Tag: rooftop rainwater filter

At this village school in Karnataka, every drop of rainwater is harvested and reused

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The government school in Kora village in Tumakuru has enough water for drinking, cooking, washing and gardening purposes thanks to the rainwater harvesting system installed with the help of the non-profit Biome.

With the onset of the monsoon season, Government Model Higher Primary School in Kora village in Tumakuru has been capturing every drop of rain that fell from the sky. All photos by arrangement.

Water situation in Karnataka is worrisome as several districts in the state have received deficient rainfall in the southwest monsoon season that ended last month. The region of south interior Karnataka is particularly affected, and sharing of Cauvery river’s water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has become a hot topic for dharna and protests.

But a village school in Tumakuru district in rain-deficient south interior region of Karnataka is not worried about the looming water crisis.

The government school has enough water for drinking, washing and gardening purposes. And the water — harvested rainwater — has been a ‘free’ gift from the heavens above.

Since June this year, with the onset of the monsoon season, Government Model Higher Primary School in Kora village in Tumakuru has been capturing every drop of rain that fell from the sky on the school premises located over 70 kilometres from the state capital Bengaluru.

Today, the rural school with 208 children studying in classes one to seven has sufficient water to use for its cooking, gardening, cleaning and drinking purposes. For drinking and cooking, the harvested rainwater is filtered with the help of RO (reverse osmosis) so that it is clean and safe to drink for the students and staff.

Also Read: Gaon Connection Launches ‘The Changemakers Project’ to Build a National Registry of Changemakers

The credit for making the school self-sufficient in water goes to Madhusudan Rao, headmaster at the school, who thought up a plan to capture, store, treat and use rainwater in his school. In a changing climate, with rainfall patterns changing, harvesting every drop of rainwater that falls on the ground is the need of the hour.

Rao has been raising awareness about various environmental issues, including water conservation, here, he is explaining his students about the rainwater harvesting system.

“I wanted to set up a rainwater harvesting system in the school. It made so much sense because it is cost effective, and promotes both water and energy conservation,” the 57-year-old headmaster told Gaon Connection.

Rao has taught for 33 years and is actively involved in the People Science Movement that popularises science and scientific outlook amongst people. He also volunteers at the Tumkur Science Centre where he raises awareness about various environmental issues, including water conservation.

To execute the rainwater harvesting plan at his school, the headmaster got in touch with Bengaluru-based Biome Environmental Solutions, which works on ecological architecture and intelligent water and sanitation designs. Biome’s rainwater harvesting work is supported by Wipro Cares, an employee-led community initiative arm of the Wipro Foundation.

Also Read: Harvesting rainwater saves the day for residents of a tribal village in Jharkhand

“First of all with the help of Biome, we identified our catchment area to capture rainwater and then started digging to collect raindrops that fall within our school premises. We now have one tank, which has the capacity of 19,250 litres, and stores rainwater,” explained Rao. This much water can meet the school’s water needs for two months.

Explaining how the rainwater harvesting system at the school works, Shivananda R S, a team leader at Biome, said: “We calculate sump [storage tank] capacity based on the rooftop area available for harvesting. The first one millimetre of rainwater which washes the terrace is let out through the first rain separator controlled by a valve.”

“Afterwards the cleaner water is passed through a masonry or wall mounted filter and stored in a rainwater sump. The stored rainwater is then pumped to an overhead tank and reused,” he added.

The rainwater harvesting system was installed in June this year. By the end of August, there was enough water for the school to use for its cooking, gardening, cleaning and drinking purposes. The water is filtered before using for drinking purposes.

According to Shivananda, the school harvests 560 kilo litres (KL) of water out of which 280 KL is stored and reused, and 280 KL is recharged annually.

https://youtu.be/iQfZk_-1Iog

The entire project of installing the rainwater harvesting system in school has been a learning process for the students too. Headmaster Rao ensured that the students watched and participated in the installation of the system.

“When the plant was being set up, we were told about rainwater harvesting and how it had huge advantages. Rao Sir told us how it was important to conserve water and not squander it so that we could avoid a water crisis in the future,” Sandhya Rani, a 13-year-old student of class 7 told Gaon Connection.

“We learnt how water can be reused for our day-to-day activities such as flushing of toilets, cleaning, gardening and cooking,” she added.

According to Shivananda, the harvested rainwater will not be able to meet the school’s water needs throughout the year, but can take care of its water requirements to a great extent. This means reducing dependence on external sources of water, such as borewells that exploit groundwater, or tankers that source water from far.

Every drop counts, as rainwater harvesting experts often point out.

Also Read: In these villages in Jaisalmer, every house has a traditional ‘beri’ to collect rainwater

Biome has been working with four schools to promote rainwater harvesting. Of these, the rainwater harvesting system is already functional in three schools and is under construction in the fourth school. The non-profit designs rainwater harvesting with inputs from schools and involves the students, teachers, and School Development and Monitoring Committee members.

“We also conduct water literacy activities in the school. We give children water quality kits, rain gauges to measure rainfall, setting up vegetable and fruit gardens, etc. We also handhold the school by maintaining the rainwater harvesting system for at least a year, till the school can function on its own without us,” said Shivananda.

https://youtu.be/sXEeizzpD_I

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://www.gaonconnection.com/amp/thechangemakersproject/changemakers-project-karnataka-rainwater-harvesting-biome-tumakuru-reuse-restore-water-conservation-52791

Author:  Laraib Fatima warsi

Publish On: 10 / Oct / 2023

 

 

Catch where it falls: Tradition for water revolution

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Photo courtesy: Getty Images

We have not understood the science and art of harvesting rain on land. It’s time we learn from the wisdom that we have ignored and allowed to die

You know you are old when you realise that today’s conversation is a repeat of the past. That’s how I feel when I hear the current chatter about the potential of rainwater harvesting to fix the problem of water scarcity in our cities and villages.

For years now, we have known the importance of harvesting rain from rooftops and hill catchments and holding it in underground reservoirs, aquifers, lakes and ponds. Then why have we not made this technology work? Why have we failed to use this knowledge? This is what we must ask.

Let me tell you how I learnt about rainwater harvesting. It was back in the 1990s when Anil Agarwal, then director of the Centre for Science and Environment, was at the wheels of his new Maruti 800 — red in colour.

We were on our way to see grazing land regeneration in Bikaner. Suddenly there was something different on the ground. Anil stopped. He wanted to know what he was seeing.

It was in the shape of a flying saucer or an upside-down cup on a paved ground. We got off the car, walked over to the settlement and asked, “What is this?” As is often the case in India, such stupid questions from city people get very patient replies.

Photo courtesy: AKHILESH YADAV

“It is our water system, our kundi.” It made no sense. They explained. “See, we pave the ground with lime and make it drain to the middle. Then when it rains, even a little, all the water is harvested and channelised into the well, which is covered so that there is no contamination.” This small explanation changed our world. Changed it literally.

Anil calculated that the structure had huge potential. One hectare of land with just 100 millimetre (mm) of rain — that’s what deserts get on an average — is capable of harvesting 1 million litres of water. Not small.

A family of five would not need more than 10-15 litres a day for drinking and cooking. This comes to 4,000-5,000 litres in a year. This means one hectare can harvest enough water to meet the needs of 200-300 families.

Later, a few more experiences shaped my understanding of not just the potential of rainwater harvesting but its connection with all of us. We were in Cherrapunji, the wettest place on Earth or at least that’s what I was taught in school. There in a small government guest house I saw a big sign — water is precious, please use it carefully. Amazing.

A place with 14,000 mm of rain, enough to fill a high ceiling stadium, faces shortage of water! Anil and I had just returned from Jaisalmer — a city that had built a flourishing civilisation and a stunning fort of yellow sandstone despite receiving only 50-100 mm of rain. The answer we found was in the way the city had planned its rainwater harvesting, from rooftops to tanks—all to build a water-secure future.

Anil was so fascinated by this learning that he spent the next few years of his life teaching Indians the value of the raindrop. We have put this learning together in our 1997 book, Dying Wisdom: rise, fall and potential of India’s traditional water harvesting systems, which explains the sheer intricacy, innovation and ingenuity of the knowledge.

Every region of the country had its own unique method of harvesting rain, storing it and then using it. Every system had been adapted, in fact, evolved, to meet the special ecological needs, yet each system was an engineering marvel, designed to make the best of the region’s rain endowment.

Why then did the wisdom die?

First, the State took control from the local community or the households as the provider or supplier of water. This meant that harvesting rain was no longer a priority. Second, local groundwater, which was recharged using rainwater, was replaced by surface water, brought often from long distances in canals.

This is why rainwater harvesting has remained an idea whose time has still not come. The State cannot harvest rain; people have to be involved. It has to be done in every house; every colony; every village; and for every catchment.

The incentive to do this only comes when we are dependent on groundwater for our needs. If cities and even villages get piped water, from distant sources, who will harvest rain and why?

The other problem is we have not understood the science and art of harvesting rain on land. So, the catchments — land where the rain falls — have been encroached upon or distributed in the name of land-reform.

The drains that channelised rain to underground storage have been built upon or destroyed. Then how will we harvest the raindrop? We can’t and we won’t. This is why the cycle of drought and flood will continue and get exacerbated. So let’s really learn from the wisdom that we have ignored and allowed to die.

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://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/water/catch-where-it-falls-tradition-for-water-revolution-65557

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

Author:  Rashmi Verma

Publish On: Wednesday 10 July 2019

 

 

Roofs, rain and life: How to incentivize and implement rainwater harvesting

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Photo courtesy:  Muench/Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) Secretariat

Co-author: Carmen Anthonj , Assistant Professor GeoHealth, Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of the University of Twente

While rainwater harvesting can result in numerous benefits for consumers and the water sector overall (read our previous blog here), it’s not always clear how to effectively promote and increase the prevalence of this practice.

RWH systems can be built relatively easily with local skills and resources, using simple and easy-to-maintain technologies that are inexpensive once installed. RWH systems can be modular in nature by allowing expansion, reconfiguration or relocation, and can easily be retrofitted to an existing structure or built during new construction.  However, despite the many benefits, households often find it difficult to implement rainwater harvesting.  The initial installation cost of RWH systems on residential housing is relatively high and a common barrier to adoptioni. Moreover, while there are legal, social and environmental barriers as well, recent experiences have documented means of overcoming those barriers and reinforcing water management practicesii.

There are many ways to encourage rainwater harvesting and improve its implementation, within which governments can play a strong role. The use of government subsidies as incentives can encourage the installation of RWH systems and increase the number of users, particularly among poorer households. The regulatory frameworks are essential for the effective design of these incentives, like in Brazil. In Germany, the promotion (by grants and subsidies) of RWH at the local government level resulted in equipping almost one third of new buildings built with rainwater collection systems. The Government of Indiaiii, for example, provides financial assistance for the installation of RWH systems. The Surat Municipal Corporation has made RWH mandatory for new buildings with a plot size of >4,000 m² and provides up to a 50% (up to Rs. 2,000) subsidy to citizens to encourage rainwater recharging. In Gwalior and Jabalpur, a 6% rebate in property tax in the year of completion of RWH construction is provided to the building owner as an incentive (CSE, 2019).

Promoting rainwater use through housing regulations that stipulate that all newly built buildings and structures must include rainwater roof catchments is common in Taiwan, Texas and Brazil. Although laws and other governmental policies are the key driver for the implementation of RWH, overall, robust policies to systematically promote the installation of RHW are often lacking or scattered. In Brazil for example, RWH is barely covered in legislation at the federal level, but more common at the local level. In absence of a national policy regulating RWH, some state laws and mainly municipal regulations have taken the task of covering this legislative gap, as local authorities may be more aware of specific problems for the region and thus implement specific legislation for the municipality. Large numbers of different laws and regulations at different scales complicate the process of implementation. Besides, the scattered legislation does not cover all aspects of RWH: the main goal of regulations is usually encouraging the installation of RWH systems, but incentives for the implementation are rare, and no legislation exists that addresses treatment to improve the quality of rainwater (da Costa Pacheco et al., 2017). Besides, coordination between state and non-state stakeholders in RWH, and residents lacking awareness or knowledge of policies, are common challenges (Bui Thi Thuy et al., 2019; Matto & Jainer, 2019).

A Prospective Vision for RWH 

Photo courtesy:Akruti Enviro Solutions Pvt.Ltd.

The strategic management of rainwater can reduce disaster risk for communities faced with water scarcity, droughts or flood risks. Access to clean water is essential during the pandemic for handwashing, hygiene and preventing the spread of COVID-19. The scalability of RWH must ensure that water is provided and available when needed free of contamination, and as a resilience option in remote rural areas that are hit hard by climate change and rainfall variability. All the efforts to bring these solutions to increase water availability must carefully consider cost-effectiveness and co-benefits for small-scale irrigation and other productive uses of water. Integrated research that involves geospatial analysis and remote sensing can provide the evidence to demonstrate a stronger case to expand RWH globally, and improve their operational, financial and environmental sustainability.

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

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://blogs.worldbank.org/water/roofs-rain-and-life-how-incentivize-and-implement-rainwater-harvesting

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

Author:  CHRISTIAN BORJA-VEGA

Publish On: NOVEMBER 12, 2020

India is staring at water poverty

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Climate-change induced deficient rainfall, poor storage of rainwater and water-intensive agriculture are responsible

Photo courtesy: Dhakatimes

According to data released by the India Meteorological Department, the South-West monsoon during June- August 2023 has been below normal in 42 per cent of the districts (see Table). In August, rainfall in the country was 32 per cent below normal and in the southern States it was 62 per cent. In the last 122 years — that is, since 1901 — India received the lowest rainfall in August this year. With only about a month left for the end of the South-West monsoon, the reduced rainfall will not only affect agriculture severely but it could also lead to massive water shortages in different regions of the country. What should be done to prevent water shortage?

Although India has the largest water resources (irrigated area) in the world, water demand has been increasing rapidly due to rapid changes in agriculture and industrial activities in recent times. The net amount of water that can be used in our country in a year is estimated at 1,121 billion cubic meters (bcm). However, the data published by the Ministry of Water Resources shows that the total water demand will be 1,093 bcm in 2025 and 1,447 bcm in 2050. This means that there will be a major water shortage in India within 10 years.

However, this does not mean that there is no water shortage at present. As per the Falkenmark Water Index (which is mostly used for measuring water scarcity throughout the world), wherever the amount of water available per capita is below 1,700 cubic meters in a year, there is water scarcity. Going by this index, almost 76 per cent of people are already living with water scarcity in India.

In Tamil Nadu, which is one of the water-scarce States in terms of per capita availability, water demand was more than its supply even before 1990-91. For example, the total water requirement of Tamil Nadu was 31,458 million cubic meters (mcm) in 2004, but the supply was only 28,643 mcm. This means that Tamil Nadu has been experiencing water shortage for the last 30 years.

Deficit monsoon rainfall alone cannot be the cause of water scarcity. Various estimates show that after 1990-91, the water demand has been continuously increasing due to increased economic activities including the intensification of agriculture. However, no major plans have been made to develop new water sources and strengthen the storage capacity of existing water sources to match the ever-increasing demand for water.

Rivers, small water bodies (tanks and others) and domestic wells met the daily water requirements for many years. Due to poor maintenance of tanks and other small water bodies, water could not be stored adequately even in years of good rainfall. Data show that drought has occurred in India several times due to deficit rainfall. But recently, due to climate changes, rainy days are shrinking.

 

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned in its reports that the climate is changing rapidly which will result in reduced rainfall, both in number of days and quantum. Rainfall deficiency can lead to water scarcity, which will severely affect people’s lives, livestock, wildlife and others. Water scarcity can cause major environmental and economic problems. In the report, ‘Climate Change, Water and Economy’, the World Bank (2016) underlines that countries with water shortages may face a major setback in economic growth by 2050.

Photo courtesy: The Caravan

The remedies

Central Water Commission data show that the water storage level of 150 major reservoirs as of August 31 was 23 per cent less than last year’s storage level of 146.828 bcm. El Nino, which occurs due to global warming and often changes the rainfall pattern, is becoming the new normal in recent years. There is, therefore, the need to make tough decisions to avoid water scarcity. Everyone forgets the pain caused by water scarcity once the rainy season starts. This kind of mindset needs to change first.

As the total quantum of rainfall and the number of rainy days are shrinking due to climate change, more serious efforts should be made to store rainwater wherever possible. States like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana cannot solve the water scarcity problem without rejuvenating tanks, as all these States have a large number of tanks. The Minor Irrigation Census shows that there are a total of 6.42 lakh tanks, lakes and ponds in India.

However, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources has stated in its 16th report on ‘Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies’ that most of the small water bodies are encroached upon by government and private bodies. The First Census of Water Bodies published by the Ministry of Water Resources in 2023 has found that 38,486 water bodies have been encroached upon in India. Tough measures are needed to remove the encroachments.

About 85 per cent of the utilisable water is currently used by the agricultural sector. This can be reduced by changing the cropping pattern. Appropriate minimum support policies need to be introduced to reduce the area under water-intensive crops such as paddy, sugarcane and banana. As per the MS Swaminathan committee report on ‘More Crop and Income Per Drop of Water’ (2006), drip and sprinkler irrigation can save around 50 per cent of water in crop cultivation and increase the yield of crops by 40-60 per cent. A total of about 70 million hectares are identified as potential areas for such micro-irrigation method. While making efforts to increase the area under micro-irrigation, farmers should be advised to use such water-saving methods for cultivating water-intensive crops in areas of severe water scarcity.

Water is no longer a public good; it is increasingly becoming an expensive commodity. With the changing pattern of rainfall, severe water shortages are likely to occur frequently in the future. A severe water shortage in 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa, forced the authorities there to ration the supply of water (25 litre/person/day), causing much hardship to the public. This may happen in India, too. Therefore, water should be stored wherever possible during the deficit rainfall period to prevent water poverty in the future.

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.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/india-is-staring-at-water-poverty/article67282233.ece

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

Author: Narayanamoorthy

Publish On: 07 , September , 2023

 

 

 

 

Water crisis in India: Threats and Opportunities for India Inc

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India faces daunting water security challenges. The demands of a rapidly industrializing economy and urbanizing society come at a time when the potential for augmenting supply is limited and water issues have increasingly come to the fore. While India hosts approximately 17 percent of the world’s population, it holds only about four percent of its required annual water resources.

Photo courtesy: Adobe stock

India faces daunting water security challenges. The demands of a rapidly industrializing economy and urbanizing society come at a time when the potential for augmenting supply is limited and water issues have increasingly come to the fore. While India hosts approximately 17 percent of the world’s population, it holds only about four percent of its required annual water resources.

In India, more than 600 million people are facing an acute water shortage. About three-quarter households do not have a drinking water facility. Currently, India ranks 120th among 122 countries in the water quality index. By 2030, India’s water demand is expected to be double to that of supply that implies not only water scarcity for numerous people but also a loss of around 6 percent to GDP. This underscores the need for strategic interventions to promote water use efficiency, both at the micro and macro level.

India Inc is an important stakeholder in India’s sustainability story. It also accounts for substantial water use. Various sectors of the industry are competing to use limited water resources that put pressure on the available supply of water and groundwater resources. The UN’s World Water Assessment Program warns of the stark implications, such as lack of freshwater resources on economic prosperity and security.

WATER TREATMENT/OPPORTUNITIES AND REUSE

Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

India Inc has taken cognizance of the magnitude of the water crisis and the role they can play to mitigate it. The corporate should see it as the shared responsibility of companies across sectors to join hands with communities and governments to work on programs for water conservation, recharge and wastewater treatment. On the lines of minimizing the carbon footprint, corporate should also incorporate water management not only as its CSR goals but as a component of its business goals and sustainability plan.

Experts should converge and deliberate on establishing a sustainable water management strategy that will serve as the guideline for the entire industry. They should focus on optimization of water usage for industrial purposes, omitting outdated processes and technology and adoption of suitable recycling practices.

Water forms an intrinsic component of manufacturing cycles of the industry. Corporate has to be mindful of achieving sustainable water consumption while ensuring profitability and fulfilling their business goals.

The role of technology and research and development in encouraging the best water conservation techniques cannot be underestimated. New-age technologies such as smart irrigation systems with ICT and remote sensing are potent tools to encourage water conservation. The onus should be on corporate to foster innovation come up with out of the box solutions as they possess the necessary resources and expertise.

The corporate can also play an instrumental role in devising mass awareness campaigns and information dissemination educating farmers and common populace on the need to use water judiciously.

Equally important is the role of information sharing and collaboration among companies that will encourage the mapping of goals against achieved targets and improvise water management practices. Sharing of technological innovations offer a useful path to greater, mutually beneficial cooperation.

The comprehensive assessment of water requirement and usage by the corporate is essential to facilitate informed policy-making by the government and plugging the loopholes in the policy framework on water.

India Inc must gear to adopt water management on a priority that would enable the entire country to benefit from it through genuine and open collaboration.

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://bwsmartcities.businessworld.in/article/Water-crisis-in-India-Threats-and-Opportunities-for-India-Inc/10-06-2020-285981/

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

Author: Dr. Puneet Gupta

Publish On: June, 2020

 

 

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

Photo: iStock

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’?

Photo credit: istock

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.

 

This blog is published by: –

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

 

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

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.  

Photo Courtesy: Statustown

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.

Photo Courtesy: iStock

  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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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.

This article is published by: –

The Economic Times

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Author: Anil Nair

Publish On: July 1, 2023

 

 

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