Hydrogeologist Vivek Grewal helps host Pavan Srinath understand the aquifers and the groundwater in South India's hard-rock landscapes. This is a third episode of The WELL Labs Show.

The conversation explores why borewells keep getting deeper year after year, why wells dry up by January even after a good monsoon, and what it actually takes to address groundwater challenges in regions with hard rock.

Drawing on simple analogies, field experiences from WELL Labs’ technical consulting work across rural South India, and years of hydrological research, Vivek explains what granite and gneiss are and why they matter for groundwater, how water is stored and moves through cracks and fractures in hard rock, and how the borewell revolution fundamentally altered groundwater use. The discussion also examines how traditional tank systems, and recharge processes shape water security, and how WELL Labs approaches diagnosing groundwater problems on the ground before designing interventions.

Vivek Grewal is the managing partner with the Technical Consulting programme at WELL Labs. He has around 9+ years of experience in the water sector. He is passionate about taking the science of hydrology to the grassroots organisations.

Pavan Srinath is the Managing Partner for Communications and Development at WELL Labs. Pavan is a communications and public policy professional who has spent over 14 years working in Bangalore's not-for-profit sector.

This episode is essential viewing for anyone working on water security, agriculture, rural development, or groundwater governance, as well as for those trying to understand why South India’s water challenges are fundamentally different from those of the Gangetic plains.The WELL Labs Show features rich conversations on water, environment, land and livelihoods, from the people and partners of WELL Labs.

Hosted by Pavan Srinath, each episode explores complex environmental and social issues and helps you understand the systems and the dynamics better. For all references and further readings related to the episode, visit the WELL Labs website.

Subscribe to the WELL Labs YouTube channel @welllabs and watch all episodes on the official playlist here.

Recording by Nabina Chakraborty, Nanditha Gogate and Vraj Acharya. Video editing by Nabina Chakraborty. Graphics and artwork by Aparna Nambiar. Podcast production and management by Nabina Chakraborty and Pavan Srinath.