Borewells Turn Main Source Of Drinking Water In AP’s Rural Areas

Borewells are the main source of drinking water in rural areas of Andhra Pradesh, with more than 75 per cent of rural habitations depending on them for their daily water needs, according to latest government data.

The state has 48,369 rural habitations spread across 28 districts, with a population of 383.12 lakh. The total daily drinking water requirement of these habitations is estimated at 2,173.75 million litres per day (MLD), while the present supply is around 2,012.26 MLD. This indicates a significant gap between the requirement and actual availability, particularly in remote habitations.

Of the total supply, borewells account for the largest share at 1,231.04 million litres per day. Summer storage tanks filled through canals contribute 376.98 MLD, while reservoirs, dams, and barrages provide 206.08 million litres per day. Another 192.87 MLD is sourced through infiltration wells and filter points. Tankers account for 5.27 million litres per day of the drinking water supply.

The dependence on borewells is particularly high in drought-prone Rayalaseema region, where many villages and gram panchayats have no perennial surface water sources.

Kurnool Panchayat Raj superintendent engineer K. Jayachandra Reddy said borewells continue to be the backbone of drinking water supply in most rural areas of Rayalaseema. “Borewells play a crucial role in Rayalaseema, and the majority of gram panchayats depend on them for drinking water. Water levels in several borewells have fallen this year. This has created difficulties in some habitations,” he pointed out.

Borewells remain the dominant source of drinking water in several districts. YSR Kadapa receives 46.61 MLD through borewells, while Chittoor gets 76.05 MLD, Tirupati 85.75 MLD, and Anantapur 54.81 MLD.

There is a gap between drinking water demand and supply in several districts. Anantapur requires 98.78 MLD and receives 94.44 MLD, while Kurnool requires 94.28 MLD against a supply of 90.70 MLD. YSR Kadapa needs 88.63 MLD but gets 85.55 MLD. At the state level, Srikakulam has the highest drinking water requirement at 158.47 MLD, against a supply of 137.83 MLD.

N. Maheswara Reddy of Lakshmipeta in the Mydukur constituency said his village had been depending on a borewell for several years. “It has been the main source of drinking water for nearly 10 years. This year, water level in the borewell has declined, forcing us to lower the pipes further to get water,” he pointed out.

With groundwater levels coming under pressure in several parts of the state, officials and rural residents say continued dependence on borewells could become a major challenge in ensuring uninterrupted drinking water supply to remote habitations.

Water situation in the top 12 districts of AP: