3. Water Resources
Introduction
This lesson begins with a conversation between two students – Chintu and Pinky. The conclusion of their conversation are:
i. Water is life giving and
ii. Water is life threatening
We know that three fourth of the earth’s surface is covered with water and water is renewed through hydrological cycle therefore we categorise water as a renewable resource.
Importance of water
- Drinking
- Cooking
- Washing and sanitation
- Irrigation (agriculture)
- Industries (cooling machines and manufacturing)
- Hydroelectric Power Generation
- Fisheries and transportation
Questions to be discussed
- If three-fourth of the world is covered with water and water is a renewable resource, then how is it that countries and regions around the globe suffer from water scarcity?
- Why is it predicted that by 2025, nearly two billion people will live in absolute water scarcity?
Water Scarcity and the Need For Water Conservation and Management
1. Meaning of Water Scarcity
Water scarcity is generally associated with regions that receive low rainfall or are prone to drought. When we think of water scarcity, we immediately visualise the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, where women often carry matkas (earthen pots) over long distances to collect water. However, water scarcity can also occur in regions that receive abundant rainfall. This may happen due to water pollution and contamination, which make the available water unfit for human consumption and other uses.
Water scarcity means a situation in which the available water is not sufficient to meet the needs of people, agriculture, industries and other activities.
Although water is abundant and renewable, it can still become scarce because of:
- Over-exploitation of water
- Excessive use of water
- Unequal access to water
- Increasing population and demand
Causes of Water scarcity in the areas or region having ample water resources:
- Large and growing population – A large population increases the demand for water.
- Increasing domestic demand – More people require more water for drinking, cooking, washing, sanitation and other household needs.
- Increasing demand for food – A growing population requires more food, which increases the need for water in agriculture.
- Over-exploitation of water resources – Water resources are excessively used to meet the growing demands of the population and agriculture.
- Expansion of irrigated areas – More water is diverted for irrigation, particularly to support dry-season agriculture and increase food-grain production.
- Unequal access to water – Even where sufficient water is available, its unequal distribution and access can cause water scarcity for certain people or areas.
In the field of agriculture we can adopt following methods to minimise water usage:
- By developing drought resistant crops like pulses, millets etc.
- Adopting dry farming techniques such as drip irrigation and sprinkle irrigation etc.