When buying an individual house, checking water availability and groundwater levels is critical — it directly impacts your daily living and long-term sustainability. Here’s a detailed breakdown to guide you:
💧 1. Sources of Water Supply
🏡 Most individual houses rely on:
- Municipal Supply (Panchayat/Corporation/Water Board)
- Timed supply (daily or alternate days)
- Low-pressure in some areas
- Charges based on meter or fixed slab
- Borewell / Groundwater
- Primary/backup source in many independent homes
- Quality and depth vary by area
- Tanker Water
- Expensive & inconsistent
- Used during summers or when bore dries
🌍 2. Groundwater Level & Borewell Info
✅ Before Buying: Check these
📍 Groundwater Table
- Ideal Depth: 100–200 feet is considered good.
- Warning Sign: If existing bore is deeper than 400–500 feet, water may be scarce or hard.
- Tools:
- Ask neighbors about bore depth & water availability.
- Use local well/bore depth survey services.
- Visit the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) website or regional groundwater department for reports.
⚒️ Existing Borewell Status
- Age of the borewell.
- Water yield (liters/hour) – You can get a motor technician to test.
- Whether motor and casing pipe are in good condition.
- Seasonal impact: Does it dry up in summer?
🧪 3. Water Quality Check
Important to test for:
- Hardness (TDS > 500 ppm) – May need RO or water softener.
- Salt/iron content – Can corrode pipes, appliances.
- Bacterial contamination – Especially in shallow bores.
🔬 Test options:
- Ask local RO dealers or borewell contractors for TDS checks (free or minimal fee).
- Use local water testing labs (Rs. 300–500 for full report).
💡 4. Red Flags
- Neighbors using tanker for 6+ months in a year.
- More than one failed borewell in the property.
- Salty or yellowish tap water.
- Property on a slope with drainage issues — may not retain groundwater.
📑 5. Ask These from Seller
- Source of current water supply.
- Age and depth of bore.
- Seasonal water availability.
- Bills for tanker (if any).
- Bore motor capacity and service history.
✅ Tips
- Avoid low-lying plots if drainage is poor — water stagnation may affect bore quality.
- Check during summer — peak demand time shows actual water condition.
- If no bore: Consider borewell cost (~₹30,000–₹90,000+ depending on depth & geology).