Water Conservation Methods:

Population Control:
Water crisis has assumed dangerous proportions due to fast increase in population and
deterioration in quantitative and qualitative aspects of water resources. Demand for water is
continuously increasing. Along with population increase, demand for fresh water has increased
due to expansion of industries and increasing urbanization.
Demand for water increased 35 times from the year 1700 to the decade of 2000. Demand for
water has increased more in developing countries. For the year 2001, demand for quantity of
water in the whole world was estimated to be 435 cubic kms. 60 per cent of this is required in
agriculture, 30 per cent in industries and 10 per cent for cooking, bathing and drinking. Hence,
demand for water can also be controlled through population control and at the same time, quali-
tative deterioration of water can also be prevented by population.
Population of the world would become around 800 crores by the year 2025. In this context, the
United Nations Organization has warned that in case population control is not exercised, the
whole world will have to face grave water crisis. United Nations Organization declared the year
2003 as the ‘Fresh Water Year’.
Renovation of Traditional Water Sources:
In India, traditional water storage places have been able to meet the demand of drinking water in
many regions but they have been renovated from time to time. Water stored in traditional water
sources has been used for both purposes, agriculture as well as for drinking.
Beginning of traditional water conservation methods was made in Java (Jordan) in the year 3,000
B.C. by construction of a vast water reservoir. In India, a system of water conservation and
drainage was found in Dhauliveera habitations 1000-1500 B.C.), which was constructed during
the Harappan civilization.
These traditional water conservation methods had been developed in India looking to the nature
of rainfall in different regions, but the increasing population necessitated extension of
agriculture, leading to deterioration of these traditional sources. Conservation of any traditional
water source, instead of being limited to the water reservoir portion, extends to the whole
drainage area system where rain water is stored after flowing.
Due to increasing area of agriculture, drainage area of water has been destroyed resulting in
reduction of water flow therein. This has caused crisis for the existence of traditional water
sources. Water crisis can be prevented by renovating traditional water conservation sources.
Unless complete conservation of rain water is done in any region, the dream of water
conservation cannot be fulfilled. Hence, supervision has to be done regarding renovation of
dying traditional water conservation places.
Use of Modern Irrigation Methods:
At the world level, 69 per cent water is used for the agricultural sector. Necessary requirement of
water in agriculture is met by surface water sources and groundwater. Surface water used for
agriculture is obtained through canals and tanks and underground water from wells and tube
wells. Unfortunately, much water is wasted through traditional methods of irrigation. Canal
irrigation does not distribute water in a balanced way and it creates problems of water logging.
A large portion of water can be conserved by adoption of modern methods of irrigation.
Irrigation consumes double the quantity of water in comparison to all other uses. Sprinkler and
drip irrigation methods save 50 per cent water.
In drop or drip irrigation method, pipes with holes are spread over the surface of land so that the
crop directly receives water. There is no loss due to evaporation in this system and almost 95 per
cent water is utilized. Thus, maximum water is utilized by this method. Improved modern
irrigation methods are thus useful for conservation of water.
Increasing Forest Cover:
According to hydrological movements, water is received through rainfall every year m different
quantities on the surface of the earth. This water flows on the surface and reaches the seas. Some
part of rainwater is stored in stable water reservoirs (lakes and tanks), whereas some quantity of
water infiltrates into the land and takes the form of groundwater.
Due to increasing deforestation during the last century, most of the rainwater flowed away to the
saline seas without infiltrating into the ground. Water crisis also developed during the last decade
in Cherapunji, which gets highest rainfall in the world, because forest cover has been destroyed
there due to mining of limestone. As a result of it, rain water flows away very fast to the rivers.
A similar thing is happening in the Dehradun area of Uttaranchal.
The old tradition of tree plantation on the banks of rivers and tanks will have to be revived.
Forest cover will have to be developed on uncultivable waste lands and hilly slopes on a large
scale. Since trees bear drought conditions for a long duration as compared to crops, hence trees
are helpful in reducing the demand for water along with recharging water sources.
Change in Crop Pattern:
Excess water is not required if crops are grown according to agro-climatic conditions but in the
present race of development, changing crop pattern with higher profits has replaced them. These
commercial crops require more water than the traditional crops. In north-eastern part of
Rajasthan, crops were not grown as per availability of water and intensive cultivation was
adopted during the last three decades.
Groundwater was over exploited because of non-availability of surface water and plantation of
commercial crops requiring more water. It created serious water crisis. Hence, keeping in mind
the experience of Rajasthan, crop rotation should be adopted according to agro-climatic
conditions. Agro forestry and horticulture should be given priority in areas having scarcity of
water.
Flood Management:
A large portion of fresh water in the world becomes devastating due to floods in India, out of a
total land area of 32.8 crore hectares, in India, 4 crore hectare land is flood affected, out of which
3.2 crore hectare land can be protected from floods. By construction of embankments and canals
a large part of land can be conserved besides minimizing flood losses.
Intensive afforestation can also provide security from floods. If will be helpful in absorption of
water in the soil. Drainage areas of Ganges, Yamuna, Mahanadi, Damodar, Kosi and other rivers
have been taken up in flood management and security to some limit has been provided to the
1.44 crore hectare land.
Use of Geothermal Water:
Water is also received from hot waterfalls regularly at many places on earth. Scarcity of water
can be met to a certain extent by using such geothermal water.
Conserving Water in Industries:
About 23 per cent of total fresh water available on the earth is used by industries the world over.
Some special industries consume water to a large extent, whereas some industries pollute the
major portion of water. Dyeing industry and leather industry are such type of industries which
pollute the water.
To manufacture one ton of steel, 300 tons of water is required. Consumption of water in
industries is done in quantitative as well as qualitative forms. Proportionate consumption of
water in industries in developed’ countries is more (50%), out of which 75 per cent demand is
met from surface water sources and 25 per cent from groundwater sources.
Water has to be both protected from pollution in industries, and re-used after processing.
Recycling of water should be developed because normally industrial units dispose off water on
the ground surface after using it only once. Because of not re-using it after processing, it also
pollutes other water sources. Demand for water can also be reduced in industries by recycling
used water.
Reuse of Urban Waste:
Demand for water has increased in cities due to increasing urbanization. There is no provision
for waste water treatment in many big towns and cities of various countries of the world. Instead
of being reused, it pollutes other water sources.
Such condition is visible in cities of Delhi, Agra and Mathura on the banks of river Yamuna,
whereas in many countries, urban water is used after treatment in nearby fields for growing
vegetables and fruits. After use of water in urban areas, disposed waste water can be treated and
conserved for use in agriculture in the peripheral areas of cities. Such policies should be
incorporated while planning urban development.
Water Conservation by Municipal Bodies:
Municipal bodies should manage both individual demand and supply of water as well as
conserve water. Municipal laws should provide for collection of rain water from roof tops and
implement it. Individual awareness is very important in water conservation.
Every individual should develop the attitude of water conservation and prevent every drop of
water from being wasted. As far as possible, one should conserve rain water along with
maintaining quality of the water. Depth of traditional water sources should be maintained by
controlling its cleanliness.
Since the maximum part of water is exploited in agriculture, hence water should be conserved in
agriculture in different forms. Cultivating fields in off season helps in maintaining soil moisture.
If cultivation is done up to 30 cm. depth, moisture can go up to 90 cm. depth, and capillary
action prevents moisture coming out from the soil.
Besides this, soil moisture can also be maintained by before-time sowing, proper use of
fertilizers, pesticides and Weedicides. Green manure and crop rotation should also be adopted.
Environment balancing is the main basis of water conservation. Changes coming in the world
environment result in shortage in the quantity of fresh water. Due to rise in temperature of the
world, fresh water in the form of snow is melting and drifting towards saline oceans. This change
is visible from Antarctica to Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas.