Water Crisis in India

Earth is the only known planet in this universe where life is possible only because of the availability of water and oxygen. With two thirds of the earth's !!surface covered by water and the human body consisting of 75 percent of it, it is evidently clear that water is one of the prime elements responsible for life on earth. Every living organism needs water for survival. The transparent liquid is precious and everyone loves when it goes down the throat.

India is now facing a water situation that is significantly worse than any of the previous generations have had to face. A UN Report has described India's water pollution situation as a time bomb. India is able to treat just 10% of its city sewage and industrial waste discharge that is the most polluting source for rivers and water bodies. All Indian water bodies within and near population centres are polluted with organic waste. Interstate disputes over river waters are becoming increasingly widespread. Not a single Indian city can provide clean water 24x7 basis.

India’s huge population makes it very vulnerable when it comes to water shortage and scarcity. About 330 million people in the country now suffer from regular water shortage issues. Last year some 300 districts spread across 13 states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh suffered from an acute shortage in the supply of drinking water.

India’s economy is largely dependent on its agriculture. Water shortage and drought not only affect the rural districts but also have a disastrous effect on inflation and economic progress. With alarming issues like farmer suicides surfacing, it is time we Indians introspect and take a harder look at water wastage in the county.

Alarming Statistics

• Per capita availability of water in India has gone down from 6,042 cubic meter in 1947 to about 1,545 cubic meter in 2011.

• By 2050, India’s burgeoning population and water scarcity will reach alarming proportions.

• Over 90 percent of the waste water discharged into rivers, lakes, and ponds is untreated and leads to further contamination of fresh water sources.

• The greatest waste of fresh water comes from lack of adequate storage and utilization facilities of river waters.

• India has no desalination facilities to use the abundant seawater resources.

Water supply in India has two principal sources, namely water from rivers and groundwater. Surface water conditions are bad. However, the groundwater situation is even worse. Groundwater extraction is growing and has become increasingly unsustainable. Consequently, in many parts of the country, groundwater levels are declining steadily. In some parts, the levels are declining by more than one meter per year. A lack of proper wastewater treatment from domestic, industrial, and mining sources has meant that groundwater is being progressively contaminated by known and unknown pollutants, increasing the potential health risks to humans and ecosystems.

In India water wasted is more than water used effectively. As we all know that around 2 or less percent water is fresh water on the earth and fit for human consumption. Most of the water is locked up in glaciers, snow, ice and others are in the form of open source. So it is necessary to use water in its most efficient way and reduce the wastage of water. Following are save water techniques which we must use to save water at home and other places:

• Keep the tap close while doing hand wash, tooth brush, face wash, washing dishes, etc.

• Collect rain water during rainy season to use in toilet flush, watering plants, etc. Using raw water like sea water or non-purified water in toilet is also good.

• We should be habitual of reusing or recycling waste water.

• Water saving techniques should also be given priority in the commercial areas as it is a big area where gallons of water can be saved on daily basis.

• There should be universal metering for water supply to each home just like electricity.

• The growth of more water-efficient crops adopting less irrigation should be promoted as only crop irrigation takes around 70% of the world’s fresh water.

Water saving techniques should be promoted among people living in the societies, communities, villages including business sections as they are the main water users in rough manner. Farmers, children, and women should be taught properly about how to use and save water in efficient manner. They must understand the value of water in their life. Clean water scarcity is not a problem in India; it is a global issue which needs to be solved globally by increasing awareness about it among people worldwide.

If Drops Can Make An Ocean, They Can Finish Too!

So, Save Water!!