Master seminar

On
Management and planning of
Water Resources
Presented by:
Ankit Kumar Dubey
M.Sc. (Agriculture) in Agronomy
3rd Semester
Enrol. No:
Content

 Water as a basic necessity of life

 Water resources
 Water resources management
 Conservation of water resources
 Challenges in water resources management
 Purpose of water resources management
 Causes of water related problems in India
 Water conservation
Water as a basic necessity of life

 Water is the basic necessity of life, not only for human beings, but also for
plants and animals. Life began in water and it is a basic component of every
living cell. Water accounts for 65% of our body weight. If we lost even 12% of
it, we would die. About 83% of our blood is water. It helps digest our food,
take in oxygen, transport body wastes and control body temperature. We
need water in almost every domestic activity, from cooking and washing to
bathing and sanitation.
Water resources

 Water resources are natural resources of water that are potentially useful
for humans, for example as a source of drinking water supply or irrigation
water.
 97% of the water on Earth is salt water and only three percent is fresh
water; slightly over two-thirds of this is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps.
The remaining unfrozen freshwater is found mainly as groundwater, with
only a small fraction present above ground or in the air.
 Natural sources of fresh water include surface water, under river flow,
groundwater and frozen water.
 Artificial sources of fresh water can include treated wastewater (wastewater
reuse) and desalinated seawater.
 Human uses of water resources include agricultural, industrial, household,
recreational and environmental activities.
 Water resources management

 Water resource management is the activity of planning, developing, distributing

and managing the optimum use of water resources.
 Water scarcity affects more than 40% of the global population. Water-related
disasters account for 70% of all deaths related to natural disasters. The World Bank
helps countries ensure sustainability of water use, build climate resilience and
strengthen integrated management.
 Water resources management refers to a whole range of different activities:
monitoring, modeling, exploration, assessment, design of measures and strategies,
implementation of policy, operation and maintenance, and evaluation. It also
covers supportive activities such as institutional reform. Water resources
management includes local, national and international activities, directed at
either the short or the long term. As such, water resources management is rather a
diffuse field. It includes the whole set of scientific, technical, institutional,
managerial, legal, and operational activities required to plan, develop, operate,
and manage water resources.
Conservation of water resources

 Rising population, industrialization, urbanization and modernization of

agriculture are some of the main reasons for water shortages in many parts of
the country. So water resources must be conserved.
 Conservation of water means a careful and economical use of water. We
should conserve water as it is a precious natural resource. Conservation of
water can happen in the following ways.
 DAMS
 RAINWATER HARVESTING
 BAMBOO DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM
Challenges in water resource
management
 We face multiple challenges in doing that, especially given a changing and
uncertain future climate, and a rapidly growing population that is driving
increased social and economic development, globalization, and urbanization.
How best to meet these challenges requires research in all aspects of water
management. The main challenges in water resource management are
follows:-
 CLIMATE CHANGE: While we have always had to deal with a variable climate,
the majority of studies, analyses and management techniques have been
based on the belief that the hydrological series was stationary, i.e. while
there may be fluctuations, the mean value would remain roughly the same.
There is now mounting evidence of trends in hydrological series. Many areas
face a drying and warming climate and thus potentially less water availability.
 INCREASING VULNERABILITY TO SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS: The
Intergovernmental panel on climate change- Technical Paper on Climate
Change and Water highlights the potential for more frequent and more severe
weather events. With increasing populations at risk and the potential for a
shift in the risk profile in many areas, safety of life and property will remain
high on the agenda.
 GROWING URBAN DEMAND: The population of urban centre continues to grow
and urban areas continue to spread, thus placing greater pressure on water
supply systems as well as reducing the availability of arable land, and, in
some cases, placing increased pressure on water supply catchments.
 OVER-ALLOCATION OF EXISTING SUPPLIES: The water in many supply
systems has been allocated on the basis of past availability or existing
demand and has not been kept in line with current or future availability.
Thus, many systems are over-allocated.
 UNRESTRICTED EXTRACTIONS: In many areas, there are no management
plans or restrictions on water extractions (for example, pumping from rivers
and groundwater extractions). These have resulted in less water being
available and have in some case led to mining of the resource. The expansion
of farm dams in some areas also reduces the supply of water entering river
systems.
 LAND-USE CHANGE: Clear-felling, expanding plantations and the opening of
new areas to agriculture all have impacts on the water resource; unintended
events, such as bushfires, can lead to a reduction in the availability of water
and water-quality problems. Changes to land use, even within agricultural
areas, have implications for both water availability and water use.
 ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS: There has been an increasing emphasis on
the requirement for environmental flows to maintain ecosystems such as
wetland and in-stream environments. Community expectations are that we
should see the environment as a rightful and high-priority user of water.
Purpose of water resource management

 Water is a limited resource

 Sustainability of human generation
 To preserve our environment It is important to prevent floods, desert and
drought
 Water resource laws to address the quality of water and pollutioion.
Causes of water related problems in
India
 Highly uneven distribution of water availability, often leading to floods and
droughts.
 Rampant pollution of freshwater resources mainly by agricultural, industrial and
municipal activities.
 Uncontrolled use of the bore-wells that has allowed extraction of groundwater at
very high rates, often exceeding recharge.
 Inadequate attention to water conservation, efficiency in water use, water
reuse, groundwater recharge, and eco-system sustainability.
 Very low water prices, which do not discourage wastage.
Management of water resources
 Managing water resources involves careful planning to ensure sustainable use and
availability. Key aspects include:
 Assessment and Monitoring:
 Conduct thorough assessments of water availability, considering factors like rainfall, surface
water, and groundwater.
 Implement monitoring systems to track water quality and quantity, enabling informed
decision-making.
 Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM):
 Adopt an IWRM approach that considers the interconnectivity of water sources, usage, and
environmental impact.
 Balance agricultural, industrial, and domestic water needs while preserving ecosystems.
 Desiltation
 Canals, tanks, yeris, etc. must be desilted regularly during the summer months.
 People should be encouraged to revive the ancient practice of protecting trees
around tanks. Major rivers were sanctified and groves were established around
villages and on the river banks.

 Afforestation
 Afforestation of barren, hilly slopes on a warfooting should be carried out. Trees
withstand drought better than crops. They check dust, replenish streams, provide
shade to cattle and man and give fodder for cattle. They provide innumerable uses
for man. Denuding the land of trees without compensatory afforestation is a suicidal
and short-sighted approach to solving immediate needs
 Infrastructure Development:
 Invest in water infrastructure like dams, reservoirs, and pipelines to optimize water storage
and distribution.
 Implement modern technologies for efficient water use in agriculture and industries.
 Water Conservation:
 Promote water conservation practices at individual, community, and industrial levels.
 Educate the public on responsible water use and implement regulations encouraging
efficient water practices.

 Climate Change Adaptation:

 Develop strategies to adapt water management practices to changing climatic conditions.
 Consider the impact of climate change on water availability, precipitation patterns, and
potential extreme weather events.
 Legal and Regulatory Framework:
 Establish and enforce water-related laws and regulations to govern water usage.
 Implement permits and water rights systems to control and allocate water resources
effectively.
 Public Participation:
 Engage communities in water management decisions to ensure inclusivity and local
relevance.
 Encourage public awareness on water-related issues and the importance of conservation.
 Investment in Research and Technology:
 Support research on new technologies for water purification, desalination, and efficient
water use.
 Invest in innovative solutions for wastewater treatment and recycling.
Water conservation

 Creation of small reservoirs and percolation tanks to hold run-off water must be
implemented and maintained well.
 Agronomic practices like off-season tillage (prior to pre-monsoon showers)
conserve soil moisture. Moisture penetration to a depth of 90 cm. is achieved if
the land is ploughed to a depth of 30 cm. Other practices like early sowing of
seeds, moderate use of fertilisers, weeding, pest and disease control and timely
harvesting increase the yield inspite of limited moisture in the soil.
 Terrace cultivation of hilly slopes prevents water run-off.
 Contour ploughing and planting of grasses and trees check run-off water and
increase the soil's capacity to retain moisture.
 Green manuring (incorporation of fresh green leaves into the soil) and crop-
rotation (cultivating different crops in rotation depending upon the soil and
climate, e.g. cereals followed by legumes) conserve soil moisture.
 Mulching the soil with organic residue conserves soil moisture.
 The use of sprinkler irrigation for closely-spaced crops like millet, pulses,
groundnuts, etc., conserves 30 to 40% of the surface water.
 Drip irrigation is most suited for closely-spaced row crops like vegetables,
cotton, sugarcane. The efficiency of this system is around 25 to 30% in
conserving soil moisture. The cheapest and easiest form of drip irrigation is to
drill one to three holes in a mud pot and bury it partially in the soil next to the
plant. The water in the pot drips slowly, ensuring that the soil is continuously
moist and the plant gets a constant supply of water.
 Harvesting rain water and storing it in small ponds ensures water supply during
summer.
 Deep trenches can be dug adjacent to bunds to collect run off water and soil.