Transforming Existing Infrastructure into a Water- Positive Asset

Spread across ~25 acres in the heart of Ahmedabad, Gujarat Cancer Society functions as a dynamic ecosystem—housing a hospital, medical college, and research Centre with continuous heavy water demand. With rising needs and regulatory requirements, the focus was to achieve compliance while progressing towards long-term water neutrality through scientific rainwater and groundwater management solutions.

The Existing Scenario

The campus had a mix of operational and non-operational recharge wells (borewells), many of which were not performing to their full potential. Instead of defaulting to new infrastructure, the focus was on understanding existing recharge well performance, borewell condition, and maintenance potential — before undertaking new development.

This approach aligns with efficient recharge well maintenance cost optimization and sustainable infrastructure planning.

Scientific Assessment

A detailed recharge well condition survey was carried out to assess the structural integrity, recharge behavior, and hydrogeological potential of the existing system.

The study involved:

• Internal health and depth assessments.
• Visual inspection using specialized borewell camera systems.
• Structural and water level observations.
• Controlled recharge rate and percolation behavior analysis.

All evaluations were conducted under the guidance of a certified hydrogeologist, ensuring accurate aquifer-level understanding.

Key Insights

The assessment indicated:

• Restricted or inefficient recharge pathways in several wells.
• Absence or inadequacy of filtration systems in some recharge structures.
• Variations in structural and functional condition across the network.

While a significant portion of the wells showed strong potential for borewell rejuvenation and recharge well revival, a few were identified as unsuitable for further use.

Approach

The guiding principle remained:

• Maximize existing assets. Intervene where necessary. Build only when required.
• Select recharge wells were revived through borewell cleaning and rejuvenation processes.
• Functional wells were optimized through maintenance and performance enhancement.
• Engineered scientific filtration system were installed.
• Additional recharge wells were strategically introduced as part of an integrated stormwater management and groundwater recharge plan.

All decisions were aligned with site-specific hydrogeology and aquifer recharge behavior, ensuring long-term sustainability.

The Core Insight

This project demonstrates that effective borewell condition assessment, recharge well maintenance, and scientific groundwater recharge planning can unlock significant value —not by adding more infrastructure, but by making existing systems work better, and expanding only where it truly adds value.