Research
Welcome to WELL Labs’ knowledge repository. As a futures institute that enables research-based solutions and impact, we prioritise making our insights accessible to social innovators, researchers, allied communities and the public at large.
Addressing Depletion in Alluvial Aquifers
Why Context Matters in Participatory Groundwater Management
Situation Analysis: Chikkaballapur-Chintamani Transformation Lab
This situation analysis report explores the water supply and sewerage challenges and solutions in Chintamani town and Chikkaballapur district in Karnataka. It also presents a way forward for water resources management in India’s rapidly urbanising peri-urban regions.
Enhancing Water Security in Rural India with Digital Tools: Insights from Field Testing
As climate change exacerbates water scarcity in India, integrating digital tools with participatory community planning becomes essential.
Creating Kaveri Delta beneath our feet: An experiment in grounding socio-hydrology in Tamil Nadu, India
This study explores how socio-hydrology can be grounded in real-world contexts through an experimental approach in Tamil Nadu’s Kaveri Delta, integrating science with society.
Monitoring and Evaluation of Recharge Pits in Marathwada (Part 1)
WELL Labs and EDF conducted a monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) study to assess the impact of recharge pits on groundwater recharge and waterlogging mitigation in the basaltic region of Maharashtra.
Policy Brief: Augmenting Farmer Income With On-farm Carbon and Water Trade-offs
Agroecology has the potential to mitigate the adverse effects of unsustainable monoculture practices. However, it encounters barriers to widespread adoption, largely due to perceived short-term sacrifices against long-term benefits.
Rural Water and Sanitation in India: Emerging Challenges and Livelihood Opportunities
This report is a rapid literature survey of the rural water and sanitation landscape of India. It aims to converge on identifying the choke points and key issues in rural WASH systems and understand what specific measures are needed to support frontline workers who contribute to better WASH outcomes.
Mapping Water in a Small Town: Insights from Chintamani, Karnataka
We partnered with TIDE and BORDA to conduct an urban water balance exercise for the town of Chintamani in southern Karnataka. Through field surveys and hydrological modelling, we narrowed down on key problem areas and identified possible solutions that will help the town leapfrog to more sustainable water management.
Raichur Roundtable: Equitable Water-Sharing for Sustainable Transitions in Agriculture
Along with the India Climate Collaborative, we convened a roundtable to bring together key stakeholders to discuss the future of water for transformation of agricultural landscapes.
Exploring the use of data and models in transboundary water governance
This study highlights how data and models in transboundary water governance require sensitive, context-aware application, emphasizing political realities, local engagement, and transdisciplinary collaboration for successful cooperation.