water resources in the country. It is Providing Ground water Clearance in Various states where as other states are managed by their own State Specific Ground water Authority.

Who all need Ground Water Clearance and Why?

Any new and existing Industries, group housing societies and private water supply tankers, Infrastructures Projects and Mining Projects are required to get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for withdrawal of Groundwater.

TURN KEY ADVICE FOR OBTAINING NOC

• Preparation of all required technical reports as per site-specific parameters.
• Guidance for other documentation as per Govt. Guidelines and project requirements for obtaining required permits.
• Apply the application on a state-specific online portal for issuance of NOC. (reframe the sentence)
• Guidance for getting NOC, including query reply, if any;
• Post NOC advice and guidance for implementation of required compliances for issuance of final NOC.

RAINWATER HARVESTING

RWH is the technique of collecting, storing and distributing rainwater for multiple uses. The collected water can be stored for direct use or diverted for borewell/groundwater recharge. In simple terms it is a way to capture the rainwater when it rains, for later use.

WHY HARVEST RAINWATER

Water Crisis is common in Urban and Rural areas in India. This is more felt in urban areas due to population concentration. In hilly regions, even though water is available in limited quantities, crises are handled due to the drying up of the sources. Rainfall is one of the important source of fresh water is a significant throughout the Country. Rainwater Harvesting is one of the important solution to mitigate the water crisis as the copious volume of water goes waste during the rainy season.
Thus Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge of Groundwater have to be adopted to provide sustainability to the water supply.

HOW TO HARVEST THE RAINWATER

Any Rainwater Harvesting system has three components: Catchment, Conveyance, and Storage. There are two classes of Rainwater Harvesting systems:

• Systems which collect roof runoff for household use.
• Systems which use in field or adjoining catchment to provide supplemental irrigation for Agriculture.

RAINWATER HARVESTING AND ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE SYSTEM

Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge system are influenced by numerous site-specific parameters and factors to avail maximum efficiency and effectiveness. A few factors influencing the design of RWH & AR systems are as under: –

• Physical & climatic parameters Hydro-meteorological data.
• Hydrological parameters. 
• Hydro-geological parameters.
• Chemical quality of source & groundwater.

NEER offers its services in the following aspects:

• To assess the requirement of Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge system.
• To assess the confluence point of any other type of water with rainwater and suggest its handling.
• Assess the lithology within the premises to develop the most effective, efficient, and economical Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge system.
• To prepare a technical report on desired Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge system.
• To design the Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge system.
• To prepare the BOQ and cost estimates to develop a suitable Rainwater Harvesting system.
• In the case of the development of the RWH & AR system in any of the premises, the development of the RWH & AR system attracts the consideration of the following factors that influence the cost and its implementation.
• Channelization of rooftop rainwater up to recharge shaft.
• Recharge shaft, which again depends upon the catchment area of the recharge shaft.
• Availability of land for development of proper rainwater retention trench;
• The injection method and depth of Injection well again depend upon the geological condition and aquifer parameters.
• Expected Source water and Groundwater quality.

NEER also offers its services on a turnkey basis the implement the designed rooftop Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge system in the subject premises under its supervision

Design Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge system on site-specific parameters and Govt Guidelines for your premises and obtain an offer.

GROUND WATER IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY

What is Ground Water Impact Assessment Study?

As per the new guidelines notified on 24.09.2020, all industries extracting/proposing to extract ground water in excess of 100 m3/day in Over-exploited, Critical and Semicritical areas shall have to mandatorily submit impact assessment report prepared by Accredited consultants of CGWA.

The proforma for report that was made available on the NOCAP website of Central Ground water Authority duly followed by all other State Ground Water Authorities.

• Impact Assessment Report Includes Brief of Project, Topography, Drainage, Hydrogeology, details of Tube wells, Comprehensive assessment of the impact on the ground water regime in and around the project area NEER is an accredited consultant of CGWA for providing Impact Assessment Report.