Recharging the Aquifer using Termite Mounds

Contributor,
Ganesh Shanbhag
Software Engineer by Profession,
EcoFriend by passion!!

Reliance on modern sophisticated equipment for making ‘discoveries’ has limited the human power of observing subtle clues in the environment that are capable of saving cost and labour that come with researching new resources and methods to improve life for all. Due to the growing scarcity of potable water, newer, cheaper and reliable methods of investigating groundwater resources are becoming critical. One such potentially promising method is mapping the distribution of termite mounds in the environment. Termite mounds are conspicuous landscape features in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Built from surrounding soils by several species of termite, the properties of mound soil are relatively different from the surrounding soil in most cases, indicating improved hydraulic properties.

In any vacant land, sighting a termite mound is a real pleasant sight. There are multiple reasons associated with it. Termites are ecosystems’ own engineers. They construct their mounds in a very sophisticated manner such that they are abundant with light, water, air & energy. They also construct the mounds at places where generally there is a good shallow aquifer. Termite mounds are also a source of water for surrounding ecosystems. Though the mounds are having short height over the ground, they are well tunnelled into the ground spanning several metres deep. This can be utilised for recharging the aquifer as well.

If there are any termite mounds available in the farmland or vacant site or site where the house is about to be constructed, use the Ecosystems own infrastructure for the use in ground water recharging rather than destroying it. These termite mounds can be used to channel all the surface run-off water, treated sewage water into the ground without having to think about constructing recharge wells.

Finally, the mantra, use the jugaad, use whatever is naturally available.