Water Conservation — A Dire Necessity
The news of the onset of rains relieves people from the scorching heat and also attracts their attention towards rainwater harvesting. The time has come to save each drop of rainwater from overcoming the terrible water crisis prevailing across the country. Rainwater harvesting used to be an integral part of the village tradition in the past. The rapid urbanization of villages, however, has led to the tendency of neglecting the old techniques of water harvesting.
It is worth mentioning that globally India is among the regions receiving the highest rainfall. On average, it receives about four thousand billion cubic meters of water every year in the form of rains, apart from the water from the melting of glaciers. However, our country can utilize merely 1869 billion cubic meters of rainwater — only forty-six percent. The remaining fifty-four percent flows into the sea untapped through drains and rivers.
Life is well sustained in countries like Israel, which are smaller than our state of Manipur and where the average rainfall is even less than twenty-five centimeters. The shortage of water is not felt there owing to a highly evolved water management system. Instead, it is earning foreign exchange by exporting many homegrown agro-products. So why can't India accomplish this?
Conserving and storing rainwater through various techniques is known as 'Rainwater Harvesting.' The availability of drinking water, especially in summer, is a significant problem in India. The level of groundwater is continually receding, and this is further aggravating the shortage of potable water. Shrinking green cover is the chief cause behind this problem.
Trees not only facilitate the proper occurrence of rainfall but also play a pivotal role in maintaining the optimum level of groundwater. But the rapid pace of development has led to a quick disappearance of our green belt. It is noteworthy that about two years back, India had 2.107 million ponds, apart from millions of wells, lakes, pools, and waterfalls. Earlier, we even had thousands of rivers, but today this number has reduced to hundreds.
The scarcity of clean water in a country where seventy percent of the region is surrounded by water is a grave challenge. Today, sixty million people in our country are facing a severe water crisis. About two hundred thousand people lose their lives every year due to a lack of clean water. This has been revealed by the report of the 'Composite Water Management Index' released by NITI Aayog, which states that by 2030, the demand for water would be double the then existing water resources. This means there will be a severe water crisis for millions of people, and the nation may witness a six percent decline in its GDP.
Methods of Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is useful in many ways — for household chores like cleaning, laundry, and cooking; for industrial use; and for supplementing water supply in summer. If water is appropriately stored in a tank, we can avoid big bills from the Water Department throughout the year. By collecting rainwater in small mediums, we can also prevent catastrophes like floods.
Surface Water Collection System — This system is used to prevent the water falling on the surface of the earth from seeping into the ground. Examples include rivers, ponds, and wells. Drainage pipes can be used here to channelize water.
Roof System — This is the best and easiest method of rainwater harvesting. The water accumulated from this method can be used without being purified by any other means. In this process, the rain falling on the terrace is stored in containers or tanks installed at an elevation; when the tap is opened, water flows under high pressure.
Check Dams — This process is expensive and not feasible at the individual level. Still, the successful construction of dam projects at social and administrative levels can prove quite useful in storing rainwater for long periods and then using them for irrigation through canals.
Underground Tanks — In this system, the water collected on the terrace is channelled through pipes into a reservoir built under the ground. Underground tanks are great for harvesting rainwater as they reduce the rate of evaporation.
The demand for water is increasing in India day by day due to its ever-growing population. Therefore, we should become alert, conscious, and active for water conservation on time so that we do not have to face a water crisis in the future. This problem cannot be solved alone or by a few groups of people — everyone must contribute.
"Thousands have lived without love, not one without water." — W. H. Auden
"Behold! There lies a thin line between using water and wasting water." — Anonymous