Environmental Science

Topic 3

WATER RESOURCES
Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful. Uses of water
include agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities.
Virtually all of these human uses require fresh water.
Distribution of water on earth:

∙ 97% of the water on the Earth is salt water. Only three percent is fresh water;
slightly over two thirds of this is frozen in glaciers and polar ice. The remaining
unfrozen freshwater is found mainly as groundwater, with only a small fraction
present above ground or in the air
Fresh water occurs mainly in two forms
1. Ground water and
2. Surface water

USES OF WATER:
1. DOMESTIC USE: Water used in the houses for the purposes of drinking, bathing,
washing Clothes, cooking, sanitary & other needs. The recommended value
according to Indian standard specification for domestic use is 135 liters/day
2. INDUSTRIAL USE: Water is required for various industries such as cement,
mining, textile, leather industries.
3. PUBLIC USE: This includes water used for public utility purpose such as
watering parks, flushing streets, jails etc.
4. FIRE USE: Water is used in case of accidents and to prevent the fire issues.
5. IRRIGATION: To grow crops which is the main sources for food. 6. OTHER
USES: Hydro electric power generation requires water.
OVER UTILIZATION OF GROUND WATER AND SURFACE
WATER Over use of groundwater has following effects.
1. Lowering of water table: Excessive use of ground water for drinking, irrigation
and domestic purposes has resulted in rapid depletion of ground water in various
regions leading to lowering of water table & drying of wells.
The reasons for shortage of water are:
a) Increase in population,
 b) Increasing demand for water for various purposes.
c) Unequal distribution of freshwater.
d) Increasing pollution of water sources causes over exploitation.

2. Ground subsidence: When groundwater withdrawal is greater than its recharge

rate, the sediments in the aquifer become compacted. This is called ground
subsidence which may cause damage to buildings, destroy water supply systems
etc.
3. Drought. A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes
a deficiency in its water supply whether surface or underground water. Generally,
this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation.
We can define drought in four main ways:
a) Meteorological drought: related to rainfall amounts
b) Hydrological drought: determined by water levels in reservoirs
c) Agricultural drought: related to the availability of water for crops d)
Socioeconomic Drought: related to demand and supply of economic goods

∙ Meteorological Drought: Meteorological drought is generally defined by

comparing the rainfall in a particular place and at a particular time with the
average rainfall for that Place. The definition is, therefore, specific to a particular
location. Meteorological drought leads to a depletion of soil moisture and this
almost always has an impact on crop production.
∙ Hydrological Drought: Hydrological drought is associated with the effect of low
rainfall on water levels in rivers, reservoirs, lakes and aquifers. Hydrological
droughts usually are noticed some time after meteorological droughts. First
precipitation decreases and, Sometime after that, water levels in rivers and lakes
drop.
∙ Agricultural Drought: Agricultural drought mainly affects food production and
farming. Agricultural drought and precipitation shortages bring soil water deficits,
reduced groundwater or reservoir levels, and so on. Deficient topsoil moisture at
planting may stop germination, leading to low plant populations.
∙ Socioeconomic Drought: Socioeconomic drought occurs when the demand for
an economic good exceeds supply as a result of a weather-related shortfall in
water supply. The supply of many economic goods, such as water, forage, food
grains, fish, and hydroelectric power, depends on weather. Due to variability of
climate, water supply is sufficient in some years but not satisfactory to meet
human and environmental needs in other year
FLOODS
A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land which is normally dry. The European
Union (EU) Floods Directive defines a flood as a covering by water of land not normally
covered by water. Flooding may occur as an overflow of water from water bodies, such
as a river or lake, in which the water overtops or breaks, resulting in some of that water
escaping its usual boundaries, or it may occur due to an accumulation of rainwater on
saturated ground in an area flooded. Floods can also occur in rivers when the flow rate
exceeds the capacity of the river channel, particularly at bends in the waterway. Floods
often cause damage to homes and businesses if they are in the natural floodplains of
rivers.
CONFLICTS OVER WATER
Water conflict is a term describing a conflict between countries, states, or groups over
access to water resources. The United Nations recognizes that water disputes result
from opposing interests of water users, public or private.
A wide range of water conflicts appear throughout history, though rarely are traditional
wars waged over water alone. Instead, water has historically been a source of tension
and a factor in conflicts that start for other reasons. However, water conflicts arise for
several reasons, including territorial disputes, a fight for resources, and strategic
advantage.
These conflicts occur over both freshwater and saltwater, and between international
boundaries. However, conflicts occur mostly over freshwater; because freshwater
resources are necessary, yet limited, they are the center of water disputes arising out of
need for potable water. As freshwater is a vital, yet unevenly distributed natural
resource, its availability often impacts the living and economic conditions of a country or
region. The lack of cost-effective water desalination techniques in areas like the Middle
East, among other elements of water crises can put severe pressures on all water users
According to the 1992 International Conference on Water and the Environment, Water is
a vital element for human life, and any human activity relates somehow to water.
Unfortunately, it is not a renewable resource and in the future it "might get worse with
climate change
Water conflicts occur because the demand for water resources and potable water extend
far beyond the amount of water actually available. Elements of a water crisis may put
pressure on affected parties to obtain more of a shared water resource, causing
diplomatic tension or outright conflict.

DAMS: BENEFITS AND PROBLEMS

Today there are more than 45,000 large dams around the world, which play an important
role in communities and economies that harness these water resources for their
economic development. Current estimates suggest some 30-40% of irrigated land
worldwide relies on dams. Hydropower, another contender for the use of stored water,
currently supplies 19% of the world’s total electric power supply and is used in over 150
countries. The world’s two most populous countries – China and India – have built
around 57% of the world’s large dams.

BENEFITS:
River valley projects with big dams have usually been considered to play a key role in he
development process due to their multiple uses. India has the distinction of having the
largest number of river valley projects. The tribal’s living in the area pin big hopes on
these projects as they aim at providing employment and raising the standard and quality
of life. The dams have tremendous potential for economic upliftment and growth. They
can help in checking floods and famines, generate electricity and reduce water and
power shortage, provide irrigation water to lower areas, provide drinking water in remote
areas and promote navigation, fishery etc.
PROBLEMS:

∙ Fragmentation and physical transformation of rivers.

∙ Serious impacts on riverine ecosystems.

∙ Social consequences of large dams due to displacement of people.

∙ Water logging and Stalinization of surrounding lands.

∙ Dislodging animal populations, damaging their habitat and cutting off their
migration routes.
∙ Fishing and travel by boat disrupted.