The Ernakulam district administration has launched an initiative to map private water sources supplying drinking water to tanker lorries. The move aims at regulating groundwater extraction and addressing rising concerns over water scarcity.

The step follows a government order mandating limits on the quantity of water that can be pumped from such sources, mostly private wells, without affecting availability in neighbouring areas. The directive comes amid increasing complaints from residents about indiscriminate groundwater extraction leading to depletion of nearby wells.

As part of the initiative, the Groundwater department has been tasked with conducting yield tests in wells that supply water to private distributors. Based on the tests, the authorities will fix a daily extraction limit for each source.

The district office has begun receiving applications from well owners seeking no-objection certificate to sell the permissible volume of water. The process gained momentum after directions from the District Collector, who convened a meeting of key departments, including Groundwater, Motor Vehicles, and the police, to accelerate the implementation.

“We have started receiving inquiries from well owners regarding the procedure. They have been advised to submit applications on plain paper with necessary details. A formal application format is also being finalised. Yield tests will begin in the next phase, and efforts are on to get the process on track by the end of this month,” said Arts Purushotham, district officer, Groundwater department.

Applicants have to remit a fee of ₹3,860. Permits for extraction up to 10,000 litres per day will be issued at the district office level, while higher volumes will require approval from the district-level evaluation committee chaired by the Collector.

Large-scale yield testing in the district, meanwhile, may not be easy due to lack of equipment in the district. The machinery is currently sourced from neighbouring Idukki district to conduct the tests as and when required.

The district is also yet to compile a comprehensive database of sources supplying water to private distributors. Ernakulam, which has been witnessing seasonal water stress in recent years, relies significantly on private tanker lorries to meet its drinking water demand.