Water scarcity and need for conservation of water

1 Write the three sources of water on earth.

2 Name the primary and secondary sources of water on earth.
3. Explain in detail quantitative and qualitative aspect of water scarcity.
Ans.3
QUANTITATIVE:
1.OVER POPULATION
 In large cities, water scarcity may be an outcome of large and growing population and consequent greater
demands for water, and unequal access to it.
 A large population means more water not only for domestic use but also to produce more food. Hence, to
facilitate higher food-grain production, water resources are being over-exploited to expand irrigated areas
and dry-season agriculture.
 most farmers have their own wells and tube-wells in their farms for irrigation to increase their produce.
 it may lead to falling groundwater levels, adversely affecting water availability and food security of the
people.
2.INDUSTRILISATION
 Post-independent India witnessed intensive industrialisation and urbanisation, creating vast opportunities for
us. Today, large industrial houses are as commonplace as the industrial units of many MNCs (Multinational
Corporations).
 The ever increasing number of industries has made matters worse by exerting pressure on existing
freshwater resources.
 Industries, apart from being heavy users of water, also require power to run them. Much of this energy comes
from hydroelectric power.
 Today, in India hydro electric power contributes approximately 22 per cent of the total electricity produced.

3.URBANISATION
 multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have not only added to water
and energy requirements but have further aggravated the problem.
 housing societies or colonies in the cities, have their own groundwater pumping devices to meet their water
needs.
 Not surprisingly, we find that fragile water resources are being overexploited and have caused their depletion
in several of these cities.

QUALITATIVE
4.POLLUTION
 In some areas water is sufficiently available to meet the needs of the people, but, the area still suffers from
water scarcity.
 This scarcity may be due to bad quality of water.
 Lately, there has been a growing concern that even if there is ample water to meet the needs of the people,
much of it may be polluted by domestic and industrial wastes, chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers used in
agriculture, thus, making it hazardous for human use.
 India’s rivers, especially the smaller ones, have all turned into toxic streams.
 And even the big ones like the Ganga and Yamuna are far from being pure.
 The assault on India’s rivers – from population growth, agricultural modernisation, urbanisation and
industrialisation – is enormous and growing by the day

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4.Explain how the following factors create water scarcity:-
A. Overpopulation B.industrialisation
C. Urbanisation D. pollution (same as Ans.No. 3)

5.What does large population mean in relation to water use?

 More water for domestic needs
 More water to grow more food
 More infrastructure needed which needs more water
 More production of goods in industries
 Release of more sewage from from houses, industrial effluents, other waste.(elaborate the points)

6.How does demand for more food production affect water supply? What are its long term consequences.

7.What has been the situation of water availability in India post independence? What has happened due to ever
increasing number of industries and cities.

8. How does the bad quality of water and pollution of water create water scarcity./State various factors which adversely
affect the quality of water./State various pollutants of water.

9. What is the state of Indian rivers after independence?

10.WRITE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF OVER EXPLOITATION OF GROUND WATER RESOURCES

 Groundwater depletion is a pressing challenge for India. Groundwater played an
important role in sustaining India’s green revolution. The high-yielding varieties of
crops which all increasing agricultural productivity, depended on the timely application
of water.
 This led to a spurt in groundwater structures with enterprising farmers making
technological and institutional innovations not only to extract groundwater, but also to
transport it to the fields of other farmers – giving rise to flourishing groundwater
markets.
 Falling water tables in several states now threaten agricultural sustainability.
 The supply of groundwater is not unlimited, nor it is always available in good quality.
In many cases, the abstraction of excessive quantities of groundwater has resulted in
the drying up of wells, salt-water intrusion and drying up of rivers that receive their
flows in dry seasons from groundwater.

11. Why should we conserve and manage our water resources ? Give four reasons.