In the intricate world of modern construction, where towering skyscrapers touch the heavens and subterranean facilities dig deep into the earth’s crust, understanding the ground beneath is more crucial than ever. The complexity of today’s construction projects demands expertise in multiple disciplines. As we grapple with mounting environmental challenges and tight regulatory frameworks, one specialist role stands out in its importance: the groundwater consultant.

The Essence of Groundwater

Groundwater, the hidden lifeline of our ecosystem, does much more than quench the Earth’s thirst. Beyond being an essential water source, groundwater plays a vital role in maintaining soil stability, ensuring the foundation integrity of buildings, and determining the feasibility of countless construction projects.

Groundwater Challenges in Construction

• Foundation Stability: As water tables fluctuate, especially in areas with heavy construction, the very ground beneath a structure can become unstable. This oscillation can lead to catastrophic failures, compromising not only the building but also human safety.

• Water Intrusion: Picture this: A newly constructed basement, once the pride of its architects, is now flooding due to unchecked groundwater levels. Such scenarios are all too real when groundwater dynamics are ignored.

• Environmental Impact: Disrupting the natural flow of groundwater can have ripple effects. Nearby water sources can dry up, or worse, ecosystems can be irrevocably damaged.

The role of a groundwater consultant

• Site Assessment: Like detectives of the deep, groundwater consultants scrutinize a site, delving into geological charts, analyzing hydrological data, and gauging the quality and direction of groundwater flows.

• Mitigation Strategies: Armed with data, consultants devise strategies to tackle groundwater-related challenges. From advanced dewatering methods to innovative foundation designs, they act as the guardians of the project, ensuring that nature’s flow is respected and integrated, not disrupted.

• Regulatory Navigation: With a labyrinth of regulations governing construction and environmental conservation, obtaining clearances like the NOC is essential. Groundwater consultants navigate this maze, ensuring that projects adhere to all necessary norms.

Real-life Scenarios

Consider ‘Skytower Heights’, a high-rise project on the city’s outskirts. Initial assessments ignored groundwater dynamics, but timely intervention by a groundwater consultant unearthed potential foundational risks. Not only was a disaster averted, but the project also adopted sustainable groundwater usage, setting a precedent for future construction.

In another instance, a community project, ‘Green Meadows’, transformed a parched land into a lush oasis, all thanks to strategic groundwater management.

The financial argument

Shortsightedness can be expensive. By integrating groundwater consultants from the project’s inception, construction endeavors can avoid costly delays and, in the long run, sidestep even more expensive repairs and legal battles.

Conclusion

As we stand at the crossroads of ambition and sustainability, the expertise of groundwater consultants isn’t just a luxury; it’s an imperative. In this era, where every construction decision echoes in the chambers of environmental and regulatory scrutiny, recognizing and harnessing their knowledge is paramount.

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.