Types of Water Resources of India

In India, there are around 20 river basins. Due to increased demand for household, industrial, and agricultural needs, most river basins are water-stressed. The fact that water demand is distributed unevenly across the country exacerbates the issue. Rising demand from a growing population and increased economic activity put further strain on already stressed water supplies.

Types of Water Natural Resources

Groundwater Resources

Groundwater is the most plentiful of all freshwater natural resources. Some water flows down through the topsoil, clay, and rock sticks on the uppermost levels of the earth, supplying water to plants. The water in this container is unsaturated. The majority of the gaps in the unsaturated zone are filled with air rather than water.

Due to gravity, the water continues to flow downhill through the earth. Finally, the water reaches the subsoil, filling all of the pores. The water table separates the saturated from the unsaturated zones.

Aquifers are porous rock water-holding zones. Bedrock with multiple fissures and interconnecting pores, such as limestone, sandstone, and gravel, are frequently used to create aquifers. Because shale and clay strata are impervious to water, they create poor aquifers. Precipitation from above percolates through the layers of soil and rock, “recharging” an aquifer. As a result, there is a lot of interaction between surface and groundwater. In turn, it feeds surface water via springs, and surface water can also replenish groundwater supplies.

The most common way for humans to get groundwater is through wells. Drilling past the water table is required to construct a well. In most situations, a pump is installed in the well’s bottom, and the water is pushed into houses, businesses, and water treatment facilities, where it will be distributed. A cone of depression grows around the well when water is pumped from the earth. The well is fed by groundwater from the wider region. Droughts can cause wells to dry out, or if nearby wells are pumping quite so much water, generating a massive cone of depression.

Water pumped from wells is usually of excellent quality. The dirt, clay, and rock layers operate as a natural filter. Contaminants from adjacent polluted soils, leaking underground tanks, and septic systems, on the other hand, can pollute a well and leave it useless. Furthermore, saltwater intrusion might occur when the frequency of pumping near a shoreline outpaces the recharge. Saltwater is drawn from the sea into the depression cone and the well.

Surface Water Resources

Surface water comes from four major sources.

Rivers, lakes, ponds, and tanks are examples. There are around 10,360 rivers in the country

and its tributaries that are more than 1.6 kilometres long. The annual average flow in all river basins

is estimated to be 1,869 cubic kilometres in India.

Only roughly 690 cubic kilometres (32%) of the available surface water can be used due to topographical, hydrological, and other limits. The size of a river’s catchment area or river basin, as well as rainfall within that area, determine how much water flows through it.

Saltwater Resources

As previously stated, saltwater is prevalent on the planet’s surface. However, saltwater is currently ineffective when it comes to drinkable water supplies. While they do exist, desalination facilities are in short supply due to the high energy costs associated with the process.

Apart from lovely ocean vistas, there are saltwater resources from which humans profit. Although overfishing and pollution have placed most of the world’s marine life population at peril, saltwater fish are a mainstay in many people’s diets. In addition, tidal waters are used to generate hydroelectric power. While saltwater is ineffective in coping with water scarcity, it gives resources that humans rely upon.

Why India needs Different Types of Water Resources

Although India possesses just 4% of the world’s renewable water resources, it is home to roughly 18% of the world’s population. It has an average annual precipitation of 4,000 billion cubic metres (BCM), making it the country’s primary source of freshwater. On the other hand, precipitation varies greatly between different parts of the nation.

Water availability per capita is decreasing year by year. With the country currently facing water scarcity, it’s critical to boost water supply in water-rich areas that lack infrastructure and control water demand in water-scarce regions.

The annual groundwater draw is 245 BCM, which accounts for around 62 percent of the net water available, according to the CWG Report 2011. Irrigation accounted for 91% of the total. However, the effects on groundwater have not been consistent across the country. In areas where groundwater extraction surpasses replenishment, the situation is worrying. Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan currently use more water than is supplied yearly. Groundwater in some regions of Rajasthan and Haryana has high salt content, rendering it unfit for human consumption. So, to overcome the demand for water, India needs different types of water resources.

Conclusion

The Indian economy relies heavily on groundwater. It meets around 85% of rural demand, 50% of urban requirements, and more than 60% of our irrigation requirements. In several nation sections, unregulated groundwater extraction has resulted in overuse, causing the groundwater table to plunge and dry springs and aquifers.