Survey
Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.
Ponds and lakes in Ernakulam (Kochi, Cochin)
4,042ponds, out of 4,416 water bodies
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 4,416 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Ernakulam district. 699 of them (16%) were not in use and 17 had been encroached upon. Ernakulam has the 7th most ponds of the 14 districts in Kerala the census counted.
Every water body the census counted in Ernakulam
699 of 4,416 water bodies (16%) are not in use: dried up, silted, built over or polluted. Bringing them back is one of the cheapest ways to recharge groundwater.
Loading the map of water bodies in Ernakulam…
- Ponds4,042
- Tanks204
- Reservoirs2
- Check dams and percolation tanks95
- Others73
Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).
Why Ernakulam's ponds matter for its groundwater
43%Safe
Ernakulam pumps out 43% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year (2025, Central Ground Water Board), which the board rates safe. Working ponds are a large part of what keeps it there, by letting rain soak back into the ground.
Bringing a pond in Ernakulam back
Most ponds that are not in use can be revived. The work is the same in a village or a city sector:
Desilt
Dig out the silt that has sealed the bed, so water soaks into the ground again instead of evaporating.
Reconnect
Clear and line the channels that bring rain in, with a silt trap before the pond; divert sewage away from it.
Recharge
Add recharge shafts or wells in the bed where the soil is tight, so water reaches the aquifer faster.
Protect
Fence or plant the banks, mark the boundary and hand upkeep to the panchayat or residents' body.
Frequently asked questions
How many ponds are there in Ernakulam?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 4,042 ponds in Ernakulam district, out of 4,416 water bodies in all. That is the 7th most ponds of 14 districts in Kerala counted by the census.
How many lakes are there in Ernakulam?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 0 lakes and 2 reservoirs in Ernakulam district, along with 204 tanks.
How many water bodies in Ernakulam are not in use?
699 of the 4,416 water bodies (16%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 17 had been encroached upon.
How do ponds help groundwater in Ernakulam?
A working pond holds rain long enough for it to soak into the ground and refill wells and borewells nearby. A silted or encroached pond sends that rain down the drain instead. Desilting, reopening inlets and adding recharge shafts in the pond bed are among the cheapest ways to recharge groundwater.
Is groundwater in Ernakulam running out?
In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Ernakulam district pumped out 43% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("safe").
Ponds in other districts of Kerala
Districts ranked by number of ponds in the 1st Census of Water Bodies.
- 1Palakkad5,988 water bodies, 16% not in use5,795
- 2Kozhikkode6,192 water bodies, 21% not in use5,711
- 3Malappuram5,983 water bodies, 15% not in use5,185
- 4Thrissur5,023 water bodies, 13% not in use4,926
- 5Kannur5,314 water bodies, 14% not in use4,699
- 6Alappuzha4,239 water bodies, 28% not in use4,219
- 7Idukki3,792 water bodies, 6% not in use3,307
- 8Kottayam3,506 water bodies, 20% not in use3,052
- 9Thiruvananthapuram2,649 water bodies, 15% not in use2,548
- 10Kasargod2,880 water bodies, 16% not in use2,431
- 11Kollam2,352 water bodies, 22% not in use2,278
- 12Wayanad1,943 water bodies, 11% not in use1,434
- 13Pathanamthitta1,457 water bodies, 12% not in use1,380