Groundwater Levels Decline in Many Districts in Telangana

Hyderabad: Groundwater levels across more than half of Telangana’s districts fell this July compared to the same month last year, despite the state receiving near-normal rainfall during the ongoing water year.

According to official data, the average groundwater level in July 2025 stood at 8.37 metres below ground level (mbgl) compared to 8.25 mbgl in July 2024, showing an average drop of 0.13 metres across the state.

Out of the 33 districts, 18 recorded a fall in groundwater levels, while 15 saw a rise. The biggest drop was reported in Mulugu, where water levels plunged by 2.98 metres, followed by Jangaon (−2.27 m) and Hanumakonda (−1.79 m).

These districts recorded lower water levels even though some of them received normal rainfall.

Mulugu, for example, received 555 mm of rain — only four per cent less than its normal — yet saw a drop of 2.98 metres. Jangaon and Hanumakonda, which saw 24 per cent and eight per cent less rainfall respectively, recorded drops of 2.27 metres and 1.79 metres. Bhupalpally, which recorded a 17 per cent rainfall deficit, experienced a 1.27-metre drop.

This fluctuation comes even as Telangana received 342 mm of rainfall from June to July 2025 — just a four per cent deficit from the normal average of 358 mm. While four districts received excess rainfall, 24 districts saw normal rainfall, and five reported deficit rainfall.

Among the districts, Khammam had the shallowest water table at 3.87 m bgl, while Medak had the deepest at 14.16 mbgl. The district-wise data show that four districts have average groundwater levels less than 5 mbgl, 19 districts are in the range of 5-10 mbgl, and 10 districts have deeper levels between 10-15 mbgl.