South India’s Groundwater explained | Vivek Grewal

Описание: In this third episode of The WELL Labs Show, host Pavan Srinath is joined by Vivek Grewal (Technical Consulting, WELL Labs) to unpack the aquifers and groundwater in South India’s hard-rock landscapes.

The conversation explores why borewells keep getting deeper year after year, why wells dry up by January even after a good monsoon, and what it actually takes to address groundwater challenges in regions with hard rock.

Drawing on simple analogies, field experiences from WELL Labs’ technical consulting work across rural South India, and years of hydrological research, Vivek explains what granite and gneiss are and why they matter for groundwater, how water is stored and moves through cracks and fractures in hard rock, and how the borewell revolution fundamentally altered groundwater use. The discussion also examines how traditional tank systems, and recharge processes shape water security, and how WELL Labs approaches diagnosing groundwater problems on the ground before designing interventions.

Pavan Srinath (https://welllabs.org/our-team-pavan-s...) is the Managing Partner for Communications and Development at WELL Labs. Pavan is a communications and public policy professional who has spent over 14 years working in Bangalore's not-for-profit sector.

Vivek Grewal (https://welllabs.org/vivek-singh-grewal/ ) is the managing partner with the Technical Consulting programme at WELL Labs. He has around 9+ years of experience in the water sector. He is passionate about taking the science of hydrology to the grassroots organisations.

This episode is essential viewing for anyone working on water security, agriculture, rural development, or groundwater governance, as well as for those trying to understand why South India’s water challenges are fundamentally different from those of the Gangetic plains.

The WELL Labs Show features rich conversations on water, environment, land and livelihoods, from the people and partners of WELL Labs. Hosted by Pavan Srinath, each episode explores complex environmental and social issues and helps you understand the systems and the dynamics better.

For all references and further readings related to the episode, visit https://welllabs.org/twls-vivek-grewa...

Subscribe to the WELL Labs YouTube channel @welllabs and watch all episodes on the official playlist here.

Recording by Nabina Chakraborty, Nanditha Gogate and Vraj Acharya. Video editing by Nabina Chakraborty. Graphics and artwork by Aparna Nambiar. Podcast production and management by Nabina Chakraborty and Pavan Srinath.

Chapter markers:
00:00 Highlights
00:45 Introduction: Why groundwater matters in South India
02:30 Granite & gneiss explained
06:00 Granitic aquifer
15:28 Like, share and follow
15:47 Borewell and groundwater aquifer explained
19:27 Groundwater recharge and rainfall
20:31 Life before borewells: tanks, open wells & seasonal water
24:16 The borewell revolution and what changed after the 1970s
28:40 Watch The Water data Podcast on our Youtube channel
29:02 Improving water security in hard-rock regions
32:40 How WELL Labs diagnoses groundwater
39:30 Closing