Recommended for

Areas having seepages at greater depths (>18 m) in the basements or parkings etc.

Potable quality seepage water.

Existing single borewell with yield > 2820 lits/hour indicating presence of productive shallow/ deep aquifer/s.

Methodology

Delineate the exact aerial extent of the shallow seepage.

Based on its location, construct a shallow ring well below the ground to tap the seepage and collect the water in it.

Based on the seepage discharge, construct the ring well of at least 2 m diameter. The depth will vary depending upon the location of the seepage.

If possible and feasible, channelize the seepage by constructing a bucket type structure. Near the seepage discharge point/s keep the ring perforated. This will allow the seepage water to fall naturally into the collection well.

Allow the seepage water to get collected into the collection well. Measure the seepage discharge. Based on this discharge decide the diameter of the HDPE pipe to carry the seepage water from the collection well to the borewell.

Lay down one single HDPE pipe of suitable diameter from the collection into the existing borewell. The depth of the HDPE pipe within the borewell will be more than the depth of the collection well. This difference is necessary for carrying the seepage water into the borewell using the syphon technique.

Install a small capacity pump to trigger the syphon. Stop the pump as soon the HDPE pipe gets completely filled with water.

Make a small chamber of appropriate dimensions (~50 cm diameter) around the borewell.

Process

Immediately after stopping the pump the seepage water will automatically start flowing from the collection well to the borewell.

It is advisable to install a water-meter for measuring the quantity of seepage water recharged artificially through the borewell.

Precautions

If necessary, construct the retaining walls all around the collection ring well for extra support.

Cover the collection well properly. Keep proper air vents while covering it.

If a submersible pump is installed in the existing borewell then the size of the HDPE needs to be adjusted according to the diameter of the pump.

Keep continuous monitoring of seepage discharge and the water level within the collection well. Usually, the flow of seepage or spring diminishes from January onward. Hence flow should be monitored on a fortnightly basis.

Periodically (once in a month) monitor the groundwater level within the borewell. If there is a fast rise in groundwater level and the borewell starts overflowing, then immediately the syphon should be stopped.

Keep the collection well isolated. Do not carry out any activity near it.

Maintenance

Every year during monsoon check the quality of seepage or spring water. If muddy water is coming from the seepage, then immediately the syphon should be stopped. Allow that water to get collected into the collection well and drain it out using a pump.

Every year check the water quality parameters (chemical and bacteriological) of the collection well water at least during pre- and post-monsoon seasons.

If there is bacterial contamination, then immediately syphon should be stopped. Chlorinate the water collected in the collection well as per GoI norms and then start the syphon.

Regularly clean the collection well at least once in every year.