PANAJI: The water resources department (WRD) is preparing to carry out an assessment of the groundwater situation in Goa after nearly a decade, sources said. The last such assessment was carried out in 2008. Though Goa receives a good amount of rainfall, the population density is rising and one of the causes for concern is also the contamination of surface water that is threatening to pollute rivers, wells and other water bodies.Recently, the Valvonti river had to be inspected by a WRD team after complaints of such contamination. So far, the water was still found to be safe for potable use after treatment, but monitoring may be necessiated by this kind of contamination, sources said.To begin with, the WRD has asked owners of groundwater structures like open wells, bore wells and sunk wells with the department before December 30. Sources said that though Goa is in a high precipitation zone, one of the issues the state faces is huge disparity between monsoon and summer months. “Rivers have very low flow for the non-monsoon months resulting in scarcity of drinking water in the months of April to the start of June. Also the state’s topography is such that despite the good rainfall, Goa has one of the lowest per capita fresh water availability,” the source said.Topography-wise Goa has a narrow width, steep slopes of Western Ghats , porous sub-stratum, non-uniform distribution of rainfall over time and space which cause imbalance of water availability in the state. Intrusion of saline water in groundwater also has to be monitored in the state.“There is rapid construction activities being carried out in plateau areas like Porvorim and Kadamba plateau. Plateau areas are the open areas that act like sponges to absorb rainfall and help recharge groundwater. Sufficient groundwater prevents intrusion of saline water on the coast into the groundwater. Certain low lying areas on the north Goa coast already find their well water saline,” said an official.Better management is required as demand for water increases due to growing population and rapid urbanization.

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