Conserving Water As A National Commodity

Submitted by: Jimit Shah (2011B09) Pranshu Sahni (2011B20) Augustus Simon (2011B31) Aniket Mukherji (2011B42) Aditya Ranade (2011B53)

Contents
1 Part 1 ............................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Chapter 1: What is Water Conservation? ............................................................................... 5

1.2 Chapter 2: The current situation of water resources highlighting the need for water conservation ....................................................................................................................................... 5 2 Part 2 ............................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Chapter 3: History of Water Conservation in India................................................................. 8 Historical Background ..................................................................................................... 8 Some ancient Indian methods of water conservation .................................................... 8

2.1.1 2.1.2 2.2

Chapter 4: Past Movements ................................................................................................... 8 Pani Roko Abhiyan .......................................................................................................... 8 Rajiv Gandhi Mission For Watershed Management Programme ................................... 9

2.2.1 2.2.2 3

Part 3 ............................................................................................................................................. 10 3.1 Chapter 4: The Different Methods of Water Conservation .................................................. 10 Rain Water Harvesting .................................................................................................. 10 Lakes and Depressions .................................................................................................. 10 Floodplain Reservoirs .................................................................................................... 10 Quarry Reservoirs.......................................................................................................... 10 Historical Water Bodies................................................................................................. 11 Paleo-Channels.............................................................................................................. 11 Check Dams ................................................................................................................... 11 Village Ponds ................................................................................................................. 11 Ecoparks ........................................................................................................................ 11

3.1.1 3.1.2 3.1.3 3.1.4 3.1.5 3.1.6 3.1.7 3.1.8 3.1.9 3.2 4

Chapter 5: Recommendations and Conclusion ..................................................................... 12

References .................................................................................................................................... 13

Acknowledgement
It gives us great pleasure in expressing our sincere thanks and profound gratitude to our Professor, Mr. Vivek Date for valuable inputs during the course of the Infrastructure lectures and to SMCHRD for having this course as a part of our curriculum.

Executive Summary
Global Freshwater reserves are rapidly depleting and this is expected to significantly impact many densely populated areas of the world. India is no exception and will face water stress in the future, unless existing water reserves are managed effectively. By 2025, India will face water scarcity if adequate and sustainable water management initiatives are not implemented. Under such circumstances, water conservation become an issue of national importance and there springs a need to focus on reducing consumption through improved water management techniques and practices and also improving infrastructure to store water. Water is a critical input for agriculture and it calls for more effective utilization of the existing irrigation potential, expansion of irrigation at an economic cost where possible and better water management in rainfed areas where assured irrigation is not possible. Clearly, in this area past policies have been inadequate and the performance in expanding irrigation has been disappointing. Thanks to resources being spread thinly over many projects and a large number of irrigation projects remaining under construction for many years. Through this paper, we have tried to put forth the current scenario of water problem in India and the ever-increasing need or water conservation. India has been ecologically conscientious since the past and there are a number of indigenous water conservation methods which were in practice earlier. Using such methods again will supplement the new and improved water conservation techniques and will help avert a potential crisis. In this paper, we have enlisted some modern techniques of water conservation that must be implemented in the waterfed areas to help cope up with the demands in the area.

1 Part 1
1.1 Chapter 1: What is Water Conservation?
Water conservation means using our water wisely and caring for it properly. It refers to reducing the usage of water and recycling of waste water for different purposes such as cleaning, manufacturing, and agricultural irrigation. Water conservation can be defined as: Any beneficial reduction in water loss, use or waste as well as the preservation of water quality. A reduction in water use accomplished by implementation of water conservation or water efficiency measures; or, Improved water management practices that reduce or enhance the beneficial use of water. A water conservation measure is an action, behavioural change, device, technology, or improved design or process implemented to reduce water loss, waste, or use. Water efficiency is a tool of water conservation. That results in more efficient water use and thus reduces water demand. The value and cost-effectiveness of a water efficiency measure must be evaluated in relation to its effects on the use and cost of other natural resources (e.g. energy or chemicals).

Water conservation is a practice in which people, companies, and governments attempt to reduce their water usage. The goal of water conservation may be to address an on-going water shortage, or to make lifestyle modifications to be more environmentally friendly. In the late 20th century, water emerged as a major issue, especially in the developing world, where many people lack access to safe drinking water, and the issue of water conservation began to attract a great deal of attention. Since each of us depends on water for life, it is our responsibility to learn more about water conservation and how we can help keep our water pure and safe for generations to come. Since we all enjoy the benefits of having pure, clean water, we must help conserve water so that we may continue to enjoy these benefits.

1.2 Chapter 2: The current situation of water resources highlighting the need for water conservation
India receives abundant rains. The average annual precipitation is estimated to be 4000 billion m3. Only a 1000 billion m3/year is available as usable surface water and ground water. At present the water consumption in India is about 750 billion m3/year for all the applications, viz. agricultural, industrial, domestic and commercial. Assuming a conservative figure of per capita water consumption of 1000 m3/year, the water availability in the country is likely to get fully stretched by the year 2010 unless augmentation is planned right now. The consumption norm of a 1000 m3/year is only 10-20% of the per capita consumption in industrialized countries.

Most of Indias rainfall is received within 4 months of 'monsoon' season between June and September, or is more precise, during less than 100 hours of precipitation spread over these four months. Most of this water is lost. A small part of it goes into soil and recharges ground water, but most of it evaporates and is lost. Traditionally, till the middle of twentieth century, India largely managed its water needs by its major rivers, and rainfall, supplemented by traditional water bodies called by different names like 'johad', 'talab', bavdi, or 'jheel' - most of which were nothing but natural or man-made ponds that collected water during rainfall that was used by surrounding villagers for various purposes. After the great demographic divide of 1919, after which the population of India started exploding, these sources were unable to satisfy the needs. As a result more and more people resorted to drilling for groundwater. Today, the groundwater levels are falling everywhere throughout the country. In some cities they are falling at an alarming rate of almost 10 meters every year, indicating a crisis. The realisation that ground water will not last forever have resulted in a strong demand for finding solutions to water scarcity that threatens the country. Though there is a realisation for water conservation policy, a comprehensive policy in this regard is yet to emerge.

Let us look at some more facts regarding the situation of water: India with 16% of the world's population has only 4% of the fresh water resources. Per capita availability of fresh water in India has dropped from 5,177 cubic meters in 1951 to 1,820 cubic meters in 2001. Similar to the whole World, Agriculture dominates the ground water (92%) and surface water (89) withdrawals and is followed by industrial sector and domestic sector respectively. Indias projected demand is expected to touch 1.5 trillion cubic metres while supply might stay at the current level of 740 billion cubic metres, warns a report by the 2030 Water Resources Group, titled Charting our Water Future, which was released in Washington DC on Monday. The first two are centres for agricultural demand and India is likely to see the biggest water gap of 50%, followed by China at 25%, where both populations and incomes will grow. India will be able to meet only half its water demand by 2030, with every third person having access to less than 50% of his or her daily water requirement if water management continues in its current pattern. In many rural areas, women still have to walk a distance of about 2.5 kilometres to reach the source of water. On an average, a rural woman walks more than 14000 km a year just to fetch water. Urban situation is no better. Water is rationed twice a week in Bangalore, and for 30 minutes a day in Bhopal.

2 Part 2
2.1 Chapter 3: History of Water Conservation in India
2.1.1 Historical Background Our ancient religious texts and epics give a good insight into the water storage and conservation systems that prevailed in those days. Over the years rising populations, growing industrialization, and expanding agriculture have pushed up the demand for water. Efforts have been made to collect water by building dams and reservoirs and digging wells; some countries have also tried to recycle and desalinate (remove salts) water. Water conservation has become the need of the day. The idea of ground water recharging by harvesting rainwater is gaining importance in many cities. In the forests, water seeps gently into the ground as vegetation breaks the fall. This groundwater in turn feeds wells, lakes, and rivers. Protecting forests means protecting water 'catchments'. In ancient India, people believed that forests were the 'mothers' of rivers and worshipped the sources of these water bodies. 2.1.2 Some ancient Indian methods of water conservation The Indus Valley Civilization, that flourished along the banks of the river Indus and other parts of western and northern India about 5,000 years ago, had one of the most sophisticated urban water supply and sewage systems in the world. The fact that the people were well acquainted with hygiene can be seen from the covered drains running beneath the streets of the ruins at both Mohenjodaro and Harappa. Another very good example is the well-planned city of Dholavira, on Khadir Bet, a low plateau in the Rann in Gujarat. One of the oldest water harvesting systems is found about 130 km from Pune along Naneghat in the Western Ghats. A large number of tanks were cut in the rocks to provide drinking water to tradesmen who used to travel along this ancient trade route. Each fort in the area had its own water harvesting and storage system in the form of rock-cut cisterns, ponds, tanks and wells that are still in use today. A large number of forts like Raigad had tanks that supplied water. In ancient times, houses in parts of western Rajasthan were built so that each had a rooftop water harvesting system. Rainwater from these rooftops was directed into underground tanks. This system can be seen even today in all the forts, palaces and houses of the region. Underground baked earthen pipes and tunnels to maintain the flow of water and to transport it to distant places, are still functional at Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh, Golkunda and Bijapur in Karnataka, and Aurangabad in Maharashtra.

2.2 Chapter 4: Past Movements

2.2.1 Pani Roko Abhiyan The state's week-long water conservation campaign, Pani Roko Abhiyan takes up water conservation activities in drought affected villages. As one enters these villages, one can see handpumps, roof water-collecting funnels and filter tanks installed by the residents. From this, the

water collected is diverted towards the tubewell for recharging. A house's wastewater flowing is used in a soak pit so that the water can get filtered and then go for recharge. The villagers participate in the process instantly. Water conservation campaign is the theme of the state government's annual Gram Sampark Abhiyan, where the authorities meet the villagers to create a better atmosphere for governance. The community based watershed movement under the Rajiv Gandhi Watershed Development Mission (RGWDM) has given a massive start to the current campaign of social movement for water conservation in all the villages of the state. 2.2.2 Rajiv Gandhi Mission For Watershed Management Programme Rajiv Gandhi Mission for Watershed Management programme (Madhya Pradesh) was started in October, 1994 for sustainable development of area on watershed basis. It not only aims at conservation of natural resources like land and water, but also attempts to improve economic conditions of villagers by enhancing their employment opportunities in their village. This programme has innovated the approach of watershed management through community participation. The goal set for the Watershed Management Mission was to improve land and water resources in environmentally degraded villages to improve productivity and thereby incomes of the people in these areas. 2.2.2.1 Strategies People-centred integrated watershed management. Combines the twin objectives of poverty reduction and environment management by addressing the linkage. Locate funds by greening investment under rural employment programmes like Employment Assurance Scheme and from area development programmes like Drought Prone Areas Programme and Integrated Wasteland Development Programme. Work executed through Watershed Committees consisting of User Groups, Self-Help Groups and Credit Groups. Government through Mission provides technical and financial support. 2.2.2.2 Performance The Mission which started in, 1994 has grown to be Indias largest watershed management programme covering nearly 35 lakh hectares covering 7600 villages which is 1% of Indias land. Highlights of performance of the Mission are detailed below: 2.2.2.3 Area for coverage selected is 34.38 lakh hectares Work completed in 14.26 lakh hectares 7600 villages under Mission Environmental Regeneration: Impact (compared to Pre-Mission period) : Ground water level improved in 3294 villages Area under plantation increased by 23579 hectares Increase in area under irrigation was 59% Decrease in watershed has been 34% Area under fodder production increased by 52311 hectares

2.2.2.4

Agriculture Production: Impact Increase in area under Rabi was 16% Increase in productivity in Rabi was 30% Increase in area under Kharif was 21% Increase in productivity of Kharif was 37%

3 Part 3
3.1 Chapter 4: The Different Methods of Water Conservation
3.1.1 Rain Water Harvesting The rainwater that falls on the rooftops can be harvested for groundwater recharge using appropriate techniques. This method may be applied for the roofs of existing houses/buildings as well as those to be constructed by various builders in the near future 3.1.2 Lakes and Depressions Lakes have often been misused for dumping of solid waste and sewage disposal. Water quality can be improved by replicating the principles of wetlands by the introduction of aquatic plants and fish in a systematic manner. Unique phenomenon of algae, bacteria symbiosis reduces the BOD. The fish population acts as an ecological manipulator by grazing on the algal population. Desalting and widening can increase the storage capacity. It is proposed to desilt and deepen the lakes with the assistance of draglines machines, which are to be deployed during the lean season. The lakes would need to be linked up with storm water runoff in the vicinity to augment the inflow. This measure improves the quantity of groundwater recharge as well as the quality of available groundwater. 3.1.3 Floodplain Reservoirs This can be done through recharging basin and reservoirs on the flood plains by scooping out earth from the flood plains at appropriate locations and letting these reservoirs to be filled up by the expanded monsoon season flow of the river. The Yamuna flood plain comprising of 97 sq.km. of area in Delhi offers a good scope for development of groundwater resources subsequent to the storage of monsoon waters on the flood plain itself. Out of 580 MCM of monsoon season flow allocated to Delhi about 280 MCM goes unutilized due to lack of storages. 3.1.4 Quarry Reservoirs Abandoned quarries are available in the vicinity of urban areas. With some modification of their catchment area and/or linkage with some nearby channels these can be used to store water, which would otherwise run-off. Depth and width of these quarries can be increased where the volume of runoff waters can be calculated to be in excess of present storage capacity.

3.1.5 Historical Water Bodies Many ancient reservoirs have been disused due to change of catchment characteristics or due to destruction of feeding channel. These baolis/reservoirs can be reused as small recharge points. Major gains can be made only from the large reservoirs. 3.1.6 Paleo-Channels These are abandoned course of rivers or streams and can be served as excellent ground water storage and recharge locations. Division of some of the monsoon flows into these channels greatly replenishes the declining water table for subsequent use. 3.1.7 Check Dams In the regional topography several small or large check dams are possible and may be created not so much for surface withdrawal but for recharging the falling ground water table. 3.1.8 Village Ponds The original purpose of village ponds was to give sustainability to adjacent wells and for cattle drinking, bathing, etc.As village are absorbed into urban areas with increasing reliance on tube wells, the ponds are becoming cesspools. These ponds can function as storage reservoirs and recharge areas subsequent to desiltation and improvement of their water quality. Following recommendations are given: No sewage should be diverted to ponds in order to maintain their water quality. No garbage dumping should be permitted. Technique of in-situ improvement of water quality using aquatic plants and fishes can be introduced where necessary in order to avoid mosquito breeding. Grass plantation should be carried out along the perimeter of ponds in the immediate sloping catchment. Existing ponds are to be widened to the extent possible and deepened by 1.0m and nearby storm water drainage is to be used to fill up the additional capacity thus created. Pond may be desilt and deepen with the assistance of draglines machines.

3.1.9 Ecoparks This involves the creation of artificial wetlands using aquatic plant root zone system to treat sewage waters upto tertiary levels for recycling to the irrigation and horticultural sector and possibly some industrial estates. The system utilizes the roots of certain type of plants to provide sub-strates for the growth of bacteria, which utilizes the nutrients present in the effluents, and for the transfer of oxygen. The plants commonly employed are duckweed, water hyacinth, pennwort, etc. The plants have to be harvested regularly and about 20 to 25% plants should be removed at each harvest. These plants have a root system of rhizomes, containing thick hollow air passages, from which fine hair roots hang down. This root zone can support a very large population of aerobic microorganisms. Bacteria, dominate the microbial population, which is expected to degrade most of the simpler organic materials i.e. those contributing to BOD. The fungi and actinomycetes, although fewer in number, have a wider range of hydrolytic activities and are expected to degrade many of the large molecules that contribute to the COD.

The wastewater encounters alternate aerobic and anaerobic microbial population which convert carbonaceous and to a lesser extent nitrogenous and phosphatic, contaminants in the water to less polluting materials. Further microorganisms can form biofilms around lower stems, which can then trap particles suspended in the wastewater by absorption.

3.2 Chapter 5: Recommendations and Conclusion

Issues related to water management in India are highly complex and need to be resolved through the involvement of government departments, research institutions, NGOs and other stakeholders. India receives abundant rains has a lower per capita use, but the rising demands due to increasing industrialization and changing lifestyles denote a scarcity that is likely to become much worse by year 2025 due to population growth and increasing urbanisation. Watershed management, rainwater harvesting and ground water recharge can help augment water availability in rainfed areas. Micro-irrigation is also important to improve water use efficiency. Building structures for water management and managing them provide immediate opportunities for employment generation in rural areas. Effective utilization of methods such as Rain Water Harvesting, Lakes and Depressions, Floodplain Reservoirs, Quarry Reservoirs, Paleo-Channels, Check Dams, Village Ponds, Ecoparks will help avert potential crisis in India. We need more movements such as Pani Roko Abhiyan and Rajiv Gandhi Mission For Watershed Management Programme to tackle the water conservation problem in India. A serious effort to addressing water management issues will require a substantial commitment of public resources. With an estimated 80 million hectares needing treatment and average expenditure of Rs.10,000 per hectare, the total requirement of these programmes should be covered by or at least supplemented by the Employment Guarantee programme. At any rate the local level schemes which conserve moisture and recharge ground water should be funded. India will also have to address issues of sustainability by moving away wherever possible from ground water to surface water resources. Where alternate sources do not exist, or are not cost effective, ground water recharge measures will be insisted upon in the vicinity of the project. At the same time, flood forecasting, control and management are also vitally important for many parts of the country.

4 References
Water The India Story http://www.grailresearch.com/pdf/ContenPodsPdf/Water-The_India_Story.pdf Potential for Water Conservation and Harvesting against Drought in Rajasthan, India http://www.cccindia.net/WOR104.pdf Eleventh Plan On Water Resources http://www.sarkaritel.com/news_and_features/infa/october07/26plan_water_resource.ht m Water Conservation http://delhijalboard.nic.in/djbdocs/consumer/conservation.html Pani Roko Abhiyan http://sagar.nic.in/san01.html