Looming Water Crisis

What is the issue?

Cape Town in South Africa is facing the prospect of all its taps running dry by June-July this year.
This is a wake up call for stakeholders across the globe to assess practices of water usage.

What is the looming water crisis?

According to the United Nations, 2.1 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services.
Water scarcity already affects 4 out of every 10 people.
90% of all natural disasters are water related.
Nearly 3 lakh children under five die every year from diarrhoeal diseases.
80% of wastewater flows back into the ecosystem without being treated or reused.
Meanwhile, the demand for water in urban areas is projected to increase by 50-70% in the next 3 decades.

What is the New Agenda for Water Action?

A crisis as that of Cape Town is looming large in other cities in the world as people continue to be reckless in their use of water.
12 world leaders (11 heads of state and a special adviser of a high-level panel on water) wrote an open letter to global leaders recently.
They warned that the world is facing a water crisis and issued a New Agenda for Water Action.
It observed the need to make “every drop count” and called for a new approach.
The panel called for rethinking how people understand, value and manage water as a precious resource.
It also demands catalysing change and building partnerships to achieve the water-related goals of Sustainable Development.
The social, cultural, economic and environmental values of water to society need to be reassessed.
Water needs to be allocated in ways which maximize overall benefits to societies.
It mentioned the need to put in place policies to allow for at least a doubling of water infrastructure investment in the next 5 years.
It called for governments, communities, the private sector, and researchers to collaborate.

What is India's water scenario?

In India, Bengaluru is ranked second in the list of 11 global cities which might face the threat of running out of drinking water.
According to a forecast by the Asian Development Bank, India will have a water deficit of 50% by 2030.
Although India receives an average rainfall of 1,170 mm per year, it is estimated that only 6% of rainwater is stored.
India’s water needs are thus primarily met by rivers and groundwater.
Water scarcity can lead to disastrous consequences impacting food production as most of the farming is rain-fed.
Ground water caters to about 60% of the country’s irrigation, 85% of rural drinking water requirements and 50% of urban water needs.
This signifies the importance of according top priority for replenishing the aquifers.
Millions across India still do not have access to safe drinking water.
Some of the notable challenges and concerns include:

What are the possible measures?

The World Bank’s Water Scarce Cities Initiative seeks to promote an integrated approach.
It aims at managing water resources and service delivery in water-scarce cities as the basis for building climate change resilience.
Putting in place an efficient piped supply system (without leakage of pipes) has to be top on the agenda.
Ancient India had well-managed wells and canal systems.
The Indus Valley Civilization had a well-managed canal system, while Chanakya’s Arthashastra also talks of irrigation.
Indigenous water harvesting systems need to be revived and protected at the local level.
Micro irrigation practices like drip and sprinkler systems have to be promoted in a big way for efficient water use in agriculture.
Digging of rainwater harvesting pits must be made mandatory for all types of buildings, both in urban and rural areas.
Sustained measures should be taken to prevent pollution of water bodies and contamination of groundwater.
Ensuring proper treatment of domestic and industrial waste water is also essential.

Source: The Hindu