Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
Source: TH
Context: Percolation wells, a solution to Bengaluru’s water crisis, capture rainwater to restore and recharge groundwater.
What are Percolation Wells?
Percolation wells are earthen dams, typically 12 feet deep and 4 feet wide, filled with gravel and lined with concrete rings. They capture rainwater, allowing it to percolate down through layers of soil, recharging natural aquifers. These wells are designed to restore and conserve groundwater, offering a sustainable solution to water scarcity in urban areas like Bengaluru.
United Way of Bengaluru (a unit of the global United Way network, a privately-funded non-profit organisation founded 132 years ago) aims to build 10,000 wells by 2026, already completing 3,600 with private funding. These wells have revived borewells in Lal Bagh and are now being adopted by local municipalities to combat water scarcity. Scientifically built, they trap rainwater and recharge aquifers, offering a sustainable approach to water management amid urbanization challenges.
