Our planet is
known as the "Blue Planet" although we could call the "Water
Plane
t" by the
amount of water (75% of the total) in it, but unfortunately only a sma
ll part of this
you can drink, is drinking water (only 3% of total water), most
of it is salt water (97%).
Water harvesting is the capture and storage of water for
beneficial reuse. It can be accomplished anywhere a water
supply is available for collection-and a water source is desired
or required.
Rainwater harvesting is the capture and storage of rainwater and is
considered the cleanest
form of harvested water.
Greywater harvesting is the capture and storage of water that has
already been used for
non-sewage purposes-from baths and showers
to washing machines, sinks, and vehicle washing run-off
water shortages
are a serious threat to our
economy and way of life.
This is why
water conservation and water efficiency has become intrinsic to water
planning in both rural and urban
settings
Water
efficiency has many benefits in
manufacturing
facilities
There
are a number of water-efficiency
actions
that can easily be incorporated into
manufacturing
facilities. Equipment and
practices
that use less water or recycle water
through
capture and reuse can be introduced
to
existing manufacturing processes. Other
strategies
for conserving water can be implemented
throughout
the building, such as
low-flow
fixtures and automatic controls in
lavatories.
In situations where high-quality
water
is unnecessary (toilet flushing, janitorial
tasks,
irrigation and building systems), water
collection systems or
graywater can be used.
Install
closed-loop systems that reuse water
over
and over again.
•
Develop systems that treat industrial wastewater
that
can then be reused in the manufacturing,
building
or irrigation systems.
•
Consider ways to simultaneously improve
water
and energy efficiency, particularly
through
recycling or heat recovery from
warm
water.
Building Systems
•
Install water-efficient plumbing fixtures
that, at a minimum,
Use
graywater collected from showers,
sinks
and lavatories for use in water closets.
•
Install waterless urinals in male restrooms.
•
Use automatic faucets with sensors in
high-use
public areas where faucets might
otherwise
be left running.
•
Use onsite treated wastewater for
sewage conveyance
Grounds Irrigation
•
Feed irrigation systems with captured rainwater,
appropriate
graywater or onsite
treated
water.
•
Landscape with native or adaptive plants
that
do not require additional water inputs
to
survive in local climate conditions.
•
Use high-efficiency irrigation technologies,
including
micro-irrigation, moisture
sensors or weather
data-based controllers
Water
as human right: the concept
For human development access
to sufficient water regarding quality, quantity and economy is vital.
With population growths in many parts of the world, especially in
urban areas, freshwater resources are affected by increasing pollution and
overuse of existing natural resources resulting in a growing scarcity in quality
and quantity of water. A raising competition among the different users and uses
of water is the consequence.
The human right approach to water puts the peoples need first
regarding water use and promotes human-centred water resource development based
on a coherent framework of binding legal norms and accountability
Economic
impacts:
With increased demand, the
country’s financial resources were exhausted in developing an infrastructure
for water collection, transfer and treatment infrastructure. The country is now
full of water collection and transfer pipes moving groundwater from distant
locations for domestic use in big cities and human settlements. Such
investments in infrastructure increased the real cost of water delivery
Social
impacts:
The social impact of water
scarcity has been most notably documented in the agricultural sector. Most of
the rural communities in Jordan depend on agriculture as a main source of
income. The reduction of water supply, coupled with unsustainable agricultural practices,
resulted in less water available for small farms and low-middle income farmers.
make the judicious use of water resources we
should follow the
following steps:
1. On Farm Water Management: It has been experienced that the over
all efficiency of the irrigation systems on the
farmer’s field varies from
30 to 40% which can be increased to 60 to 70 %
by adopting efficient
water management strategies.
a) Precision land leveling: Benefits of Laser leveling are
i) More level and smooth surface.
ii) Reduction in time and water required to irrigate
the field.
iii) More uniform distribution of water in the field.
iv) More uniform moisture environment of the crops.
v) More uniform germination and growth of crops.
vi) Improved field traffic ability.
b) Irrigation scheduling: Irrigation scheduling of crops is an important
component of water saving technologies.
c) Improving the conveyance efficiency: By installing Under
Ground Pipe Line system 3-4% of land can be
saved which can be
brought under cultivation.
d) Improved irrigation methods
i) Furrow Irrigated Raised Beds: Irrigation is applied through
furrows between the beds. About 30-40% of water
is saved in
this method.
ii)Furrow Irrigation method in wide row crops: Crops like
maize, cotton, Sun-flower, Sugar-cane and
vegetables should
be grown on ridges and water should be applied
through
furrows.
e) Micro Irrigation: Drip and sprinkler irrigation systems can be
used to save water.
f) Mulching: Application of straw mulch improves the water
use
efficiency. It reduces the evaporation losses
from the soil surface.
Mulching keeps the weeds down and improves the
soil structure and
eventually increases the crop yield.
2. Timely Transplanting: Proper time of transplanting rice is the month
of June. It
is worth mentioning that early transplanting of
rice results in wastage of water equivalent
to 10 irrigations beside loss of 37 % energy in
terms of electric consumption (440
KWH/ha)
3. Suitable Varieties: Timely or late sown short duration varieties of
crops should be encouraged over early and long
duration varieties to
reduce evapo-transpiration losses.
4. Conjunctive use of water: At present 30% of total canal water
available at the outlet is utilized in the
central Punjab comprising about
49%of the total geographical area of the state.
As a result there is
excessive withdrawal of ground water to meet the
irrigation demand of the
crops.
5.Crop diversification: Replacing one million hectare area under rice
with
pulses can save 0.2 million hectare meter of water.
6.Artificial recharge of Under Ground water: Various techniques being
adopted to recharge the ground water in Punjab
are:
a) Roof Top Water Harvesting
b) Recharge from Village Ponds
c) Recharge in Kandi Area
Water
• 3.575 million
people die each year from water-related disease. (10)
• 43% of
water-related deaths are due to diarrhea. (10)
• 84% of
water-related deaths are in children ages 0 – 14. (10)
• 98% of
water-related deaths occur in the developing world. (10)
• 884 million
people, lack access to safe water supplies, approximately on
e in eight
people. (5)
• The water and
sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than a
ny war claims
through guns. (1)
• At any given
time, half of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by pat
ients suffering
from a water-related disease. (1)
• Less than 1%
of the world’s fresh water (or about 0.007% of all water on
earth) is
readily accessible for direct human use. (11)
• An American
taking a five-minute shower uses more water than the typical
person living
in a developing country slum uses in a whole day. (1)
• About a third
of people without access to an improved water source live
on less than $1
a day. More than two thirds of people without an improved water
source live on
less than $2 a day. (1)
• Poor people
living in the slums often pay 5-10 times more per liter of w
ater than
wealthy people living in the same city. (1)
• Without food
a person can live for weeks, but without water you can expe
ct to live only
a few days. (4)
• The daily requirement
for sanitation, bathing, and cooking needs, as wel
l as for
assuring survival, is about 13.2 gallons per person. (3)
Sanitation
• Only 62% of
the world’s population has access to improved sanitation – d
efined as a
sanitation facility that ensures hygienic separation of human excret
a from human
contact. (5)
• 2.5 billion
people lack access to improved sanitation, including 1.2 bil
lion people who
have no facilities at all. (5)
• The majority
of the illness in the world is caused by fecal matter.(9)
• Lack of
sanitation is the world’s biggest cause of infection. (9)
• At any one
time, more than half of the poor in the developing world are
ill from causes
related to hygiene, sanitation and water supply. (9)
• 88% of cases
of diarrhea worldwide are attributable to unsafe water, ina
dequate
sanitation or insufficient hygiene. (9)
• Of the 60
million people added to the world’s towns and cities every yea
r, most occupy
impoverished slums and shanty-towns with no sanitation facilities
. (8)
• It is
estimated that improved sanitation facilities could reduce diarrhe
a-related
deaths in young children by more than one-third. If hygiene promotion
is added, such
as teaching proper hand washing, deaths could be reduced by two t
hirds. It would
also help accelerate economic and social development in countrie
s where
sanitation is a major cause of lost work and school days because of illn
ess. (6)
Impacts on
Children
• Every 20
seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease. (2)
• Children in
poor environments often carry 1,000 parasitic worms in their
bodies at any
time. (8)
• 1.4 million
children die as a result of diarrhea each year. (10)
• 90% of all
deaths caused by diarrheal diseases are children under 5 year
s of age, mostly in developing countries. (
Impacts on
Productivity
• On average,
every US dollar invested in water and sanitation provides an
economic return
of eight US dollars. (1)
• An investment
of US$11.3 billion per year is needed to meet the drinking
water and
sanitation target of the Millennium Development Goals, yielding a tot
al payback for
US$ 84 billion a year. (10)
• Other
estimated economic benefits of investing in drinking-water and san
itation (10) :
o 272 million
school attendance days a year
o 1.5 billion
healthy days for children under five years of age
o Values of
deaths averted, based on discounted future earnings, amounting
to US$ 3.6
billion a year
o Health-care
savings of US$ 7 billion a year for health agencies and US$
340 million for
individuals
What Can You
Do?
Join us was we
combat the water crisis and work for the day when everyone in the
world can take a safe drink of water.
100 Ways To
Conserve
There are a
number of ways to save water, and they all start with you.
• #2
When washing
dishes by hand, don ô€€€t let
the water run while rinsing. Fill one sin
k with wash
water and the other with rinse water.
• #3
Some
refrigerators, air conditioners and ice-makers are cooled with wasted flows
of water.
Consider upgrading with air-cooled appliances for significant water s
avings.
• #4
Adjust
sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or s
treet.
• #5
Run your
clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up
to 1,000
gallons a month.
• #6
Choose shrubs
and groundcovers instead of turf for hard-to-water areas such as s
teep slopes and
isolated strips.
• #7
Install covers
on pools and spas and check for leaks around your pumps.
• #8
Use the garbage
disposal sparingly. Compost vegetable food waste instead and sav
e gallons every
time.
• #9
Plant in the
fall when conditions are cooler and rainfall is more plentiful.
For cold drinks
keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running t
he tap. This
way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
• #11
Monitor your
water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are to
ols that can
help you discover leaks.
• #12
Water your lawn
and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are coole
r to minimize
evaporation.
• #13
Wash your
fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from
the tap.
• #14
Spreading a
layer of organic mulch around plants retains moisture and saves wate
r, time and
money.
• #15
Use a broom
instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk and save water
every time.
• #16
If your shower
fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the sh
owerhead with a
water-efficient model.
• #17
Collect the
water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables, then reuse it to wa
ter houseplants.
• #18
If water runs
off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter period
s to allow for
better absorption.
• #19
We ô€€€re more likely to notice leaks indoors, but don ô€€€t forget to check outdoor fau
cets,
sprinklers and hoses for leaks.
• #20
If you have an
automatic refilling device, check your pool periodically for leak
s.
• #21
Check the root
zone of your lawn or garden for moisture before watering using a
spade or
trowel. If it ô€€€s still moist
two inches under the soil surface, you stil
l have enough
water.
• #22
When buying new
appliances, consider those that offer cycle and load size adjust
ments. They ô€€€re more water and energy efficient.
• #23
Shorten your
shower by a minute or two and you ô€€€ll save
up to 150 gallons per mon
th.
• #24
Upgrade older
toilets with water efficient models.
• #25
Adjust your
lawn mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn shades roots and holds
soil moisture
better than if it is closely clipped.
• #26
When cleaning
out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your plants.
• #27
Use sprinklers
for large areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid wa
ste.
Put food
coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without
flushing, you
have a leak. Fixing it can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
• #29
When running a
bath, plug the tub before turning the water on, then adjust the t
emperature as
the tub fills up.
• #30
Walkways and
patios provide space that doesn ô€€€t ever
need to be watered. These us
eful
"rooms" can also add value to your property.
• #31
Collect water
from your roof to water your garden.
• #32
Designate one
glass for your drinking water each day or refill a water bottle. T
his will cut
down on the number of glasses to wash.
• #33
Rather than
following a set watering schedule, check for soil moisture two to th
ree inches
below the surface before watering.
• #34
Install a rain
sensor on your irrigation controller so your system won ô€€€t run whe
n it ô€€€s raining.
• #35
Don ô€€€t use running water to thaw food. Defrost food
in the refrigerator for water
efficiency and
food safety.
Use drip
irrigation for shrubs and trees to apply water directly to the roots wh
ere it ô€€€s needed.
• #37
Grab a wrench
and fix that leaky faucet. It ô€€€s
simple, inexpensive, and you can s
ave 140 gallons
a week.
• #38
Reduce the
amount of lawn in your yard by planting shrubs and ground covers appr
opriate to your
site and region.
• #39
When doing
laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
• #40
Teach your
children to turn off faucets tightly after each use.
• #41
Remember to
check your sprinkler system valves periodically for leaks and keep t
he sprinkler
heads in good shape.
Use a
water-efficient showerhead. They ô€€€re
inexpensive, easy to install, and can
save you up to
750 gallons a month.
• #43
Soak pots and
pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
• #44
Don ô€€€t water your lawn on windy days when most of the
water blows away or evapora
tes.
• #45
Water your
plants deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and d
rought
tolerance.
• #46
Know where your
master water shut-off valve is located. This could save water an
d prevent
damage to your home.
• #47
To decrease
water from being wasted on sloping lawns, apply water for five minut
es and then
repeat two to three times.
• #48
Group plants
with the same watering needs together to avoid overwatering some wh
ile
underwatering others.
• #49
Use a layer of
organic material on the surface of your planting beds to minimize
weed growth
that competes for water.
• #50
Use a minimum
amount of organic or slow release fertilizer to promote a healthy
and drought
tolerant landscape.
• #51
Trickling or
cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those spray
ing water into
the air.
• #52
Use a
commercial car wash that recycles water.
• #53
Avoid
recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.
• #54
Turn off the
water while brushing your teeth and save 25 gallons a month.
• #55
Use a rain
gauge, or empty tuna can, to track rainfall on your lawn. Then reduce
your watering
accordingly.
• #56
Encourage your
school system and local government to develop and promote water c
onservation
among children and adults.
• #57
Learn how to
shut off your automatic watering system in case it malfunctions or
you get an
unexpected rain.
• #58
Set a kitchen
timer when watering your lawn or garden to remind you when to stop
. A running
hose can discharge up to 10 gallons a minute.
• #59
If your toilet
flapper doesn ô€€€t close after
flushing, replace it.
• #60
Make sure there
are water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.
Next time you
add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low water use plant for
year-round
landscape color and save up to 550 gallons each year.
• #62
Install an
instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don ô€€€t have to run
the water while
it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.
• #63
Use a grease
pencil to mark the water level of your pool at the skimmer. Check t
he mark 24
hours later to see if you have a leak.
• #64
If your
dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing. Newer models clean more thorough
ly than older
ones.
• #65
Use a trowel,
shovel, or soil probe to examine soil moisture depth. If the top t
wo to three
inches of soil are dry it ô€€€s time
to water.
• #66
If installing a
lawn, select a turf mix or blend that matches your climate and s
ite conditions.
• #67
When you save
water, you save money on your utility bills too. Saving water is e
asy for
everyone to do.
• #68
When the kids
want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn nee
ds it the most.
• #69
Make sure your
swimming pools, fountains, and ponds are equipped with recirculat
ing pumps.
• #70
Bathe your
young children together.
• #71
Consult with
your local nursery for information on plant selection and placement
for optimum
outdoor water savings.
• #72
Winterize
outdoor spigots when temperatures dip below freezing to prevent pipes
from leaking or
bursting.
• #73
Insulate hot
water pipes for more immediate hot water at the faucet and for ener
gy savings.
• #74
Wash your car
on the lawn, and you ô€€€ll
water your lawn at the same time.
Drop your
tissue in the trash instead of flushing it and save water every time.
• #76
Direct water
from rain gutters and HVAC systems toward water-loving plants in th
e landscape for
automatic water savings.
• #77
Make
suggestions to your employer about ways to save water and money at work.
• #78
Support
projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and industrial use
s.
• #79
Use a hose
nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car. You ô€€€ll save up
to 100 gallons
every time.
• #80
Share water
conservation tips with friends and neighbors.
• #81
If your toilet
was installed before 1992, reduce the amount of water used for ea
ch flush by
inserting a displacement device in the tank.
• #82
Setting cooling
systems and water softeners for a minimum number of refills save
s both water
and chemicals, plus more on utility bills.
• #83
Washing dark
clothes in cold water saves both on water and energy while it helps
your clothes to
keep their colors.
• #84
Leave lower
branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on
the soil. This
keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.
• #85
Report broken
pipes, open hydrants and errant sprinklers to the property owner o
r your water
provider.
• #86
Let your lawn
go dormant during the summer. Dormant grass only needs to be water
ed every three
weeks or less if it rains.
• #87
Plant with
finished compost to add water-holding and nutrient-rich organic matte
r to the soil.
• #88
Use sprinklers
that deliver big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller wate
r drops and
mist often evaporate before they hit the ground.
• #89
Listen for
dripping faucets and running toilets. Fixing a leak can save 300 gall
ons a month or
more.
• #90
Water only when
necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-wa
tering.
• #91
One more way to
get eight glasses of water a day is to re-use the water left ove
r from cooked
or steamed foods to start a scrumptious and nutritious soup.
Adjust your
watering schedule each month to match seasonal weather conditions an
d landscape
requirements.
• #93
Turn off the
water while you wash your hair to save up to 150 gallons a month.
• #94
Wash your pets
outdoors in an area of your lawn that needs water.
• #95
When shopping
for a new clothes washer, compare resource savings among Energy St
ar models. Some
of these can save up to 20 gallons per load, and energy too.
• #96
Apply water
only as fast as the soil can absorb it.
• #97
Aerate your
lawn at least once a year so water can reach the roots rather than r
un off the
surface.
• #98
When washing
dishes by hand, fill the sink basin or a large container and rinse
when all of the
dishes have been soaped and scrubbed.
• #99
Catch water in
an empty tuna can to measure sprinkler output. One inch of water
on one square
foot of grass equals two-thirds of a gallon of water.
• #100
Turn off the
water while you shave and save up to 300 gallons a month.
• #101
When you give
your pet fresh water, don ô€€€t throw
the old water down the drain. Us
e it to water
your trees or shrubs.
• #102
If you
accidentally drop ice cubes when filling your glass from the freezer, don
ô€€€t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house
plant instead.
• #103
To save water
and time, consider washing your face or brushing your teeth while
in the shower.
• #104
While staying
in a hotel or even at home, consider reusing your towels.
• #105
When
backflushing your pool, consider using the water on your landscaping.
• #106
For hanging
baskets, planters and pots, place ice cubes under the moss or dirt t
o give your
plants a cool drink of water and help eliminate water overflow.
• #107
Throw trimmings
and peelings from fruits and vegetables into your yard compost t
o prevent using
the garbage disposal.
• #108
When you have
ice left in your cup from a take-out restaurant, don ô€€€t throw it in
the trash, dump
it on a plant.
• #109
Have your
plumber re-route your gray water to trees and gardens rather than lett
ing it run into
the sewer line. Check with your city codes, and if it isn ô€€€t allo
wed in your
area, start a movement to get that changed.
• #110
Keep a bucket
in the shower to catch water as it warms up or runs. Use this wate
r to flush
toilets or water plants.
• #111
When you are washing your hands, don ô€€€t let
the water run while you lather.
Water resources of India
Although India
occupies only 3.29 million km2 geographical
area, which
forms 2.4% of the world’s land area, it supports
over 15% of the
world’s population. The population of
India as on 1
March 2001 stood at 1,027,015,247 persons.
Thus, India
supports about 1/6th of world population, 1/50th
of world’s land
and 1/25th of world’s water resources7.
India also has a
livestock population of 500 million, which
is about 20% of
the world’s total livestock population.
More than half
of these are cattle, forming the backbone of
Indian
agriculture. The total utilizable water resources of
the country are assessed as 1086 km3.
Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater
harvesting is the process to capture and store
rainfall for its
efficient utilization and conservation to
control its
runoff, evaporation and seepage. Some of the
benefits of
rainwater harvesting are:
· It increases water availability
· It checks the declining water table
· It is environmentally friendly
· It improves the quality of groundwater
through dilution,
mainly of
fluoride, nitrate, and salinity, and
· It prevents soil erosion and flooding,
especially in the
urban areas.
Man’s influence on hydrological
cycle
The hydrological
cycle is being modified quantitatively and
qualitatively in
most of the river basins of our country as
a result of the
developmental activities such as construction
of dams and
reservoirs, land use change, irrigation, etc.
Such human
activities affecting the hydrological regime can
be classified
into four major groups: (i) activities which
affect river
runoff by diverting water from rivers, lakes,
and reservoirs
or by groundwater extraction, (ii) activities
modifying the
river channels, e.g. construction of reservoirs
and ponds,
levees and river training, channel dredging, etc.
(iii) activities
due to which runoff and other water balance
components are
modified due to impacts of basin surface
e.g.
agricultural practices, drainage of swamps, afforestation
or
deforestation, urbanization, etc. and (iv) activities
which may induce
climate changes at regional or global scale,
e.g. modifying the
composition of atmosphere by increasing
the ‘greenhouse’
gases or by increased evaporation
caused by large scale water projects.
Precipitation variability
The long-term
average annual rainfall for the country is
1160 mm, which
is the highest anywhere in the world for a
country of
comparable size2. The
annual rainfall in India
however
fluctuates widely. The highest rainfall in India
of about 11,690
mm is recorded at Mousinram near Cherrapunji
in Meghalaya in
the northeast5. In
this region rainfall as
much as 1040 mm
is recorded in a day. At the other extreme
are places like
Jaisalmer, in the west, which receives barely
150 mm of rain.
Though the average rainfall is adequate,
nearly
three-quarters of the rain pours down in less than 120
days, from June
to September. As much as 21% of the area
of the country
receives less than 750 mm of rain annually
while 15%
receives rainfall in excess of 1500 mm. Precipitation
generally
exceeds 1000 mm in areas to the east of Longitude
78°E
In the past,
several organizations and individuals have estimated
water
availability for the nation. Recently, the National
Commission for
Integrated Water Resources Development8
estimated the
basin-wise average annual flow in
Indian river
systems as 1953 km3. The details are given in
Table 1.
Utilizable water
resource is the quantum of withdrawable
water from its
place of natural occurrence. Within the limitations
of physiographic
conditions and socio-political environment,
legal and
constitutional constraints and the
technology of
development available at present, utilizable
quantity of
water from the surface flow has been assessed
by various
authorities differently. The utilizable annual surface
water of the country is 690 km3
also read my blog http://waterthesupremeenergy-balayogi.blogspot.com/
- My contention is that water is not
just made of H2O it has an unknown element and many scientist across the globe
too agree with this.
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