Water Management

WATER MANAGEMENT

You have read in Class VI that in many places a regular supply of water is

Fig. 16.8 Rain map of India

1.Government of India, Copyright 2007

2.Based upon Survey of India map with the permission of the Surveyor General of India.

3.The territorial waters of India extend into the sea to a distance of twelve nautical miles measured from the appropriate baseline

4.The external boundaries and coastlines of India agree with the Record/Master Copy certified by Survey of India.

provided by a well-planned pipe system. When the civic authorities supply water through pipes not all of it may reach the destination. You might have seen water supply pipes leaking and a lot of water gushing out of the pipes. It  is the responsibility of the civic authorities to prevent such wastage of precious water.

Mismanagement or wastage may take place at the level of individuals also. All of us, knowingly or unknowingly, waste water while brushing teeth, shaving, bathing, washing and during many other activities. Leaking taps is another source of huge water wastage. We waste water as though we do not need water the next time!

We have seen that most of the water that we get as rainfall just flows away. This is a waste of precious natural resource. The rainwater can be used to recharge the groundwater. This is referred to as water harvesting or rainwater harvesting, about which you have learnt in Class VI.

Find out if the buildings in your neighbourhood have water harvesting systems installed.

We have at many places in India an age old practice of water storage and water recharge like the bawris. Bawri was the traditional way of collecting water. With time the bawris fell into disuse and garbage started piling in these reservoirs. However, because of the acute water shortage, people in these areas have had to rethink. The bawris are being revived. Today the situation is that inspite of scanty rains these places are managing their water needs well.

A farmer using water in the field can also use water economically. Maybe you have heard of drip  irrigation (Fig. 16.9). Drip irrigation is a technique of watering plants by making use of narrow tubings which deliver water directly at the base of the plant

CASE STUDY

Bhujpur in the Kutch area of Gujarat has a very erratic rainfall. The only source of freshwater lies underground because rivers in this area do not have water throughout the year. Over the years, demand for water has grown. The withdrawal of groundwater has far exceeded recharge. As a result the water table has gone down alarmingly.

In 1989, the villagers along with a non-governmental organisation, decided to harvest rainwater. Eighteen check-dams were built on the Rukmavati river and its many tributaries. The water so collected increased percolation through the soil and recharged the aquifers.

According to farmers, the wells have water now and the water that flowed into the sea and was wasted has become available for irrigation

Fig. 16.9 Drip irrigation in a field