Water Conservation & Management 

Water is a vital renewable natural resource. The planet Earth is called the ‘water planet’ because 3/4th of the earth’s surface is covered with water. Almost 3.5 billion years ago, life began in the primitive oceans. Even today, the oceans cover 2/3rd  of the earth’s surface and support a rich variety of plant and animal life Despite this abundance, it’s essential to recognize the importance of water conservation, especially considering that ocean water is saline and not fit for direct human consumption.  

Humans use huge amounts of water not only for drinking and washing but also in the process of production, but also underscore the critical need for Water Conservation. 

Water Scarcity and the Need for Water Conservation and Management

• Challenges to Freshwater Supply: Increasing population, industries, generating electricity through reservoirs of dams, rising demands for food and cash crops, increasing urbanization and rising standards of living are the major factors leading to shortages in supply of fresh water.
• It is either due to drying up of water sources or water pollution. 
• Scarce Resource: Only 1% of freshwater is available and fit for human use found as ground water, as surface water in rivers and lakes and as water vapour in the atmosphere, it becomes imperative to emphasize the crucial role of water conservation in preserving.

• Water’s Inexhaustible Cycle: Water can neither be added nor subtracted from the earth. Its total volume remains constant. 
  • Its abundance only seems to vary because it is in constant motion, cycling through the oceans, the air, the land and back again, through the processes of evaporation, precipitation and run-off known as the ‘water cycle’. 
• Global Water Scarcity Challenges: There is scarcity of water in most of Africa, West Asia, South Asia, parts of western USA, north-west Mexico, parts of South America and entire Australia. 

• • Water shortage is a consequence of variation in seasonal or annual precipitation and water scarcity is caused by overexploitation, excessive use, unequal access to water among different social groups and contamination of water sources. 
  • Access to clean and adequate water sources is a major problem facing the world today. 

Balancing India’s Water Wealth: Status, Challenges, and the Imperative of water Conservation 

• Status: India accounts for about 2.45% of the world’s surface area, 4% of the world’s water resources and about 16% of the world’s population. 
  • The total water available from precipitation in the country in a year is about 4,000 cubic km. 
• Surface Water Resources: There are four major sources of surface water. These are rivers, lakes, ponds, and tanks. 
• The Mean Annual Flow: In all the river basins in India, it is estimated to be 1,869 cubic km.
  • However, due to topographical, hydrological and other constraints, only about 690 cubic km (32%) of the available surface water can be utilized, underscoring the critical importance of water conservation efforts. 

• Factors Influencing River Flow: Water flow in a river depends on the size of its catchment area or river basin and rainfall within its catchment area. 
  • Precipitation in India has very high spatial variation, and it is mainly concentrated in the Monsoon season. Implementing effective water conservation practices within these catchment areas becomes paramount for maintaining a sustainable river flow. 
• Dominant Catchment Areas: Some of the rivers in the country like the Ganga, the Brahmaputra, and the Indus have huge catchment areas. 
  • These rivers, although account for only about 1/3rd of the total area in the country, have 60% of the total surface water resources, emphasizing the urgent need for water conservation strategies to preserve these vital water sources. 
  • Much of the annual water flow in south Indian rivers like the Godavari, the Krishna, and the Kaveri has been harnessed, but it is yet to be done in the Brahmaputra and the Ganga basins (Refer Figure 7.19).

• Groundwater Resources: The groundwater utilization is very high in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. 
  • However, states like Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Kerala, etc., utilize only a small proportion of their groundwater potentials, highlighting the significance of sustainable groundwater management and water conservation practices(Refer Table 7.1). 
  • If the present trend continues, the demands for water would need the supplies and such a situation, will be detrimental to development, and can cause social upheaval and disruptions. 
• Lagoons and Backwaters: India has a vast coastline and the coast is very indented in some states. 
  • Due to this, a number of lagoons and lakes have formed.
  • The States like Kerala, Orissa and West Bengal have vast surface water resources in these lagoons and lakes. 

Although, water is generally brackish in these water-bodies, it is used for fishing and irrigating certain varieties of paddy crops, coconut, etc, emphasizing the need for careful and sustainable water use in coastal areas through water conservation initiatives.

Managing Water Demands: The Role of Farming, Irrigation, and Water Conservation 

• About 2/3rd of India’s population have been dependent on agriculture, highlighting the critical link between water conservation and sustainable farming practices. 
  • Hence, development of irrigation to increase agricultural production has been assigned a very high priority in the Five Year Plans, and multipurpose river valleys projects like the Bhakra-Nangal, Hirakud, Damodar Valley, Nagarjuna Sagar, Indira Gandhi Canal Project, etc. have been taken up, emphasizing the dual goals of enhancing agricultural output and integrating water conservation measures into these strategic initiatives.
• In fact, India’s water demand at present is dominated by irrigational needs.  
• However, in the future, the shares of industrial and domestic sectors in the country are likely to increase. 
• Demand of Water for Irrigation: Irrigation is needed in agriculture because of spatio-temporal variability in rainfall in the country. 
  • Drought-Prone Regions in India: The large tracts of the country are deficient in rainfall and are drought prone such as north-western India and Deccan plateau. 
  • Irrigation Requirements for Key Crops:: Water needs of certain crops such as rice, sugarcane, jute, etc. also makes irrigation necessary. Recognizing the imperative for water conservation practices is crucial. 
    • It has been found that irrigated lands have higher agricultural productivity than unirrigated land. 

• • Irrigation as the Catalyst: Further, the high yielding varieties of crops need regular moisture supply, which is made possible only by developed irrigation systems. Recognizing the imperative for water conservation practices is crucial.
    • This is why the Green Revolution has been successful in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. 
    • In these states more than 85% of their net sown area is under irrigation. 
    • Wheat and rice are grown mainly with the help of irrigation in these states. 
• This widespread dependence has triggered a concerning decline in the groundwater table in these states
  • Extensive Well and Tube Well Irrigation: Of the total net irrigated area 76.1% in Punjab and 51.3% in Haryana are irrigated through wells and tube wells which has led to decline in ground water table in these states. Implementing water conservation practices is essential.
  • Groundwater Quality Concerns: In fact, over withdrawals in some states like Rajasthan, and Maharashtra has increased fluoride concentration in ground-water, and this practice has led to increase in concentration of arsenic in parts of West Bengal and Bihar, underscoring the urgent need for water conservation measures to safeguard and maintain the quality of groundwater resources. 

Conclusion
In conclusion, prioritizing water conservation is paramount to sustain India’s growing demands. Implementing efficient irrigation practices, safeguarding groundwater quality, and  integrating water conservation strategies are vital steps towards ensuring a resilient and equitable water future for all.

Also Read: Water Conservation: Preservation, management & Public Awareness