Hydrological Surveys: Path to Water Security for the Landscape 

The VP of farm operations and the Ecological Design Team lead of Beforest join the Hydrological scientists at the site of the Mumbai Collective | January 2024

Waterbodies are like the centre of a ripple, indicating that the adjoining lands can turn beautiful, fruitful and full of life. As water cuts through the land to give it shape, water bodies shape the ecosystem around it. Evidently, water bodies signify a thriving ecosystem rich in biodiversity bringing together a plethora of flora and fauna and not only limited to that, it also adds to our sensory stimulations like that of sight, sound, smell and touch. Civilisations have thrived greatly on the banks of rivers because, in all its offerings, sustenance is the key contribution of water bodies in terms of securing a source of water for surrounding life, agriculture and regulating the temperature in the area. 

How to be at the fall of these water bodies, how to maintain the water table and what interventions can be made to prevent and mitigate effects are important questions surrounding any landscape – the ones we are actively asking and working on our 100+ acre Beforest Collectives. Like with any strategic move, it is important to assess the situation from all angles. In the case of preparing water management strategies, knowing what’s available and what is possible is key and hydrological surveys can help us unlock them.

What is a Hydrological Survey?

A hydrological survey is a systematic study and assessment of water-related aspects in a specific area or region. It involves collecting, analysing, and interpreting data related to various components of the hydrological cycle, which includes the movement, distribution, and properties of water on Earth. Hydrological surveys are crucial for understanding and managing water resources, as well as addressing issues such as water availability, quality, and environmental impact.

Hydrological surveys are key for projects related to water resource management, environment conservation, sustainable infrastructure and agricultural development, flood risk assessment and management and hydropower development. The scales and depth of study also vary, from small-scale, site-specific studies, to large-scale river basin examinations and nationwide/global hydrological assessments. Depending on the objectives of the project/undertaking, the data we wish to gather varies too. However, there are certain fundamental components that hydrological surveys of all scales entail.

Key Components of a Hydrological Survey

Surface Water Analysis – Studying rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other surface water bodies. Measurements may include water flow rates, water levels, sediment deposits and transport, and water quality parameters like pH, dissolved solids and more.

TDS water test conducted at the waterbodies identified at the Mumbai Collective in October 2022

Groundwater Analysis – Examining the characteristics of underground water, such as aquifer properties, groundwater levels, and water quality.

Precipitation Studies – Assessing the amount, intensity, and distribution of rainfall in the area.

Evaporation & Transpiration Studies – Evaluating the loss of water from the land surface to the atmosphere through processes like evaporation from water bodies and transpiration from plants.

Water Quality Monitoring – Analyzing the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water to assess its suitability for various uses, such as drinking, agriculture, and industrial purposes.

Infrastructure Study – Assessing the storage capacity of man-made reservoirs and identifying locations where water is withdrawn for various purposes.

Topographic & Geospatial Mapping – Creating detailed maps of the terrain, including elevation and land use data, to understand how water flows naturally across the landscape as well as how different land uses contribute to water runoff and infiltration.

(Although a topographical study is a type of landscape survey on its own, its data is instrumental in studying water flow, and hence it needs to be carried out before the hydrological survey.)

Hydrological Survey at Beforest’s Mumbai Collective

Unlike the Poomalae 1.0 Collective in Coorg, which has streams of fresh water, the 122-acre Mumbai Collective currently does not have an identifiable water source. However, as the site lies in a heavy rainfall region, there’s potential for making the most of the rainwater and recharging groundwater to strategic water management methods. Hence we decided to tackle this challenge the scientific way.

In early January 2024, we began a Hydrogeological Survey at the Mumbai Collective, located in Khopoli, Maharashtra. Our architectural consultants are facilitating the survey led by Geovale, a company that specialises in geological and environmental services. 3 scientists from the company, a geologist, a geophysicist and a hydrogeologist, have been working on-site to conduct the study and gather data points. 

The study lays emphasis on harvesting rainwater runoff and devising strategies for groundwater recharge. The data received from the study will help our team of ecological designers, farm managers, architects, and engineers make informed decisions regarding borewell locations, surface water storage, capacity assessments, and optimal ways of water utilisation for farming, construction, and domestic use. The study will be carried out at different times of the year and in phases to help us get a full picture of the water changes in and around the site of the Mumbai Collective.

Water security is one of our main goals for Beforest Collectives. If water is secured, life is secured. While the terrain of the Mumbai Collective and its dearth of water sources made us take the route of a hydrological survey, the landscape of our 1st farming collective – the Hyderbad Collective – made us take another route towards securing water on an arid, dry landscape. 

Learn about how we are implementing large-scale water management interventions at the 132-acre landscape of the Hyderabad Collective.