MIND

Water Resources
Water: Facts

Freshwater Saline water 96. 5%

on Earth (2.5%) Present in oceans, seas

Distribution of freshwater 70% in ice sheets & glaciers Less than 30% in groundwater 0.5% in rivers, lakes

Water Scarcity
Shortage of water Causes

Excessive use of water Agriculture done Over-exploitation of water Dumping of industrial domestic Mis-management and
due to growing population on a large scale resources due to urbanisation wastes in water sources wastage of water resources

Water Resources Management

Ancient Methods Modern Methods

Dams Irrigation Works Artificial Lakes Tanks Multipurpose Rain-Water

In Maurya Empire Kalinga, Nagarjunakonda, Bennur Bhopal (11 C°) Hauz-Khas in Delhi (14C°) projects harvesting

Multipurpose Projects
Building Dams Across Rivers

Merits Demerits

Excessive sedimentation Destruction of forests and Inter-state water disputes Displacement of

at the bottom of reservoir habitat in and around rivers regarding distribution of water local communities

Flood Water supply Generation of Fish Inland Recreation (Picnic

for irrigation electricity breeding navigation spot, boating etc) Resulting in
Control
Agitation and mass movements Increase in social gap
like Narmada Bachao Andolan between Rich and Poor

Rainwater Harvesting
Collecting and Storing of Rain Water

Traditional Ways Modern Way

Roof top rainwater

Kuls/Guls Khadin/Johads Tankas harvesting
Circular tanks in Western Himalayan Tanks in fields to collect Underground tanks in houses connected through
villages to collect rain water rain water in Rajasthan pipes to collect rain water falling on roofs in Rajasthan

Water drawn out by hand Pipe connected to underground tank Rainwater on rooftop collected
pump or pipes from the tank containing sand and bricks for filtration through a PVC pipe