Water Management in India

Water management is crucial to the current and future generations. As groundwater rapidly depletes, our responsibility is to recharge and use it with the utmost care. Several methods of water management are available, and we must employ them to ensure water preservation. 

The Government of India has issued many types of water management schemes through the years. Due to high water pollution and climate change, we must now take responsibility for water conservation and preservation. 

Water Management

Water management in India is crucial. Since the country has a huge population, water conservation is the need of the hour. Water management is the control and utilisation of water available across various resources. 

Water management helps maintain sustainable water sources and prevents water wastage. Maintaining freshwater sources is also a key objective of water management. Water is a vital source, and it is essential to conserve it. Agriculture depends on water management. Poor water management leads to economic and social crises. 

The key is to balance the demand and supply. As water scarcity rises, countries must balance the supply and demand. Apart from agriculture, we need water for power generation, household use, transportation, and industrial development.

Types of Water Management

Water management is not only saving freshwater but also recycling wastewater. Here are the methods of water management.

Groundwater Recharge

Groundwater recharge is one of the methods of water management. It can be artificial or natural. Rainfall naturally recharges groundwater. It increases the groundwater levels. Trees are also an excellent method of groundwater recharge. They let the water run deeper than usual by absorbing more salts accumulated on the surface.

Artificial groundwater recharge methods refer to the human practice of storing water. Some artificial groundwater recharge practices are digging wells, placing rain furrows, and redirecting water through canals and infiltration basins.

Drip Water Flow Method in Agriculture

It is a method of watering crops without wasting water. Water and fertilisers together are made available to crops through dripping pipes. It ensures a uniform water supply and limits overwatering. Water dripping systems are an effective type of water management when designed and installed correctly.

Desalination

Desalination is another method of water management. It refers to removing salts from the water. Many countries process saline water to produce fresh water. Desalination is also used during wastewater recycling. Desalinated water can be used for industrial and commercial purposes.

Aquifer Storage Recovery (ASR)

This refers to the method of the collection of rainwater or river water in aquifer wells. This is useful in urban areas, where water flows over the surface and is never retained in the ground. That water might end up flowing toward a river. This increases the salt levels in the water, making consumption difficult. Instead of letting it flow, such water is stored in large aquifer wells. It can be used in industries and as a supply of drinking water.

Greywater Processing

Greywater processing is one of the types of water management. Greywater refers to the water from basins and showers that does not contain faeces. It can be cleared by large pipes set against gravity. However, do not let this water stay in the dark for too long.

Wastewater Treatment.

This is similar to greywater processing, but it contains more waste, including industrial waste. It is an excellent method of water management and a practical step to reduce water pollution. After removing large, solid substances, wastewater is treated chemically and biologically to make it reusable. It can be used in agriculture and across industries.

Rainwater Collection 

It is a key method of water management. Rainwater is collected and stored by digging furrows near the well, constructing half pipes at the end of rooftops, etc. Tamil Nādu made rainwater collection compulsory, which benefited the state for five years.

Government Schemes for Water Management

The Ministry of Jal Shakti India issued a new water security plan in 2021. According to this plan, several methods were designed to meet the demand and supply.

• Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain was issued in March 2021, stating the importance of rain harvesting
• The Atal Bhujal Yojana from 2020 ensured mob participation in water management.
• Sahi Fasal was a campaign by the National Water Mission that encouraged farmers to use water efficiently with minimal wastage for agriculture.
• Water Heroes – Share Your Stories was a Department of Water Resources initiative where River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation conducted an event to promote water management and awarded people and organisations who excelled at water management.
• Several irrigation projects were undertaken under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
• The Model Building Bye-Laws (MBBL) 2016 act made rainwater harvesting mandatory for new housing registration.

Conclusion

Water management is crucial to growth. Many types of water management are available and can be customised for different geographical areas. Rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment, and desalination are some proven methods of water management. Several schemes have been developed by the government to promote water management.