Water, Water

Water is an extremely important resource in a rain shadow area such as ours. Over time, ground water depletion due to increased number of borewells, lack of recharge have led to water scarcity with people only digging deeper borewells. Not a good sign. However, good rains last year seemed to have helped. The dry Thally lake filled, overflowed, and has had water through this year despite low rainfall this year.

Panorama of Thally lake - 2017

The Thally lake overflowing its bund. Seen from Thally-Hosur road. (2017)

Ever since we bought the land a few years ago, we understood the importance of retaining rain water in our farm. We've been observing the flow of water, and over the course of time, dug a couple of pits and also deepened the ones that had naturally formed. We also cut a couple of trenches and a canal. One advantage we have is that we are in the valley, so water flows into our farm. The disadvantage is that we're not the bottom most, so it will flow out too. :D

Couple of these pits haven't managed to hold water at approximately the same level  continuously for a while now. One of these pits (our topmost, location wise), we decided, was strategically important. It had managed to hold water through 2 summers, and also because it was close to a monolith at the boundary of our farm, we believed (correctly) that the rock extends into our farm too. Therefore, at some depth the rock would act as a barrier against seeping of water thus slowing down the rate at which water reduces.  This pit, we deepened, the story of which we shared in a previous post (new window).

This pit is now gradually collecting water from an underground source; we can see the water flowing in.

This video shows the entire pit which is gradually filling up.

We intend to use this eater for watering the plants, for the cattle, and after filtration, for home use if possible.