News Highlight
There is a persistent need for a holistic water management system in urban areas for a sustainable future.
Key Takeaway
- Water demand will increase even more, with India’s population in urban areas expected to double by 2050.
- In urban areas, only 45 per cent of the demand is met using groundwater resources. Apart from this, climate change, pollution and contamination have also added to the burden on water resources.
What is an Integrated Urban Water Management System?
- It is a process that ensures water supply, used water management, sanitation, and stormwater management can be planned in line with economic development and land use.
Statistics
- India has just 4% of the world’s water resources, supporting 17.1% of its population.
The Need for a Holistic Water Management System
- Population:
- Around 35 % of India’s population lived in urban areas as of 2020, it is expected to double by 2050.
- Self-sufficiency:
- As water demand exceeds supply in most cities, water management needs to undergo a revolution to ensure most urban areas can be self-sufficient in the future.
- Existence of different water management systems:
- In India, different water management systems based on utilities like sanitation, urban water, stormwater and wastewater deal with water-related issues in other localities.
- Since areas and localities define the distribution and water allocation, finding a unified solution is often challenging.
The Integrated Urban Water Management System approaches
- Understanding Water as a Resource:
- Water is a resource for various end goals thus, it will be easier to treat different kinds of water based on agricultural, industrial and environmental purposes.
- Collaborative Action:
- Clear coordination amongst all the stakeholders, it is easily defined and prioritises accountability.
- A shift in perception of water:
- It is essential to understand how water is inseparable in its connection to economic development, city infrastructure and land use.
- Customised Solutions for Different Cities:
- It focuses on specific contexts and local requirements and prioritises a rights-based solution approach over a one-size-fits-all approach.
The Challenges Regarding Water Management
- Potential Rural-Urban Conflict:
- Cities are rapidly expanding as a result of rapid urbanisation, and a large influx of migrants from rural areas has increased the per capita use of water in cities, which is causing water to be transferred from rural reservoirs to urban areas to meet the deficit.
- Rising Water Pollution:
- There is a large amount of domestic, industrial, and mining waste that is discharged into water bodies, which can lead to water contamination and waterborne illnesses.
- Food Security Risk:
- Crops and livestock need water to grow. Water is used extensively for irrigation in agriculture and serves as a major source of domestic consumption. Given the combination of rapidly declining groundwater levels and inefficient river water management, food insecurity is likely to follow.
- Ineffective Waste Water Management:
- In a highly water-stressed environment, the inefficient use of wastewater is leaving India unable to make the most economical use of its resources. In cities, most of this water is in the form of greywater.
- Overexploitation of Groundwater:
- 256 of 700 districts in India have reported critical or overexploited groundwater levels, according to the most recent study of the Central Ground Water Board.
- Water is a state subject:
- Water management programmes such as water conservation and water harvesting, as well as ensuring adequate drinkable water is available to everyone in the country, are essentially the duty of the states.
- The central government, on the other hand, has taken critical steps, such as funding numerous projects.
- Poor groundwater recharge:
- Reduction in traditional water recharging areas and rapid construction ignoring conventional water bodies.
The government Initiatives
- Atal Bhujal Yojana:
- It is a central sector scheme with World Bank assistance for sustainable management of groundwater resources with community participation.
- Jal Shakti Abhiyan:
- It aims to improve water availability in water-stressed districts, particularly groundwater conditions.
- The National Water Policy:
- It promotes rainwater harvesting and water conservation, as well as the need to augment water availability through direct rainfall.
Way forward
- Micro-irrigation techniques:
- Promote micro-irrigation techniques such as sprinkler and drip irrigation should be encouraged.
- Artificial Groundwater Recharge:
- This is the process of spreading or impounding water over land to boost infiltration via the soil and percolation to the aquifer or injecting water directly into the aquifer through wells.
- Less water-intensive crops:
- Farmers in the regions where groundwater depletion has already occurred should consider cultivating less water-intensive crops, use better irrigation technologies and irrigate crops only when necessary.
- Groundwater Management Plants:
- Installing groundwater management plants at local levels will help the people know the groundwater availability in their area, making them use it wisely.
- Promotion of Pani Panchayats:
- Pani Panchayat is a voluntary activity of a group of farmers engaged in the collective management (harvesting and distribution) of surface water and groundwater (wells and percolation tanks).
Pic Courtesy: Down to Earth
Content Source: Down to Earth