Fighting Water Scarcity in Monsoons

Water scarcity is one of the major concerns haunting India and the World today. Almost 65 percent of farms in India are rain-fed and one-third of the country suffers drought every year. Between the year 2014 and 2017, India faced severe spells of drought that affected close to 500 million people in different geographical regions and terrains. It is no more true to say that water scarcity is largely an agricultural problem considering its water-intensive nature. Water scarcity has practically started to affect our existence and even the urban sectors are not kept outside it. Metropolitan cities like Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru in India have declared water emergency in the recent past. Monsoons are perhaps the only way available to the human race to devise new measures of fighting water scarcity. This is only possible through a strategic approach driven by a strong intent.

We need to realize that water management is not just about drought relief or strategic methods like collection points and digging out common land by the State. It is only through awareness generation by sensitizing people and incentivising devices used to fight water scarcity that we can bring in a marked shift. What disrupts the discourse around fighting water scarcity the most is the disparity in the measures adopted by people. There hasn’t been a change reflective of a water conservation-friendly lifestyle. Monsoons are the only possible way with its humongous untapped potential that we can conserve water and distribute it to fight water scarcity.

Some statistical data should enlighten us about the immense potential that we are yet to realize. Even if one receives just 100 mm of rainfall a year, in one hectare, one can harvest as much as 1 million litres of water—enough to meet the drinking and cooking water needs of 182 people for a year at a liberal 15 litres per day. The policy-decisions around rainwater management should be envisaged for a long term change where this practice is normalized in all sectors of the society. We must understand that of course with the introduction of technology the methods have evolved but rainwater harvesting has been prevalent for over 150 years and sensitization should happen at a level where communities are encouraged to utilize their traditional methods effectively. Jhalara, Talab/ Bandh, Bawari, Taanka, Ahar Pynes, Johads, Panam Keni, Khadin, Kund, Baoli, Nadi, Bharandara Phad, Zing, Kuhls and Zabo are a few traditional rainwater harvesting methods that can let the rural sector and places outside electrification fight water scarcity.

1. Bawari: Bawari are unique step-wells that were once a part of the ancient network of water storage. The little rain that the region receives is diverted to man-made tanks through canals built on the hilly outskirts of the city/village. The water then seeps into the ground, raising the water level. A series of layered steps are built around the reservoirs to narrow and deepen the walls, this in turn, minimises the evaporation.
2. Kuhls: Kuhls are nothing but the surface water channels found in the mountainous regions. The channels carry glacial waters from rivers and streams. A Kuhl starts at a glacier which is to be tapped. They are the lifeline of people of Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh and some parts of Jammu too. The sides of the Kuhls are lined with stones which ensures that there is no clogging or seepage of water. The Kuhl leads to the village where the water is stored in a tank and then it is distributed among the villagers as per their needs.
3. Zabo: Zabo simply means impounding water, and also locally known as Ruza system. This system is a unique combination of water conservation with animal care, forests and agriculture. During monsoon, rainwater that falls on the hilltops is collected into a pond like structure that is carved out on the hillsides. After the collection, water is passed to cattle yards below, from where the water enters the paddy fields. These ponds are made in such a way that the water distribution is uniform.
   Urban places should use modern techniques of rainwater harvesting. These techniques can be listed as Percolation pit method, Borewell with Settlement Tank, Open Well Method with filter bed sump and Percolation Pit with Bore Method.

Artificial Recharging can also be used to fight water scarcity. This is further categorised as:

1. Pits Recharge: Pits are constructed for recharging the shallow aquifers.
2. Dug Wells: Existing dug wells may be utilized as recharge structure and water shall pass through filter media before putting into dug well.
3. Hand Pumps: With bore wells for recharging the upper as well as deeper aquifers, lateral shafts of 1.5m to 2m wide and 10m to 20m long depending upon availability of water with one or two bore wells is constructed.

Fighting water scarcity is essential for us to have a healthy future. We must recognize its need and adequately prioritize our financial and temporal investments towards equipment and infrastructure that let us utilize monsoon to the fullest to fight water scarcity.