Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Oct 9: In a major innovation for urban water sustainability, Bengaluru-based siblings — Veruschka Pandey (17) and Vedansh Pandey (20) — have been awarded an Indian patent for designing what is believed to be the country’s first groundwater recharge system that channels stormwater through city drains into open wells.
The system, developed after years of observation and experimentation, integrates precision-drilled concrete rings and slotted galvanised iron (GI) pipes into existing stormwater drains (SWDs). It diverts rainwater runoff into the ground, allowing it to naturally percolate into aquifers — thereby helping both prevent flooding and mitigate water scarcity.
Vedansh, a student of environmental engineering, and Veruschka, a class 12 student who also serves as a WHO Youth Ambassador and UN speaker, said the inspiration came from growing up in Bengaluru where monsoons flood roads even as borewells run dry.
“Our system makes the city work with water instead of against it,” said Veruschka. “We wanted to turn stormwater from a nuisance into an asset.”
The design involves embedding open wells into SWD beds lined with concrete rings, drilled with weep holes to allow water entry. Slotted GI pipes, commonly used in raw and treated water systems, help regulate flow and prevent clogging. This enables rapid percolation during monsoons and gradual recharge in dry months, while naturally filtering the water.
Unlike conventional recharge pits, this system uses no extra land and connects directly into the stormwater infrastructure already laid across most Indian cities.
Experts say the innovation offers a scalable model for water-stressed urban regions, especially as climate extremes become more frequent.
The siblings' invention has drawn interest from urban planners and sustainability experts across India.