Tag: rainwater harvesting

Traditional water systems hold the key to India’s water crisis

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There is a need to learn from our past, revive traditional water harvesting systems, and enable and empower communities to take back the management of water as a communal resource

Traditional water harvesting system is a diverse range of structures that help harvest rainwater when and where it falls and store it—even replenishing and recharging the groundwater along the way.

The recent pandemic has averted our attention from the alarming water crisis India is facing, however the distressing problem remains. Thanks to short attention spans, many have forgotten that 21 Indian cities ran out of water in 2019, and that unless something radical is done, we will be forced to face a grim reality in the future.

But what if the answer was not ‘something radical’?  What if it was staring us in the face and has been for thousands of years?  What if we have simply ‘forgotten’ the solution?

Water experts across the country have been espousing the benefits of the revival of traditional water harvesting systems—ancient wisdom that saw our ancestors survive many a drought even in the harshest of landscapes.

Indians have had a rich history of managing water. Our forefathers harnessed water that fell during the rainy season and stored it to meet the needs of the community during the dry months. To do this, they used ‘traditional water harvesting systems’—a diverse range of structures that help harvest rainwater when and where it falls, and store it—even replenishing and recharging the groundwater along the way.

Every region in the country has its own unique traditional water harvesting systems depending on the geography and culture of the area. Bamboo pipes and Apatani systems (wet rice cultivation cum fish farming system) are used in the eastern Himalayas while the Gul (traditional irrigation canals) is used in the western Himalayas. Kund (circular underground well), Khadin (structure designed to harvest surface runoff), Talabs (ponds), Johad (percolation pond), and Baoli (man-made step well) are harnessed in the Thar desert, Rajasthan and in Gujarat; while in Bihar they use ahar-pynes (traditional floodwater harvesting system) – the list goes on.

 

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Back in the day, the belief was that water was a communal resource to be managed by the community for the well-being of all. However, during the colonization, the British replaced this dispersed, decentralized system to manage water, with a centralized one where the Public Works Department took control of the precious resource. As a result, people gave up the responsibility of managing and caring for water, and instead saw it as a resource that was ‘doled out by the powers that be’.

But these incredible structures still exist and many simply lie in disuse, in need of restoration and repair. However, with work, they can be revived to their former glory. Communities dotted across the country are already taking charge of their water future, by reviving these structures, organizing themselves into ‘water management’ groups, and taking responsibility for the water that their lives and livelihoods rely so heavily upon.

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Communities in Rabriyawas in Rajasthan, which was once almost uninhabitable due to the lack of water, is today a thriving agricultural hub after the restoration and rejuvenation of ancient nadis (village streams) which have helped sustain life in the desert region for millennia. A village pond or stream is one of the most ancient structures for rainwater harvesting in the state of Rajasthan.

Once the water harvesting structures are operational, there is then a need to promote a more decentralized, integrated approach to managing water—one where grassroots communities act as stewards of their own water and govern it locally, with the active participation of all – women, in particular.

With over 467 ponds rejuvenated in Rajasthan, a variety of Village Development Committees (VDC) are taking care of the operation and maintenance of these water bodies. They monitor water collection and keep a lookout for illegal activities (such as open defecation or flow of sewage water into the catchment areas) at the water bodies. Villages clean the catchment area before monsoon each year so that the ponds are not contaminated. Today, the duration of water availability from each pond can sustain a community for almost an entire year.

But it takes work. People must be mobilized, organized, and empowered with the knowledge that their ancestors once knew how to manage these structures and the water they collect, equitably, to ensure water sustainability for all. This is where there is a role for NGOs and civil society, to enable people to take control back of their water.

Estimates suggest that demand for water will outstrip supply by two by 2030 if we continue with a ‘business-as-usual’ approach. If India is to effectively turn the current water crisis around, there is a need to learn from our past, revive traditional water harvesting systems, and enable and empower communities to take back the management of water as a communal resource. It can be done. It must be done.

Neerain is proud to republish this article for spreading awareness about the situation of water, for our stakeholders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

 

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https://www.forbesindia.com/blog/environment-and-sustainability/traditional-water-systems-hold-the-key-to-indias-water-crisis/

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Author:  PEARL TIWARI

Publish On: Sep 20, 2021

 

 

 

Panel recommends new central body to mitigate water woes due to lack of agency coordination

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The Parliamentary Standing Committee report also found excessive dependence on groundwater

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State- and central-level bodies that currently bear responsibility for issues related to water, lack coordination between them, a Parliamentary Standing Committee report has noted.

The report, tabled in the Lok Sabha two weeks ago, also recommended the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti (water resources) constitute a central body with representation from the bodies.

The bodies, alluded to by the committee, include:

  • The Union Ministry of Rural Development, and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
  • State departments, state and central pollution control boards
  • Dedicated authorities such as the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA)

Groundwater is a valuable but diminishing resource, concluded the report accessed by DTE.

State- and central-level bodies that currently bear responsibility for issues related to water, lack coordination between them, a Parliamentary Standing Committee report has noted.

The report, tabled in the Lok Sabha two weeks ago, also recommended the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti (water resources) constitute a central body with representation from the bodies.

The bodies, alluded to by the committee, include:

  • The Union Ministry of Rural Development, and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
  • State departments, state and central pollution control boards
  • Dedicated authorities such as the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA)

Groundwater is a valuable but diminishing resource, concluded the report accessed by DTE on March 31, 2023.

The Committee observed that dependence on groundwater for irrigation was excessive. This was so because water-intensive crops like paddy and sugarcane command higher minimum support prices (MSP), it noted.

Prior to this, the Committee couldn’t finalize a report and the subject was again taken up in its successive tenures — 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 — for detailed examination.

The development came in concurrence to the release of a United Nations report raising grave concern on “groundwater depletion as a global issue”. The latter had brought to light the reporting of significant groundwater depletion in China, India, Pakistan, the United States, and Australia

“Laws on groundwater management were passed in 19 states based on a model Bill circulated in 1970 and last revised in 2005. The Committee observed difficulties in implementing these laws due to the lack of guidelines,” it was argued in the Lok Sabha.

The Committee, meanwhile, recommended the Department of water resources, river development, and ganga rejuvenation takes urgent action in this regard.

The three departments should engage with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare to encourage fewer water-intensive cultivation crops and cultivation patterns, it asserted.

The Committee went on to observe widespread groundwater contamination “resulting from industrial activity”. They recommended that more funds under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), which aims to provide households with safe drinking water, can be allocated to areas with groundwater contamination.

“A lack of sharing of data and coordination between bodies responsible for addressing groundwater pollution such as state government departments, pollution control boards, and agencies such as the CGWA,” it underlined and recommended the proposed central groundwater authority should coordinate between them.

“The authority, once formed, should formulate a policy on groundwater pollution,” the report said.  Personnel and resource shortages hinder state and central pollution control boards, it was further alleged. In this wake, the Committee insisted on addressing the shortage.

It further recommended amendment of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, “to enable pollution control boards to impose monetary penalties, as a less severe penalty than the outright closure of industrial units

More ‘reforms’?

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The panel also recommended the modification of schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana to support the rejuvenation of existing water bodies.

There are schemes for recharging groundwater through rainwater harvesting in urban areas, such as Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). The Committee recommended that the Jal Shakti ministry coordinate these efforts.

Urban local bodies should be given more funds to maintain water bodies. The Atal Bhujal Yojana provides central financial assistance to state governments and local bodies for projects related to groundwater management.

The Committee recommended the scheme’s extension to all states facing groundwater scarcity as it is currently being piloted only in seven states.

Parallel to the release dates of the two mentioned reports, DTE had analyzed the groundwater crisis in Punjab state. This was also in the wake of the 2023 Global Water Conference organized in New York City in March, with an aim to raise awareness, define a roadmap and advance the water agenda.

Neerain is proud to republish this blog for spreading awareness about the situation of water, for our stakeholders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

 

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https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/water/panel-recommends-new-central-body-to-mitigate-water-woes-due-to-lack-of-agency-coordination-88616

 

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Author: Zumbish

Publish On: 04 April 2023

 

 

Why Rainwater Harvesting is Crucial to Solving India’s Water Woes

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India is reeling under the most severe water crisis in its history for several reasons including two consecutive monsoons that failed.

According to a Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) report released by NITI Aayog nearly 600 million people, which is almost 50% of the country’s population, are facing water shortage issues right now.

One of the many options that we have to ease the water shortage issue is implementing rainwater harvesting. Given the critical situation that we are in, it’s now more important than ever to install rainwater harvesting systems and make it a mandatory fixture in houses and apartments.

In this post, we explore the reasons behind the water crisis and how rainwater harvesting can help.

Why is India facing a severe water shortage?

In addition to inadequate monsoons, there are several reasons why India’s water supply is diminishing rapidly.

Depletion of groundwater

According to the UNESCO World Water Development Report, India is the biggest extractor of groundwater in the world, drawing 260 cubic km per year, which is more than China and the US combined. That comes up to 25% of the groundwater extracted globally. With 21 Indian cities expected to run out of groundwater, India is faced with an alarmingly dry future with the need to not just replenish its water sources but also change the way it sources water.

Infrastructure and wastage

India’s shoddy infrastructure has led to improper distribution and large amounts of water being wasted. Statistics from the Central Water Commission reveal that India receives as much as 4,000 billion cubic metres of rainfall, but only a mere 8% of that is captured efficiently. Leaky pipes, limited or ageing storage infrastructure like dams, and lack of recycling systems like rainwater harvesting have worsened India’s water crisis.

Uneven distribution

India’s pipelines are notorious for not just being old but also for not being present in hilly terrains or rural areas. Even if there are connections, the supply is highly restricted and is time-bound, making it challenging to access. This, in turn, has given rise to the water mafia, which ensures that water reaches only those who can afford it.

Contamination and pollution

India is fast losing its water bodies to rapid real estate development, environmental degradation, and industrial pollution. The lack of proper wastewater treatment systems has also compounded the issue.

How rainwater harvesting can help

Recycling and reusing water is important, but it needs to be amply supported by rainwater harvesting. No doubt, contaminated lakes and ponds are a big source of precious water, but it is much easier to simply store rainfall. It is more affordable, less time-consuming, and easier to implement than the complicated systems that are required for wastewater treatment.

Rainwater harvesting also helps in reducing India’s dependence on groundwater and private sources like tankers.

There are myriad ways in which rainwater can be captured and stored like installing rain barrels with pipes, hanging rain funnelling chains, rooftop containers that channel rainwater into sumps and borewells, and if you have space, then setting up a mini-reservoir in your garden.

Following any of these simple DIY processes can drastically reduce or even eliminate your water bills, and cushion the impact as well as slow down climate change. Most importantly, it can help an entire country quench its thirst with unlimited water.

Neerain is proud to republish this article for spreading awareness about situation of water, for our stakeholders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

This article is published by: –

https://roofandfloor.thehindu.com/raf/real-estate-blog/rainwater-harvesting-crucial-to-solving-indias-water-woes/.\

Author:  Prof. SWATI NAIR

Publish On: 18TH JULY 2019

Making India water-secure: Solutions for the future

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Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink’ – this predicament of the sailors in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s famous poem is a portent to our collective futures; one with little to no access to safe water. In 2019, Chennai, a city that receives twice London’s average annual rainfall at 1,400 mm, had to meet its water needs by trucking in 10 million liters of water a day. The 2018 drinking water crisis in ‘Queen of Hills’ Shimla made international headlines when policemen were deployed on the ground to manage water distribution.  

The NITI Aayog’s 2018 Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) depicts an unsettling picture of macro-water availability in India – despite being home to 17% of the world’s population, it has only 4% of the world’s freshwater resources. The total water demand in India is projected to increase by 22% and 32% in 2025 and 2050 respectively and, by 2050, 85% of this demand is expected to come from industrial and domestic sectors alone. Among the regions, the south and the northwest are expected to face the worst in the next two years. About two lakh people die every year due to inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene and ~820 million Indians living in twelve river basins across the country have per capita water availability close to or lower than 1000m3, the official threshold for water scarcity as per the Falkenmark Index.  

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To address this looming water crisis and ensure water security, it is imperative to devise a holistic urban water management system that can help balance biodiversity by protecting and restoring the health of waterways and wetlands, mitigate flood risk and damage, provide for sustainable and resilient communities, promote sustainable development goals (SDGs), and address the needs of the last person in the queue.  

Some of the solutions available to this end include: 

  1. Rejuvenation / conservation of water bodies: Replenishing and restoring the health of natural water bodies and wetlands is the single-most effective way of securing a safe source of water. Cities, like Bengaluru, have 210 lakes, covering 3,622 acres with a capacity of 35,000 million ft3. Long-term efforts such as Namami Gange are also bearing fruits. However, for more localized solutions, it is important that traditional water storage structures such as vavs and baolis are rejuvenated and maintained. 

  2. Rainwater harvesting: India receives bountiful rains – last Monsoon, India received 925 mm of rainfall in just four months. A part of the immense potential to create sources of water through rainwater harvesting is being realized – as on February 2, 2023, more than 1.19 million water conservation and rainwater harvesting structures have been constructed across India.

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  1. Government initiatives: In the past few years, the progress towards providing piped water supply and last-mile delivery of water has been stupendous. The one-of-its-kind Jal Jeevan Mission supplied tap water to 10.64 crore – 55% – households in rural India until November 2022 and more than 15 lakh women were trained for testing water quality through field test kits. 

  2. Digital interventions: Technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and Internet of Things (IoT) can help in flood prediction, rain forecasting, detecting water leakages, treating wastewater and harvesting rainwater. AI tools are capable of analyzing the data from recycling plants and suggesting ways to reduce energy consumption up to 30%, contributing to overall sustainable practices.

  3. Stemming groundwater depletion: Since agriculture utilizes the majority of groundwater, the World Bank has been supporting innovative projects targeted at the agrarian communities. These include Atal Bhujal Yojana, the world’s largest community-led groundwater management program and Paani Bachao, Paisa Kamao in Punjab that resulted in water savings between 6 and 25% without any adverse effect on the yield. With states like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, and Manipur among others reporting high levels of arsenic in the groundwater, efforts for decontamination would also have to become part of the plan. 

There is no doubt that the problem of water scarcity is one of environment, population, governance, health, and well-being. Having to walk long distances and stand in long lines every day, 163 million people across the country continue to live without clean water close to their homes and ~0.2 million people die every year due to inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene. The population concentration is disproportionately high in Indian cities, 30 of which, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), staring at a grave water risk.

Given the seriousness and complexity of the problem, policymakers must therefore employ systems thinking – an approach that can create an ecosystem for innovation that develops a big-picture perspective, focuses on opportunities in a problem, and fosters adaptation amid rapidly-evolving environments. There is no doubt that greater involvement of communities can heavily alter the outcome of urban water management solutions. At the same time, funding such programs can meet a roadblock, especially in the wake of the devastating impacts of the pandemic. Therefore, fostering public-private partnerships (PPP) that can work by engaging communities, funders, and corporate stakeholders and creating awareness will play a critical role in achieving the goal ahead.

Neerain is proud to republish this blog for spreading awareness about the situation of water, for our stakeholders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/making-india-water-secure-solutions-for-the-future/

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Author: Dr. Nidhi Pundhir

Publish On: March 28, 2023

 

Let’s not go for a dry run

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If you knew that water covers 70% of our planet, you would imagine there’s no scarcity of this precious resource. If you also knew that naturally occurring freshwater, with low levels of dissolved solids and other salts, used for drinking, bathing, washing, and irrigation, constitutes 3% of the world’s water, you’d be alarmed. More so when you realize that two-thirds of such freshwater is frozen in glaciers and is unavailable.

The World Wide Fund for Nature estimates that 1.1 billion people lack access to water globally and 2.4 billion high purity. suffer from inadequate sanitation, re- resulting in diseases like cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, and other waterborne diseases. The scarcity of water also affects the growth of crops, contributing to food insecurity.

In addition, it has manifested in many civil and international conflicts with Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Darfur, Sudan, Somalia, Peru, and Brazil having experienced severe conflicts over water.

What are the main causes of this scarcity? Climate change is a major contributor. Higher temperatures enhance evaporation levels, disrupt rain patterns, cause flooding and deplete water reserves. Overpopulation is another, particularly in water-stressed areas such as West Asia, India, and China. Inefficient water use, mainly for grain production and in the textile, farm products, beverages, and automotive industries are also critical.

The strain on the earth’s finite resources makes this an urgent issue, calling for new visioning, higher-order regulation, reclamation, and the deployment of potent technologies.

Photo courtesy: Chris Madden

In the words of Lucas van Vuuren of the National Institute of Water Research in South Africa, ‘Water should not be judged by its history, but by its quality.’ Widely used processes for reclamation include:

  • Membrane bioreactor solutions that combine membrane processes and biological treatment, involving bacteria and protozoa.

  • Ultrafiltration, a pressure-driven barrier that separates small particles and molecules to produce water of high purity.

  • Reverse osmosis, typically used for desalination of pre-treated water for drinking purposes that flushes out bacteria, pathogens, and pesticides.

  • Electrodialysis reversal, a durable membrane system that relies on polarity reversal for treating turbid wastewater; and thermal evaporation and crystallization for treating complex wastewater.

The fact that the energy content in waste is far greater than the energy needed for its treatment is what’s encouraging new thinking on the subject.

Smart ideas combined with digital technology can yield numerous and substantial benefits.

Checking water consumption is an excellent first step. Smart meters enable consumption monitoring and analytics to sense patterns and provide insights to encourage conservation. San Francisco reduced voluntary water consumption by 10% this way.

Digital tools are particularly useful – in providing real-time information to dissuade high-cost consumption during peak periods. Singapore has cut the demand for water by 30% with such proactive interventions.

Overpopulation is another cause for scarcity, particularly in water-stressed areas such as West Asia, India, and China.

Photo Courtesy: Peepli Live

Sensors can continuously monitor quality parameters, including pH levels, bacteria, residual chlorine, temperature, turbidity, and contaminants. Early detection ensures timely mitigation. Many cities, including Chicago, New York, and London, use digital sensors to reduce waterborne diseases.

Water treatment plants can also reduce energy consumption with real-time monitoring. Advanced analytics and modeling techniques can predict demand and optimize pumping and maintenance schedules, improving operational efficiencies significantly.

Sensors can detect leaks in water pipes and distribution systems. Earl y action can save substantial water losses, optimize maintenance schedules, and extend the lifespan of the infrastructure. Barcelona has deployed sensors with a GIS system to isolate and reduce water leakage in aging pipes by 25%. Smart instances by 50%.

In flood situations, digital technologies like remote sensing, advanced analytics, and predictive modeling are used extensively to create early warning systems and facilitate pre-emptive actions, vastly improving emergency response.

World Bank data suggests India is a highly water-stressed country with 18% of the world’s population and just 4% of its water. NITI Aayog predicts that 21 Indian cities will run out of groundwater in 2030, affecting 40% of India’s population. A recent EY article, “Water 4.0: Digital Journey of Water’, underscores how advanced technologies

When will we create water in the lab at scale combining two hydrogen atoms with one oxygen atom that feeds flames?


Photo Courtesy: Brain On

like artificial intelligence (AI), advanced analytics, the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT), smart grids, neural networks, and digital twinning dominate ‘Smart Water’.

It references the Delhi Jal Board’s use of IoT, AI, and predictive analytics to treat wastewater and signal high water levels in sewers and potential pi- pipeline bursts; and Central Water Com- mission’s work that leverages machine learning (ML) and inundation modeling to predict flooding and sends out timely alerts, a system now being scaled up to cover most river systems across India.

What’s ahead? When will we create water in the lab at scale-combining two flammable hydrogen atoms with one oxygen atom that feeds flames? The jury’s out on that. Extracting water from the air as water vapor, like the Whisson Windmill that produces 2,600 gallons daily at low cost, seems a worthy alternative.

It’s riveting to see technology being used not just to avoid war among communities and nations in a water-starved world but to calm the wrath of nature.

Neerain is proud to republish this Article for spreading awareness about the situation of water, for our stakeholders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

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The Economic Times

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Author: Anil Nair

Publish On: July 1, 2023

 

 

These two cities are teaching the culture of drops to the world

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When Chennai was facing a severe water crisis and people were fighting among themselves for a bucket of water, the two cities separated by 10,000 kilometers and facing severe water scarcity, peacefully supplied water to their citizens. Were staying I traveled to both these cities and saw how traditional efforts and state-of-the-art technology have been used to solve the problem even in the most water-stressed areas.

drinking water from sewage 

I heard the term Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) for the first time during August 2018 in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. The term, coined by the people of Namibia, refers to the conversion of domestic sewage into drinking water. Windhoek is located in the driest region of Africa. The city has spent more than half a century working to clean up sewage and make it drinkable again.

In very good years the city of Windhoek receives 300 to 400 millimeters of rain annually. But most of the water evaporates and only a small amount of water spreads on the ground. So this city with a population of three lakhs survives with a very limited water supply. There is only one way left to meet the water requirement and that is to make sewage water reusable. The first recycling plant was established here in 1968. The old plant has since closed and was replaced in 2002 by a larger Goringgeb reclamation plant. I went to see this new plant. This plant prepares 21 thousand cubic meters of drinking water per day. About 60 liters of water is delivered to each person every day through this plant to the population in this desert city. This is sufficient to meet the basic needs of the citizens.

One of the main features of Windhoek is that it keeps industrial and other toxic waste water separate from the domestic waste stream. Domestic waste water is received with constant quality after pretreatment in a separate drain. This pre-treated effluent again passes through a ten stage treatment plant. This refining process is similar to the conventional technologies used in our country. Such as – coagulation, flocculation (chemical reaction), gravity filtration (filtration of solid particles), filtration of activated carbon particles, ultrafiltration, ozonization, disinfection etc.

The process of making water clean here is done in only three to four stages, whereas the difference is that the pre-treated water has to go through ten stages in the New Goringab Reclamation Plant. After this, drinking water is made according to the water quality standards of Switzerland. It is the most complex and strict drinking water standard in the world. Since 1968, there has not been a single case of any adverse health effects from recycled water. It is also surprising that the cost of converting sewage into potable water again is very cheap. Through the New Goringab Reclamation Plant, 1,000 liters of water is sold in Namibia for $11. This price is equal to 60 paise per liter of clean drinking water.

every drop counts

“Gardens by the Bay” is a famous tourist destination in Singapore. It has three beautifully landscaped waterfront gardens set on reclaimed land. But most people don’t know that the reservoir on which these gardens are situated is the largest rainwater reservoir in Singapore, which is called Mariana Reservoir. Rainwater falls on one-sixth of Singapore’s land area. This rainwater collects in this reservoir. It is purified and used in homes and factories.

Singapore is also a water-stressed city. It imports water from Malaysia. The only source of water for the city is rainwater. Even now it supplies 140 liters of clean water per day to each of its citizens by combining traditional methods and modern technology.

Singapore is the best city in the world for rainwater harvesting. The city receives abundant rainfall of 2400 mm annually but has only a small portion of land available for rainwater harvesting. The city also does not have any rock formations that can store rainwater underground. Hence the city is specialized in water harvesting and surface water harvesting through storm water drains. Today, two-thirds of Singapore has built up water catchment areas. 17 Rain drains in reservoirs, Rainwater is collected through canals and rivers. A major feature of Singapore is that it has very strict land-use laws to keep the reservoir or water catchment area clean by protecting it from polluting agriculture and factories. Apart from this, separate drains have also been made for sewage and rain water. The combined arrangement of clean water harvesting area and separate rain water drain ensures that only clean rain water is stored in the reservoirs. But even this extensive rainwater harvesting system is not enough to meet Singapore’s water needs.

Apart from the domestic demand of water here, the demand of water through industrial and commercial establishments is very high. That’s why “NEWater” is prepared here by recycling sewage. It is the name of a brand of water produced by the Singapore Public Utilities Board. Using state-of-the-art membrane technology and ultraviolet disinfection, Singapore transforms even the dirtiest sewage water into ultra-clean water. This water is supplied to industrial units and commercial establishments. Currently, 40 per cent of Singapore’s water needs are met through NE Water. Singapore has also set up a water desalination plant. At present, the city has three desalination plants which can meet 30% of the water requirement of the city.

The combined system of rainwater harvesting, sewage recycling, import water and desalination plants has made Singapore a water surplus city today. Today Singapore calls itself as Global Hydrohub. The city has 180 water companies, 20 water research institutes developing state-of-the-art technology in the water sector.

Now the question needs to be asked that if Singapore, one of the modern cities of the world, can harvest rainwater and convert sewage into clean water, then why not India’s high-tech Bangalore? The fact is that Bangalore was built after harvesting rainwater in lakes, ponds and tanks. But most of the lakes and ponds have either dried up or are polluted. However, these can be revived again. A recent study by TV Ramachandra and colleagues from the Indian Institute of Science shows that through rainwater and sewage treatment, Bangalore could easily provide 135 liters of water per day to each citizen. But will Bangalore do it? This is not possible as Bangalore has decided to get an additional 775 million liters per day from the Cauvery river through the Rs 5,500 crore Cauvery Water Supply Project, Phase-V.

But is it more sustainable and cheaper to transport water thousands of kilometers away, as most Indian cities are preparing, or to go for rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling? If Windhoek and Singapore can convert sewage into wastewater, why not Delhi? Chennai or Bangalore? If Singapore can do rainwater harvesting, why not Nagpur, Ranchi and Bhubaneswar? Indian cities must ask tough questions about a multi-crore water supply scheme.

The bottom line is that most of the Indian cities are facing water shortage but here the water is more than Windhoek and Indian cities have more catchment area than Singapore. If Windhoek and Singapore can meet their water needs through a combination of traditional rainwater harvesting and new cutting-edge technology, why can’t our cities? I don’t see any reason why we can’t do this?

Neerain is proud to republish this blog for spreading awareness about situation of water, for our stake holders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

This blog is published by: –

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/hindistory/water/water-conservation/reimagining-water-a-tale-of-two-cities-65393

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Author: Chandra Bhushan

Publish On: 02 July 2019

 

 

Water should be the next important environmental target for India

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Environmental targets are becoming common place in the current global scenario, with a large focus on reducing emissions. Unrestricted emissions lead to global warming and resulting climate change and could cause catastrophic damage to life on earth in the coming decades, some predictions say as early as 2050. There has been a start towards action, with most countries committing to reduce emissions and planning steps accordingly. Another crisis that needs immediate attention is that of water, more so in developing countries like India, where a significant number of people lack access to safe water source. Overuse of available water sources, wastage, contamination, and mismanagement may lead to severe crisis in the near future and result in several related issues on health and livelihood, probably much earlier than emissions related impact.

Photo courtesy: Nicepng

India has 18% of world’s population but only 4% of world’s freshwater resources. As per available Government data, the per capita availability of water at national level is about 1500 m3 per year, which is below the globally recognized threshold of water stress (1700 m3 per year), thereby making India a water stressed country. Water availability is varied annually across seasons and regions as is visible in the frequent droughts and floods. Increasing population, coupled with urbanization and economic growth are expected to increase the water demand further, and apply great stress on the water ecosystem. Though the primary goal may be to ensure access to clean water for all citizens, there is an urgent need for a holistic approach to better manage this precious shared resource.

Firstly, there is a need to arrive at clear data regarding water availability and usage. Accurate real-time data will provide inputs for implementing the right solutions, as well as help in demand side water management measures. In the age of technological advancements, there is enough knowhow on creating the right infrastructure for water treatment, supply, distribution, and technology for monitoring consumption. These are essential for effective water management. The aim should be to develop a water balance on a large scale, like a city / state level, and track key parameters such as available sources of water, total usage, per capita usage, sector-wise usage, etc. This would not only help in ensuring right action for implementation but also provide policy inputs on a long-term basis. Singapore is a good example of a reasonably large scale and effective water management, and long-term planning on water sources.

Photo courtesy: Istock

Another important aspect would be to set clear measurable targets for water management at a national level and percolating down to state and city level. Like for Renewable Energy adoption in India, where every state is obligated to have a certain percentage of electricity from renewables, targets need to be set for water too. For example: water consumption, % losses in the network, use of recycled water, % of wastewater treated, groundwater usage, etc. for different sectors. It may be a difficult task but can be taken up through a stage-wise approach, starting as a part of the smart city project of the Government, and then replicated to other cities and smaller towns. Aggressive targets can drive decisive action and accountability at various levels.

Then comes the enablement through policy and regulatory framework. Stringent guidelines on water management coupled with effective enforcement is the need of the hour to address water crisis. Whether it is groundwater or freshwater from other sources, enforcement becomes effective with clear targets and monitoring of important data. Water should be charged based on consumption, irrespective of the sector – agriculture, industry or domestic. While the enforcement on water usage and effluent discharge can be in the form of penalties, policies on groundwater usage need to be more carefully defined since groundwater being a shared resource can affect a large area. Policy should mandate the use of water conservation techniques, implementation of rainwater harvesting and set clear limits for groundwater usage. Disclosures on water usage should be mandated for the corporate sector, and water should be an important aspect in the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) goals of companies in the Indian context.

Most of the water in India is used for agriculture. On a long-term basis, the agricultural patterns in India are expected to change and adapt based on water availability. But for domestic usage, a holistic water management with effective measures on water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and wastewater treatment will go a long way in ensuring water availability. 

Water is the basis for human survival and development. Conserving this precious resource needs commitment, decisive and urgent action at all levels. Targets similar to the ‘Panchamrit’ which talks about the promises made by India on emissions reduction are necessary for water as well in the Indian context. With the skills and technology available today, coupled with effective regulatory framework, it is possible to move towards self-sufficiency, adequacy, and safe water access for all.

Neerain is proud to republish this blog for spreading awareness about situation of water, for our stake holders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

This blog is published by: –

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/water-should-be-the-next-important-environmental-target-for-india/

We would like to spread this for the benefit of fellow Indians.

Author: Guruprakash Sastry

Publish On: March 21, 2022

 

Investment in water conservation required to build climate ‘resilience’ in rural India

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The climate change phenomenon seems omnipresent with its impacts being felt around us in various ways.  However, in a vast, tropical, and developing country like India, one of the areas that is more acutely felt, is the area of ‘water’ – the medium through which we feel the painful effects of climate change.  

With our gargantuan population and an increasing ‘thirst’ for water across cities, industries, and agricultural communities, India has a pronounced vulnerability to climate change – simply because its agriculture system feeds 17.5% of the global population, all the while harnessing just 2.4 % of land and only 4% of the water on the planet.  It is a delicate and fragile balancing act for our humble farmers, 90% of whom are small and marginal landholders.  

Never before has water conservation been so vital, with conservation techniques being the fundamental difference between a ‘water starved community’ that relies on expensive and erratic water tanker delivery, or between a ‘water prosperous community’ which is self-sufficient in terms of water, with all year around access to this precious, life and livelihood giving, resource. 

This intimate relationship between climate change and water means that investing in water conservation techniques is a crucial part of fostering climate change resilience – particularly among vulnerable rural populations – people, communities, and an agricultural industry that these communities are built upon, and that feeds the nation.

Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock

Snapshot from ‘the Ground’

What does this climate change-induced ‘water stress’ look like on the ground in rural India?  

  • An increased frequency of drought means that less water is available, and the subsequent rises in temperature only increase a farmer’s demand of water for crops.  

  • High-intensity rainfall increases soil erosion and results in high water runoff – runoff that takes with it precious topsoil that silts up water harvesting structures, reducing their ultimate water storage capacity.  

  • Short duration, high-intensity rainfall which is exacerbated by climate change, also results in low groundwater recharge – reducing the availability of groundwater for usage.  

  • Irregular rainfall distribution and long intermediate dry spells during monsoon severely impact crop yield in rainfed areas.

However, across the country, there are many leading examples of how water conservation – coordinated efforts to increase the supply of water, as well as reducing the demand for it – has changed the water narrative in villages.  Whilst it is easy to shrug off the responsibility of water conservation methods to Governments to lead the charge, there is, in fact, a role to be played by everyone – villagers, communities, people’s institutions, corporates, and civil society – in the uptake of various water conservation measures to generate ‘water resilient communities in rural India.

But it requires a two-pronged approach.

  • Increasing Water Supply

Water resilience can be fostered, by increasing the supply of it for drinking, sanitation, and irrigation purposes – working with households, farmers, and communities to develop mechanisms to simply capture rainwater as and when it falls enabling percolation and recharge– storing it for use in the ‘dry months’ India is renowned for.

Photo Courtesy: Adobe Stock

At a household level, investment in a rooftop rainwater harvesting system (RRWHS) is proven as one of the cost-effective ways to increase safe drinking water supply.,. Self-sufficient households in terms of water, are not only better equipped to survive severe climate variability and drought, but are empowered with a responsibility to both capture and efficiently manage the use of their own water. An RRWHS constructed with a 12,000-liter capacity can be sufficient to meet the drinking and cooking water needs for a family of 5-6 members, for at least 250 days in a year – meaning a family’s needs are met for the rest of the year, post monsoon. This is a game-changer for families living in remote and water-stressed -communities as the quality of water is also assured.

Additionally, the revival and restoration of traditional water harvesting structures which are scattered across the country, is another priority in order to increase water supply.  Whilst most of these have fallen into disrepair, these unique structures have helped generations of Indians for millennia, to survive the harsh climatic conditions of remote India.  Sadly, during the colonization of India, the British replaced the decentralized, communal responsibility of managing water, with a centralized one where the Public Works Department took control of water. As a result, people gave up the responsibility of managing and caring for water. But these incredible structures still exist and many simply lie in disuse, in need of restoration and repair – with work, they can be revived to their former glory. 

With many communities facing issues with contamination of water supplies, like salinity and increased levels of fluoride due to over-extracted groundwater reserves, building the capacity of a community to test its own water and identify local solutions is yet another solution to making communities self-reliant when it comes to water.

  • Reducing Water Demand

However, an increase in water supply alone is not enough to generate self-sufficient, resilient communities when it comes to water.  With the agricultural sector consuming 90 percent of all water drawn across the country as reported, primarily for flood-irrigating water-intensive crops, there is a drastic need to convert farmers to more water-efficient agricultural practices.

Flood irrigation currently delivers only 35-40 percent water use efficiency, as opposed to micro irrigation which has up to 90 percent efficiency. Despite this, the coverage of drip (2.13 percent) and sprinkler (3.30 percent) methods of irrigation is meager compared to its total potential in India. This presents an exciting opportunity for widescale investment in micro irrigation as a key approach to reducing the demand for water. The slow spread of micro irrigation is not mainly due to economic reasons, but due to a lack of awareness among the farmers about the real economic and revenue-related benefits of it. In fact, by adopting micro-irrigation, farmers experience an increase in productivity – by being able to precisely control water application at the plant roots, crop yield is increased, resulting in an increase in profits. Additionally, farmers who adopt micro irrigation experience a reduced cost of cultivation – enhancing overall profits.  It is a win-win on all fronts.

Photo Courtesy: Pngtree

Additionally, according to experts at the Central Water Commission, India’s cropping pattern highlights the rampant cultivation of water-intensive crops such as sugarcane, paddy, cotton, and banana, across water-stressed regions of India. As agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater in India, the shift from water-intensive crops to less water-intensive crops such as pulses, millets, vegetables, legumes, and oilseeds, can spare large quantities of fresh water in India, with minimal cost, for the benefit of farmers.  An investment in farmer education and capacity building is required here.

 Conclusion

The evidence is clear.  The climate is changing and will continue to do so, affecting all communities, primarily through the resource of water. Climate change will affect the availability, quality, and quantity of water for basic human needs and livelihoods, threatening the fundamental human rights to water of potentially billions of people. Strategic water conservation measures can be the key to creating climate-resilient rural communities, which have the means, in terms of water, to not just survive, but thrive & prosper, as they continue to grow food for the rest of the country.

Neerain is proud to republish this blog for spreading awareness about the situation of water, for our stakeholders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

This blog is published by: –

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/investment-in-water-conservation-required-to-build-climate-resilience-in-rural-india/

We would like to spread this for the benefit of fellow Indians.

Author: Pearl Tiwari

Publish On: October 13, 2022

 

 

If we’re smart about water, we can stop our cities from sinking

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As more cities sink, rethinking how we use groundwater can ease pressure on precious aquifers

The land around Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has sunk dramatically over the years. Photo Courtesy: Rehman Abubakr

When you come into land at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport it may not be obvious from the sky that the land in the surrounding area has been sinking more than 17 centimetres a year.

The main reason for this subsidence is the excessive pumping of groundwater. 

As the water is removed from underground aquifers, the soil above begins to compact and sink. This can happen gradually, over years, or suddenly, in just hours. In either case, the effects can be long-lasting and expensive to repair.

India is ranked number one for excessive groundwater usage.  Groundwater is a vital resource for our planet’s survival. It sustains agriculture, provides drinking water, and supports ecosystems. 

However, overuse of groundwater is leading to a new problem: Land subsidence, which not only causes damage to infrastructure and buildings but threatens the livelihoods of millions of people around the world.

In India, the northern Gangetic plains are exploited more than anywhere else. The impact of disappearing groundwater is accelerating changes in the shape of the land surface. But residents and authorities are fighting back, changing years of water usage habits to stop the land from sinking beneath them.

Photo Courtesy: Pinterest

A recent study in Nature reported alluvial aquifers in India in the Delhi-National Capital Region have sunk and continue to sink at a substantial rate. Around Kapashera, near the international airport, land subsided by 11 cm per year during 2014-2016.

That increased to more than 17 cm per year in the two years that followed.

On the vulnerability of Delhi to subsidence, Ryan Smith, assistant professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology said: “Aquifers that are pressurized and have lots of clay are most prone to subsidence.” 

The soil in Delhi is mainly thick alluvium, which is clay-rich and thus vulnerable. It can cause significant damage to buildings, bridges, pipelines, railways, and canals.

Even minor subsidence in densely populated areas can put lives at risk. In cases where the rate of sinking is differential, It might lead to the weakening of foundations or develop cracks in the buildings.

A fifth of the world’s population lives in areas that are at risk of subsidence, according to recent reports.  In some cities, the problem is so severe that buildings have sunk by several meters.

The consequences can be devastating, as entire communities are left vulnerable to flooding, infrastructure damage, and water scarcity.

There’s been land subsidence in various parts of the world where exploitation of groundwater has been high. 

One of the most prominent cases is in Mexico City, where buildings have been tilting due to land sinking. 

In Indonesia, over the last decade, the capital Jakarta has sunk more than 2.5 meters. The problem is so grave the government is planning to shift the capital. 

Countries like Iran and China too, have witnessed prominent land subsidence in the last few decades.

It is possible to reduce land subsidence if groundwater replacement is equivalent to what’s taken out, or by using water sustainably. 

Photo Courtesy: Adobe Stock

Rainwater harvesting is an effective way to boost groundwater, especially in dry cities, which receive low rainfall and have a lot of alluvial soil, which is prone to subsidence due to its softness.

In Delhi’s Dwarka region, residents and the government had been working on a plan to supply piped water to the area by 2016. Heavy fines were imposed on buildings still using borewells and residents began harvesting rainwater to increase the water table in the area.  

Two large lakes were cleaned up and rejuvenated which helped increase groundwater levels.

The government also decided that only treated sewage and surface water should be used to water public parks and grounds.

Town planner Vikas Kanojia said steps like reviving old reservoirs and harvesting rainwater helped Dwarka reduce its reliance on groundwater and reverse the trend of land subsidence. “This can be a model for other areas in Delhi and India”, he said.

Dwarka’s example shows that it’s possible to deal with the issue of subsidence, however in more arid regions this process is difficult. 

Iran, for instance, is home to some of the fastest sinking valleys in the world, but uncontrolled mining continues. Per capita water supplies have plummeted more than 65 percent in recent decades and it could be worse in the future. 

The government has invested heavily in technologies such as desalination. “Technology can help, but what we need is a long-term program to conserve water resources involving farmers, industries, and local communities and at the moment there isn’t one,” said Mahdi Motagh, a senior scientist from GFZ Potsdam.

The issue of subsidence is becoming more serious and widespread, affecting the lives of millions of people around the world. However, there are solutions, as demonstrated by the efforts of residents and the government in the Dwarka region of Delhi. 

Rainwater harvesting, reviving old reservoirs, and using treated sewage and surface water can help to reduce reliance on groundwater and reverse land subsidence. But what’s more important is to address this issue through proper tracking and monitoring and long-term programs involving farmers, industries, and local communities.

This blog is published by: –

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/urbanisation/if-we-re-smart-about-water-we-can-stop-our-cities-sinking-89417

We would like to spread this for the benefit of fellow Indians.

Author: Shagun Garg

Publish On: 18 May 2023

ગુજરાતીએ બનાવેલી પ્રોડક્ટની US સહિત 5થી વધુ દેશોમાં માગ : મોટા પેકેજની નોકરી છોડી વોટર હાર્વેસ્ટિંગ માટે પાણી સાફ કરતું સસ્તું ડિવાઇસ બનાવ્યું, કંપનીનું ટર્નઓવર કરોડોમાં

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ચોમાસાની શરૂઆતથી જ દેશનાં અનેક રાજ્યોમાં પૂરની સ્થિતિ જોવા મળી. ગુજરાતમાં પણ અનેક જગ્યાએ વરસાદના કારણે ઘણા વિસ્તારો જળબંબાકાર થઈ ગયા હતા. પરંતુ બીજી તરફ ચોમાસા સિવાય દેશભરમાં પાણી માટે ઘણા લોકોને વલખાં મારવાં પડે છે. પાણી એ આપણી મૂળભૂત જરૂરિયાતોમાંનું એક છે. પરંતુ અવ્યવસ્થાના કારણે પાણી જીવલેણ મુસીબત પણ બની શકે છે. આવી પરિસ્થિતિનો વિચાર કરીને એક ગુજરાતી યુવાન અમિત દોશીએ પોતાની સૂઝબૂઝથી એક ખાસ પ્રોડક્ટ બનાવી છે.

17 વર્ષ ખાનગી કંપનીમાં કામ કર્યું, વિદેશમાં જઈને પણ નોકરી કરી આવ્યા, છેવટે હિમ્મતભેર એક પગલું ભર્યું અને આ ગુજરાતીએ એવી કંપની બનાવી જેનું ટર્નઓવર હવે કરોડોમાં છે. કારણ કે તેમણે પોતાના અનુભવના આધારે બનાવેલી એક વસ્તુની જરૂર આજના સમયે એટલી જરૂરી છે કે મોટા-મોટા બિલ્ડર પણ તેમનો સંપર્ક કરી રહ્યા છે. અમેરિકા સહિત વિશ્વના 5થી પણ વધુ દેશોમાં પણ આ પ્રોડક્ટની માગ છે.

અમિત દોશીએ કહ્યું, ‘મારું મૂળ વતન વિજાપુર છે. અત્યારે અમદાવાદ રહું છું. મેં વર્ષ 1996 ગવર્નમેન્ટ પોલિટેક્નિકમાંથી ડિપ્લોમા ઇન પ્લાસ્ટિક એન્જિનિયરિંગ પૂરું કર્યું હતું. ત્યાર બાદ વર્ષ 1997થી 2001 સુધી મેં સિન્ટેક્સ કંપનીમાં નોકરી કરી હતી. ત્યાર પછી નાઈજીરિયાની એક કંપનીમાં એક વર્ષ સુધી કામ કર્યું પરંતુ પિતાનું અવસાન થતાં હું પરત ફર્યો હતો અને ફરી સિન્ટેક્સ કંપનીમાં વર્ષ 2002થી 2014 સુધી કામ કર્યું હતું. જ્યાં ટેક્નિકલ સર્વિસ ડિપાર્ટમેન્ટથી શરૂ કરી એન્વાયરમેન્ટલ ડિવિઝનના માર્કેટિંગ હેડ તરીકે નોકરી કરી. મુખ્યત્વે સોલિડ વેસ્ટ મેનેજમેન્ટનું કાર્ય હું સંભાળતો હતો.’

વરસાદી પાણીને વોટર હાર્વેસ્ટિંગ માટે સાફ કરવા ડિવાઈસ બનાવનાર અમિત દોશી.

‘જ્યારે વર્ષ 2014માં મેં નોકરી છોડવાનો વિચાર કર્યો ત્યારે સૌથી પહેલો પ્રશ્ન એ હતો કે આગળ શું કરવું? પોતાનો બિઝનેસ કરવાનો વિચાર હતો. બિઝનેસ પણ એવો જે સામાન્ય માણસની તકલીફને દૂર કરે. મેં અલગ-અલગ વિષયો પર અભ્યાસ કર્યો. પર્યાવરણમાં એફ્લૂઅન્ટ ટ્રીટમેન્ટ, સુએજ ટ્રીટમેન્ટ, વોટર ડિસ્ટ્રિબ્યુશન, વોટર પૉલ્યુશન, એર પૉલ્યુશન, વોટર મોનિટરિંગ આવાં અનેક ક્ષેત્રોમાં મોટા પ્રમાણમાં બિઝનેસ થઈ રહ્યો છે. આ સ્ટડી કર્યા પછી મને લાગ્યું કે નોકરી છોડ્યા બાદ બિઝનેસ કરીશ તો મારી પાસે તેને શરૂ કરવા માટે રૂપિયા નથી. મારી પાસે ફક્ત મારો અનુભવ છે. મારી આવડત, કામ કરવાની બૌદ્ધિક ક્ષમતા છે, માર્કેટિંગની આવડત અને પર્યાવરણ પ્રત્યે મારું પેશન છે. ત્યારે વિચાર આવ્યો કે રેઇન વોટર હાર્વેસ્ટિંગ એક એવો વિષય છે જેને લઈને હજી પણ લોકો જાગૃત નથી. ભારતના મોટાભાગના લોકોએ હજુ રેઇન વોટર હાર્વેસ્ટિંગના કોન્સેપ્ટને અપનાવ્યો નથી. આપણે ત્યાં સારો એવો વરસાદ થતો હોવા છતાં પણ 60 ટકાથી વધુ વસતિ પાણીની તંગી ભોગવી રહી છે. પાણી લેવા દૂર-દૂર જવું પડે છે. આપણા દેશે તો દુનિયાને વાવ જેવાં સ્થાપત્યો દ્વારા વરસાદી પાણીના સંગ્રહનો વિચાર સદીઓ પહેલાં આપી દીધો હતો. પણ આજની પરિસ્થિતિ કથળી ગઈ. કારણ કે એ સિદ્ધાંતો આપણે મોડર્ન સ્ટાઇલમાં અપનાવી ન શક્યા. આજના સમયની જરૂરિયાત મુજબ તેમાં ફેરફાર ન કર્યા. જેના કારણે આપણે એ તરફ પછાત રહી ગયા. મને થયું કે આ ક્ષેત્રે ખૂબ કામ કરવાનું બાકી છે. આમાં કંઈક કરીએ તો સામાન્ય માણસની પાણીની તકલીફ દૂર કરી શકીએ.’

ધાબા પરથી પડતું પાણી સાફ કરતું ડિવાઈસ
‘નોકરી છોડ્યા પછી વરસાદી પાણીના સંગ્રહ પર અભ્યાસ કરીને કન્સલ્ટિંગનું કામ શરૂ કર્યું. વર્ષ 2014થી 2018 સુધી વરસાદી પાણીના સંગ્રહને લગતા કામકાજ અને અલગ-અલગ પ્રોડક્ટસ શરૂ કરી. આ દરમિયાન વિચાર આવ્યો કે સામાન્ય લોકો હજુ પણ બોરવેલ કે પાણીના એક જ સ્ત્રોત પર નિર્ભર છે. બોરવેલ સુકાઈ જાય કે ઓછું પાણી આવે તો લોકોને ઘણી મુશ્કેલી થાય છે. જ્યારે એ જ વિસ્તારમાં ચોમાસામાં સારો એવો વરસાદ પણ થાય છે. પરંતુ આ પાણીના સંગ્રહ માટે એવી કોઈ વસ્તુ નથી. મેં આ દિશામાં કામ શરૂ કર્યું. મને થયું કે એવું કોઈ નાનું ડિવાઇસ બનાવીએ જેનાથી ધાબા પર રહેલો કચરો વરસાદી પાણીમાંથી દૂર થઈ જાય અને વરસાદી પાણી આપમેળે જ સંગ્રહિત થઈને વાપરવા મળે તો જીવન ખૂબ સરળ થઈ જાય.’

અમિત દોશીએ ડિઝાઈન કરીને બનાવેલું ડિવાઈસ

નજરે ન પડતો કચરો પણ આવી રીતે સાફ થઈ જાય
અમિત દોશી જણાવે છે કે, ‘આ ડિવાઈસ બનાવતા પહેલાં અમે વરસાદી પાણી માટેના અલગ-અલગ ચેમ્બર્સ અને ફિલ્ટર્સનો અભ્યાસ કર્યો. જેના જે પણ તારણો આવ્યાં તેનાથી નક્કી કર્યું કે એવું ડિવાઈસ બનાવીએ જે સસ્તું હોય, વૈજ્ઞાનિક રીતે પણ સારી ક્વોલિટીનું હોય, વધુ પડતી જગ્યા ન રોકે, દીવાલ પર લાગી જાય, વરસાદી પાણીનો સંગ્રહ થતો હોય તેને મૉનિટર કરી શકાય, કોઈ પણ મેન્ટનન્સ ન આવે, ઝીણામાં ઝીણો કચરો ફિલ્ટર થઈ જાય, પાણીનો વેડફાટ ન થાય, કોઈ પણ પ્લમ્બર તેને સરળતાથી લગાવી શકે. આવા મુદ્દાઓને ધ્યાનમાં રાખીને એક બાય દોઢ ફૂટના ડિવાઈસની ડિઝાઈન તૈયારી કરી. જેમાં બધું જ પાણી 400 માઈક્રૉનના પહેલા ફિલ્ટરમાંથી અને 200 માઈક્રૉનમાં બીજા ફિલ્ટરમાંથી પસાર થાય છે. એટલે નાનામાં નાના કણ પણ અને કચરો રોકાઈ જાય છે. આમ શુદ્ધ વરસાદી પાણીનો સંગ્રહ થઈ શકે છે. એ પાણી પાઇપ દ્વારા સીધું જ ટાંકી, બોરવેલ અથવા કૂવામાં લઈ શકાય. આ પ્રક્રિયામાં એક પણ ટીપું વેડફાતું નથી.’

ધાબા પરથી કેટલું ચોખ્ખું પાણી મળે?
‘1200 સ્ક્વેર ફૂટનું ધાબું હોય તો 2 ઈંચ વરસાદમાં 4 હજારથી સાડા 4 હજાર લિટર પાણી મળે. અમદાવાદનું ઉદાહરણ આપું તો આખી સિઝન 60થી 65 હજાર લિટર પાણી મળે. એ પાણી શુદ્ધ હોય છે, સ્વાસ્થ્ય માટે પણ સારું હોય છે. ફ્લેટમાં જો 5 હજાર સ્ક્વેર ફૂટનું ધાબું હોય તો 2 ઈંચના વરસાદમાં 25 હજાર લિટર પાણી મળે. એટલે આખી સિઝન 3 લાખ લિટર પાણી મળે. આ પાણીનું સંચય ન કરવામાં આવે તો ધાબા પરથી જમીન પર આવે અને રસ્તા પર પાણી ભરાઈ જાય. એટલે એ જ પાણી આપણને ઘણું નુકસાન કરે છે. અમે બનાવેલું ડિવાઈસ લગાવવાથી પહેલાં જ વર્ષે 5 હજાર રૂપિયામાં 60 હજાર લિટર પાણી મળે છે. એની એક લિટરની કિંમત શું થઈ? સાવ નજીવી!’

આવી રીતે બોરવેલમાં પહોંચે છે વરસાદી પાણી
‘બોરવેલમાં 4થી 6 ઈંચની એક કેસિંગ પાઇપ હોય છે. જેમાં એક કોલમ પાઇપ હોય. તેના છેડે સબમર્સિબલ પંપ પાણીમાં ડૂબેલો હોય છે. એ પંપ દ્વારા કોલમ પાઇપ મારફતે પાણી આપણને મળે છે. જ્યારે વરસાદી પાણી ધાબાથી નીચે આવે તેની લાઇનમાં વોટર ફિલ્ટર લગાવી દેવામાં આવે છે. જેથી પાણી ચોખ્ખું થઈ જાય છે. આ પાઇપને બોરવેલની મોટી કેસિંગ પાઇપ સાથે જોડી દેવામાં આવે છે. જેથી વરસાદનું પાણી ચોખ્ખું થઈને બોરવેલમાં જતું રહે. જેના કારણે બોરવેલના પાણીના તળ ઉપર આવે છે અને આખું તળ રિજનરેટ થઈ જાય છે. એટલે બોરવેલને સુકાતો બચાવે છે. બોરવેલના પાણીનું TDS અને હાર્ડનેશ ડાયલ્યુશન ઇફેક્ટથી ઘટે છે.

આ ડિવાઈસમાં લાગેલા ફિલ્ટરને કોઈ પણ વ્યક્તિ આસાનીથી ખોલીને સાફ કરી શકે છે.

ક્યાં-ક્યાં છે આ ડિવાઈસની માગ?
‘અમે નિરેન નામથી ડિવાઈસ લોન્ચ કર્યું હતું. 3 વર્ષમાં 4 હજારથી વધુ ડિવાઈસનું ઈન્સ્ટોલેશન થયું છે. દેશમાં સૌથી વધુ વેચાણ ગુજરાતમાં છે. એ પછી કર્ણાટક, મધ્યપ્રદેશ તમિલનાડુ, કેરળ અને રાજસ્થાનમાં થાય છે. વિદેશમાં આફ્રિકા, નોર્થ અમેરિકા, નેપાળમાં પણ ડિવાઈસ ઇન્સ્ટોલ કર્યા છે. વિદેશમાં સૌથી વધુ 200 ડિવાઈસ નોર્થ અમેરિકામાં લગાવ્યાં છે. કુલ હિસાબ લગાવીએ તો અલગ-અલગ જગ્યાએ થઈને અત્યાર સુધી લગભગ 90 કરોડથી વધુ લિટર પાણી બચ્યું છે. આ સિઝનના આંકડા ઉમેરીએ તો કદાચ 125 કરોડ લિટર સુધી આંકડો પહોંચશે.’

ડિવાઈસની કિંમત અને ઈન્સ્ટોલેશન
‘1200 સ્ક્વેર ફૂટના વિસ્તારમાં વરસાદી પાણીના સંગ્રહ માટે કામમાં આવતું આ ડિવાઈસ 2950 રૂપિયામાં મળે છે. તેની સાથે પ્લમ્બિંગનો ખર્ચ થાય. એટલે 6 હજાર રૂપિયાની અંદર ડિવાઈસ લાગી જાય. 20 વર્ષ સુધી કોઈ પણ પ્રકારની વીજળી કે મેન્ટનન્સ જેવો ખર્ચ આવતો નથી. કોઈ પણ પ્લમ્બર કે સામાન્ય વ્યક્તિ 4 સ્ક્રૂ મારફતે તેને દીવાલમાં લગાવી શકે. ટેક્નિકલ 4 ઈંચનો આઉટલેટ અને 4 ઈંચનો ઇનલેટ છે. મોટાભાગના ઘરમાં સરળતાથી લાગી જાય છે.’

અમિત દોશીએ બનાવેલી પ્રોડક્ટથી વરસાદી પાણીને સાફ કરીને તેનો ટાંકીમાં પણ સંગ્રહ કરી શકાય છે.

’80 ટકા પ્રોડક્ટ અમે રહેણાક મકાનમાં લગાવી છે. જેમાં મોટાભાગના મધ્યમ વર્ગના લોકો ગ્રાહક હોય છે. જ્યારે 20 ટકા ડિવાઈસ અમે ઇન્ડસ્ટ્રીમાં લગાવ્યાં છે. ગુજરાતમાં સૌથી વધુ માગ વડોદરામાં જોવા મળી. ત્યાં આસપાસ નવા ડેવલપમેન્ટ બોરવેલ પર આધાર રાખે છે. બોરવેલ સુકાઈ જવાની ફરિયાદો હતી. હવે બોરવેલ રિચાર્જ થયા એટલે આખું વર્ષ પાણી ઘટતું નથી. ગામડામાં જેમને પોતાના બોર છે એ લોકો, જ્યારે શહેરમાં સંસ્થાઓ અને બંગલામાં રહેતા લોકો વધુ પ્રોડક્ટ લે છે. શરૂઆત કરી એ વર્ષે એટલે કે 2020 માં 5 લાખનું ટર્ન ઓવર હતું. ગયા વર્ષે એક કરોડ રૂપિયાનું ટર્નઓવર ક્રોસ કર્યું. આ વર્ષે ડબલ કરવાનો ટાર્ગેટ છે.’

સરકારે પણ જળ સંચય માટે નિયમ બનાવ્યા છે
અમિત દોશીએ એક કિસ્સો યાદ કરતા કહ્યું, ‘બિલ્ડર સાથે વાત કરીએ ત્યારે તેઓ કહે છે કે, અમે સરકારના નિયમોનું પાલન કરવા માટે જળસંગ્રહની વ્યવસ્થા કરીએ જ છીએ. પણ નિયમોના કારણે થતાં આ કામના લીધે કેટલીક વખત જળસંગ્રહની વાત ફક્ત કાગળ પર જ રહી જાય છે. અમદાવાદમાં દર વર્ષે અંદાજે 15 ટકા બોરવેલ સુકાઈ જાય છે. આ મુશ્કેલીનો સરળતાથી નજીવા ખર્ચે ઉકેલ લાવી શકાય એમ છે.’

‘માત્ર પત્નીને જ જાણ હતી કે નોકરી છોડી દીધી છે’
બે અલગ-અલગ કંપનીઓમાં થઈને લગભગ 17 વર્ષ નોકરી કર્યા બાદ પોતાનો બિઝનેસ શરૂ કરવામાં કેવી મુશ્કેલીઓ આવી, તે અંગે વાત કરતા અમિત દોશી કહે છે કે, ‘મેં સિન્ટેક્સમાં નાના ડસ્ટબિનથી લઈને 300 કરોડ રૂપિયા સુધીના પ્રોજેક્ટ પર કામ કર્યું હતું. પરંતુ જ્યારે નોકરી છોડી પોતાનો ધંધો કરવાનો વિચાર આવ્યો ત્યારે નક્કી કર્યું હતું કે ક્યારેય હું બિઝનેસ નહીં કરું. કારણ કે વર્ષ 1997થી બનાવેલી ગુડવિલ અને સંબંધોનો સવાલ હતો. મેં નોકરી છોડી, ત્યારે 2 વર્ષ સુધી ઘરમાં કેટલા રૂપિયાની જરૂર પડશે તે નક્કી કરીને 4 લાખ રૂપિયા અલગ રાખી દીધા હતા. નોકરી છોડી તેની બે વર્ષ સુધી મારા ઘરમાં પત્નીને જ જાણ હતી. કારણ કે જો આ વાત બહાર જાય તો બીજા લોકો કહેતાં કે આટલી સારી નોકરી કેમ છોડી? લોકોને નોકરી મળતી નથી. આવા સવાલોથી હું બચી ગયો. કારણ કે આવી વાતોથી મારી અને પરિવારની માનસિકતા પર નકારાત્મક અસર થઈ શકે. નોકરી છોડ્યા બાદ મને એ જ કંપનીમાંથી ફોન આવ્યો. હું મળવા ગયો ત્યાં મને કહેવામાં આવ્યું કે, તમે અમારી કંપની કરતાં અલગ ફિલ્ડમાં કામ કરો છો. એટલે તમે અમારી સાથે રહીને કન્સલ્ટિંગનું કામ કરી શકો છો. જેના 50 હજાર રૂપિયા મહિને નક્કી થયા. એટલે મારે ઘરનું ટેન્શન વધુ હળવું થઈ ગયું.’

છેલ્લાં ચાર વર્ષમાં ઘણાં રહેણાક મકાનો અને સંસ્થાઓની ઈમારતોમાં જળ સંચય માટે આ પદ્ધતિ અપનાવવામાં આવી છે.

‘મારા બિઝનેસ માટે બે વર્ષ સુધી ઘરેથી કામ કર્યું. એ પછી 2016માં એક ઓફિસ ભાડે લીધી અને પોતાની પ્રોડક્ટ બનાવવા પર ફોકસ કર્યુ. વર્ષ 2018થી પોતાની ઓફિસ લીધી. ત્યારે જ મેં ડિવાઈસની ડિઝાઈન બનાવી હતી.’

AMC સાથે પણ કરાર કર્યા
‘અત્યારે ભારત સરકારની મદદ લઈને અમદાવાદ મ્યુનિસિપલ કોર્પોરેશન સાથે MOU કરીને 8 સંસ્થાઓમાં આ સિસ્ટમ લગાવી છે. એ માટે ભારત સરકારે 20 લાખ રૂપિયા પણ આપ્યા છે. અમારી પ્રોડક્ટ બનાવવા માટે મશીનરીનો ખૂબ ખર્ચ થાય એમ હતો. ત્યારે સ્ટાર્ટ-અપને પ્રોત્સાહન આપવાના ઉદ્દેશથી ભારત સરકારે ફરી મદદ કરી હતી.’

અમારા હિતધારકો માટે પાણીની પરિસ્થિતિ વિશે જાગૃતિ ફેલાવવા માટે આ લેખ પુનઃપ્રકાશિત કરવામાં નીરૈનને ગર્વ છે. 
જે પણ શ્રેય લેખકને જાય છે.
આ લેખ દ્વારા પ્રકાશિત કરવામાં આવ્યો છે: -
https://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/dvb-original/news/leaving-the-job-of-big-
package-and-made-a-cheap-device-that-cleans-water-neerain-amit-doshi-131546196.html

અમે સાથી ભારતીયોના લાભ માટે આને ફેલાવવા માંગીએ છીએ.

લેખક: સારથી એમ.સાગર
 
આ તારીખે પ્રકાશિત કરો: જુલાઈ 17, 2023.