Mazhapolima is a community-based roof-rainwater harvesting and open well recharge project being implemented in Thrissur district. The project works with a simple logic: harvest rainwater, channel the harvested rainwater either directly to the open well (after passing through a sand and gravel filter) or put it into recharge pits constructed next to an open well. In total 24,989 well recharge units have been implemented by Mazhapolima in the entire state. The project was funded by Kerala State Disaster Management Authority through State Disaster Response Fund and through the plan funds of KSDMA at various instances vide the following Government Orders.

Government Order  Amount
GO (Rt) No. 3298/2008/DMD dated 21-10-2008

 ₹1 crore

GO (Rt) No. 5708/2013/DMD dated 25-10-2013 ₹2 crores
GO (Rt) No. 5634/2015/DMD dated 8-05-2015 ₹1 crore
GO (Rt) No. 970/2016/DMD dated 8-02-2016 ₹16 lakhs

Mazhapolima was recognized as a project for drought risk reduction vide GO (Rt) No. 5634/2015/DMD dated 8-05-2015 in all the districts through the District Authorities. Center for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), an autonomous research and development institution under the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment located at Kozhikode conducted an impact assessment in the year 2011. This report makes substantial evidence for promoting this activity across the state. The analysis of the hydro- geological data generated from the study area indicates that direct well recharge by rainfall harvested from rooftops is augmenting the groundwater reservoir. The increase in utilizable groundwater potential with Mazhapolima is estimated for the sample area representing highland, midland and lowland is about 7.22, 14.08, and 43.35 Million liters respectively. The study also indicates that the impact of direct well recharge on groundwater regime in coastal and midland region is very significant, whereas in highland region it is marginal. Details of the project may be found here