Of these, over 155 dugwells and 1,575 borewells have been identified as high yielding. However, it remains to be seen, how many of these can be used for drinking water purposes.

“The corporation will now have to physically go and check the water levels in these borewells and water from these can be used by the corporation for drinking water purposes, subject to their quality,” said Vikas Kharage, director of GSDA.

The high potential areas are Katraj, Wagholi, Uruli Devachi, lower reaches of Ram nadi, Bavdhan, Dhanori, Sangamwadi, Aranyeshwar, Kondhwa Budruk, Pisoli, Undri and Mohammadwadi while the relatively low potential areas are Dighi, Kharadi, and Lohegaon.

Around 19 zones — which include Pashan, Bavdhan, Balewadi, Dhanori, Lohegaon, Kondhwa Budruk, and Wadgaon Sheri — have been identified by the GSDA for recharging purposes.

In cities, the corporation may have to grapple with bacterial contamination of groundwater, Kharage said. In Pune, quality of water in high potential areas is poor.

“We will have to physically test the water in borewells to check contamination. If it cannot be used for drinking, we can use it for non-drinking purposes,” Kharage said. A simple way to decontaminate water is to use TCL.

The GSDA had submitted a draft on Pune’s groundwater last year, but it was not made public.

The GSDA keeps tab of the groundwater levels in the rural areas in the state on a regular basis. In its pre-monsoon survey, the GSDA has found that 131 talukas have rising groundwater levels. This includes 11 talukas in Pune district. All talukas, with the exception of Purandar and Khed, have rising water levels. On the other hand, 221 talukas are showing depleting water levels. “It means these aquifers have de-saturated ahead of the monsoon. If the rainfall is poor, they may face scarcity problems,” Kharage.

Traces of water

Good news: of the total, over 155 dugwells and 1,575 borewells have been identified as high yielding

Bad news: quality of water in high potential areas is poor. Corporation may have to fight bacterial contamination of groundwater

High potential areas:

Katraj, Wagholi, Uruli Devachi, lower reaches of Ram nadi, Bavdhan, Dhanori, Sangamwadi, Aranyeshwar, Kondhwa Budruk, Pisoli, Undri and Mohammadwadi