In past conversations, we often talk about fossil fuels and the consequences after their extinction but now the time has arrived to focus on depleting water level. Water, being an existential resource for us, is an unprioritized and ignored commodity. We can’t even dream our life without it, nevertheless it is not the point of focus in our planning while developing our society.
India, the world’s oldest civilization once had plenty of water but now many of its cities are facing scarcity of water including the national capital, Delhi. By 2030, 21 Indian cities will run out of the water. This is because our cities and towns have grown without the proper planning of water distribution. Related authorities have warned of water crisis due to the depleting water resources and shrinking monsoons. Now it’s the need of the hour that we should concentrate on the usage and wastage of water. All of us should keep a vigil eye and not let the single unused drop of water go down.
Bengaluru, India’s most developed city is doomed to be the next Cape Town. This city is the Information Technology (IT) capital of India but its urban growth and unforecastable precipitation are going to make it dry. The population of this city is rapidly increasing, In 15 years it doubled to 10 million and as of this year, the population has reached the 12 million mark. Peripheral areas of the city are already dependant on tankers for drinking water supply. Officials have said that by 2023, Bengaluru may run out of the water.
Shimla, a beautiful hill town in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh is the new addition to the list of water-starved cities and towns. Recently, the town has faced many problems regarding water supply. There were strict guidelines for tourists not to visit Shimla for a while. Schools were closed for a week and residents had to wait for 4-5 days to collect water from tankers lining up.
NASA has also confirmed recently that groundwater is declining in India and other parts of the world and according to a TOI’s report, water availability per person dropped 70% between 1951 and 2011. The per person water availability was about 5177 m3 in 1951 which reduced to about 1545 m3 in 2011 and by 2050, it is expected to reduce to just 22% of the present availability.
Most of the Indian cities, depending on dams and reservoirs for their water supply, are heading towards “Day Zero,” which is when the dam levels reach 13.5 percent of its capacity, which is as of March this year in between 30 to 40 percent. Day Zero is the day when people would turn on the tap and nothing would come out of it. Gujarat has already consumed around 70 percent of its groundwater and is placed among the worst offenders in exploiting aquifers for domestic, irrigation and industrial use.
Here are some reasons to clarify that why is India facing water scarcity. Let’s have a look:
• Thirsty Crops
The agriculture sector is the biggest user of groundwater. Crops like wheat, rice, sugarcane need a lot of water which has amplified water scarcity. Also, many areas come under traditional irrigation techniques, like Khadir and Bangar so the stress of the problem tends to continue.
• Fallen Forests
Since the 1990s there is a huge cut-down of forests due to industrialization which had directly affected the monsoon. The rate of precipitation has fallen by 18% in these years. Deforestation reduces the absorption capacity. Therefore, rainwater floods the ground and streams to the nearby river.
• Wastage of Rainwater
Rainwater harvesting is lacking in India, nobody tries to store and use it for various purposes. Rainwater just falls over the ground or dumped into the ditches. Every year it just dries up or gets mixed with the ocean. There are many techniques to store rainwater which should be strictly followed by everyone. Some of the practices are- Rooftop rainwater harvesting through pits, storing rainwater in wells, and more.
• Reduced Snow Cover
Unbearably hot and abridged winters are the reason behind reduced snow cover. The melted ice from glaciers serves as a source of water for northern rivers. But due to global warming, the glaciers are depleting.
• Production of Electricity
As the population is increasing rapidly, proportionately need for power is also increasing. The energy sector is totally dependent on water and this exposes to vulnerabilities. In West Bengal, the entire power plant got shut-down just because of the shortage of water. We should keep one thing in mind- no water, no electricity. We can reduce our electricity usage by installing solar plants and using hydroelectricity only in case of emergencies.
• Drainage of Sewage and Wastewater
Traditional water bodies like- rivers, ponds, streams get polluted by the discharge of chemicals. Strict government orders should be implemented over these issues. NGOs and other social corporations are required to keep an eye over this and take necessary actions. Drainage of sewage and wastewater not only pollutes the water bodies but also harmful to the atmosphere.
Solutions to the problem :
• Water-intensive crops i.e. crops which require more water to grow such as rice, sugarcane, etc. are being treated with groundwater instead of dams or rivers. These crops should be planted in areas having access to surface-water resources such as rivers, streams, reservoirs, and lakes. More than 60% of the country’s agriculture sector is dependent on groundwater which is one of the major cause behind the freshwater level decline in India. Local authorities should look after this issue and implement proper water distribution plans from an alternate source, build reservoirs and also aware farmers of different water harvesting systems. Check Dams should be built on riverbeds to improve groundwater levels.
• Rainwater should not be wasted and should be stored using different techniques like- rooftop harvesting through pits or storing the rainwater in different containers so that it can be used for different purposes.
• Nowadays, everybody has RO purifiers at their home which cause huge wastage of water. For producing 1 bucket of potable water, the Ro purifier dumps 2-3 buckets of wastewater. This wastewater can be used for various purposes such as-toilet flush, for watering plants, and washing clothes.
• Strict government policies should be implemented in cities and towns to regulate water usage. Also, penalties should be imposed on those who pollute water bodies.
• Tree plantation would be very helpful at this high time as trees help in attracting rainfall. Also, this will help in cooling the surrounding air and absorbing water during floods.
There are unlimited ways to save water and you all know that. Aware each and everyone you know out there of arising water crisis problem. Be active and take action if anyone you see is wasting water and even warn your neighbors that groundwater level is going down in our country and tell them to use it carefully because this it is everything.
Singapore is a great example and also an inspiration for India and other countries suffering from water crisis situation. Singapore has no natural water supply and to meet its water demand, the country uses recycled water, desalinization, and artificial reservoirs.
“Water is a precious gift of nature and we have to preserve it.”
Now the time has arrived to take some initiatives. Every one of us should take steps to save water, otherwise, the day is not so far that we will beg for one glass of water. With the right planning, savings, and enforcement of different laws to limit water usage, we can possibly extend the deadline. Let’s all come together to actually make a difference this time.
PC: Udit Angira (IG: dream_photographyudit)
