Bengaluru — borewell recharge
Your borewell is dying. A recharge well is ₹15–30k. New borewell drilling is ₹80k–10L.
Bengaluru's aquifer has been dropping 2–3 m every year for over a decade. Most borewells in the city now go below 800 ft. The cheapest way to keep yours alive is to feed it — a single recharge well next to it captures monsoon rooftop runoff and routes it underground. Free assessment, free comparison.
Independent — we never install. Why →
The numbers, plainly
Recharge well (1 m × 6 m)
₹15,000–30,000
One-time install
New borewell drilling
₹80,000–10,00,000
Depth-dependent, ~₹100/ft
BWSSB fine if you skip RWH
₹5,000 + 50% bill surcharge
Ongoing until compliant
Source: BWSSB Amendment Act 2009; Karnataka Ground Water Authority guidance; aquifer-decline data from ATREE Bengaluru. Last verified 2026-05-12.
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How recharge wells work
- Catchment: rooftop runoff feeds into a downpipe fitted with a first-flush diverter and a 100-micron mesh filter.
- Conveyance: a 4-inch PVC pipe carries clean rainwater to the recharge well — typically located 3–5 m from the existing borewell.
- Recharge well: a 1 m diameter × 6 m deep pit, lined with concrete rings and packed with graded gravel + sand. Capacity ~4,700 L.
- Aquifer:percolation through the gravel refills the soil and aquifer that your borewell draws from. A 100 m² roof can recharge ~50,000 L/year — about 60% of an average Bengaluru home's annual borewell draw.
Frequent questions
What is a recharge well, and how is it different from a tank?
A recharge well is a 1 m × 6 m pit (lined with rings and gravel) that takes rooftop rainwater and routes it underground to replenish the aquifer your borewell pulls from. Tanks store water above-ground for direct household use; recharge wells refill the aquifer. Most Bengaluru homes do well with a hybrid (both).
How fast does a recharge well affect borewell yield?
Aquifer recharge is slow. Expect borewell yield improvement after 1–2 full monsoons. Recharge wells protect the borewell long-term — they're insurance, not a same-day fix.
Will it satisfy the BWSSB mandate?
Yes. Karnataka's RWH mandate (Karnataka Ground Water Authority Act, 2011 amendment) accepts both storage and recharge structures. A properly-built recharge well meets the BWSSB requirement for properties ≥1,200 sqft (new) or ≥2,400 sqft (existing).
How big does the pit need to be?
BWSSB / KSPCB rule of thumb: 20 L of recharge capacity per m² of roof area. For a 100 m² roof, that's 2,000 L of recharge — comfortably covered by a single 1 m × 6 m well (4,700 L capacity).
Can I do this myself?
The pit excavation is straightforward; ring placement and filter media need a qualified plumber/contractor. Our calculator gives you the spec; we connect you with a vetted installer who has done it before in your area.
Pair with rooftop solar
Same roof, same install crew, same one-shot upgrade. Combine solar + RWH and amortise the rooftop-modification cost across both.
Compare rooftop solar offers →Regulation reference: BWSSB rainwater harvesting page · Karnataka mandate full guide. Last verified 2026-05-12.