Water table depth in Jaisalmer
Most of the 74 wells the Central Ground Water Board measured in Jaisalmer read 20–40 m. 69% were deeper than 20 m, beyond the reach of hand pumps and shallow borewells.
How deep the water is in Jaisalmer's wells
Monitoring wells in each depth band, measured before the 2018 monsoon, when the water table is at its lowest.
- 0–2 m0% of wells0
- 2–5 m1% of wells1
- 5–10 m15% of wells11
- 10–20 m15% of wells11
- 20–40 m39% of wells29
- over 40 m30% of wells22
Is groundwater in Jaisalmer running out?
Jaisalmer pumps out 322% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year (2025, Central Ground Water Board). More is pumped out than rain puts back, so the water table keeps falling. Recharging rain from roofs and open ground is the way to lift the water table back up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the water table depth in Jaisalmer?
In CGWB's pre-monsoon 2018 readings, groundwater in Jaisalmer stood 4.9 m to 106.8 m below ground (16 to 350 ft) across 74 monitoring wells. Most of them read 20–40 m.
How deep is a borewell in Jaisalmer?
A borewell has to reach well below the water level, and in summer the level drops further, so in Jaisalmer it has to go past 106.8 m (350 ft) where wells read deepest. The exact depth depends on where the water-bearing rock or sand layer is, which a local hydrogeologist or driller can tell from nearby bores.
Is the water table falling in Jaisalmer?
Jaisalmer pumps out 322% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year (2025), rated over-exploited. Pumping more than rain puts back means the water table keeps falling. That is 29 points higher than in 2017.
How deep should a rainwater recharge bore be in Jaisalmer?
About 120 ft is typical where most wells read 20–40 m, deep enough to pass the clay layers that block water and reach sand or fractured rock that carries it down to the water table. The final depth is set on site from the soil seen while drilling.
Source: District-wise Depth to Water Level and Distribution of Percentage of Wells for the Period of Premonsoon, 2018 (one PDF per State/UT), Central Ground Water Board. Levels vary between neighbourhoods and fall further in a dry year, so a reading near you can differ.