Development body unveils plan to monitor humidity, groundwater levels in Faridabad

The Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA) is set to launch a project related to monitoring the water table and underground humidity levels in the civic areas. The project to be launched for the first time in the city is likely to cost around Rs 9.5 crore.

As many as 100 low course sensing instruments known as piezometer will be installed in the urban areas to monitor the groundwater and the humidity level on round to clock basis, according to sources in the FMDA.

Claimed to be a part of the pilot project being launched simultaneously in the metropolitan cities of Faridabad and Gurugram, the state government has entered an MOU with the APCOS Limited, earlier known as Water and Power Consultancy Services (India) Limited , a consultancy service provider under the administrative control of the Ministry of Jal Shakti recently. While a survey has been launched, the plan is likely to be implemented within one month, according to officials.

It is revealed that the piezometers will measure the groundwater pressure and will reveal the water level at any spot and this could be monitored online as well. The technique will help the authorities to know not only the ground reality but also the factors responsible for the depletion of the water table, an official said.

One piezometer will be installed in a radius of 1,000 m, it is claimed. The instruments include the hydraulic piezometers consisting of a porous filter separated from a pressure gauge by flexible, water-filled tubes that can measure positive and negative pore water pressures.

It converts water pressure to a frequency signal via a diaphragm and a tensioned steel wire. A change in pressure on the diaphragm causes a change in tension of the wire reflecting a change in pressure or level.

Subhash Yadav, Executive Engineer, FMDA, said while Faridabad and Gurugram had been faced with sharp depletion of the groundwater, the new technique would help the authorities in taking corrective measures in the areas where the situation had been poor or a cause for concern.

Proper evaluation of pore pressure would also help in monitoring the behaviour after construction, he added.