Water Resources

71% of surface of earth is covered by oceans which contain 97.5% of total water. Only 2.5% is
fresh water, out of which 1.97% is in the form of polar ice caps and glaciers and 0.5% is
underground water. Remaining fresh water is present in rivers and lakes (0.02%), in soil (0.01%)
and as water vapour (0.001 %)
Natural water cycle maintains the quantity of freshwater on land. 84% part of atmospheric
water vapours come from surface of oceans due to evaporation whereas only 16% comes from
land surface including transpiration from plants. About 77% of total precipitation (rainfall, snow,
etc.) falls in oceans and 23% on land surface (7% more than that which evaporates from it).
This extra 7% rainfall or snow is the source of freshwater on land which flows in rivers, lakes,
etc.
1. Sources of Freshwater
1. Land Surface Water Sources: They include rivers, canals, lakes, tanks, waterfalls, water
reservoirs, etc. Source of water of these bodies is rainfall, melting of snow, etc.
2. Underground Water Sources: Underground water is 9.86% of the total fresh water and is 35
to 50 times more than that present on the land surface. It is contained in porous layers of sand
and gravel under the soil surface which are called aquifers. These aquifers are of two types.
(a) Open or Unconfined Aquifers: They are covered by layers of sand and they are recharged
by leaching of surface water of rain or snow.
(b) Confined Aquifers: They are confined between layers of hard charged only if some part of
them is linked with open aquifers.
Effects of Overuse of Ground Water: It has following ill effects:
(i) Fall of Water Level: Excessive use of underground water for daily use, irrigation and indus-
tries has resulted into lowering of water table. Wells are drying due to this reason.
(ii) Ground Subsidence: When there is no recharging of underground water then aquifer layers
of sand and gravel get compressed and harden. This is called ground subsidence. It results in
sinking of overlying land surface which may damage buildings, reverse the flow of sewerage
and canals, destroy water supply and tidal flooding.
II. Use and Overuse of water
1. Use of water
(a) For drinking, cooking, bathing, washing clothes, etc.
(b) For disposal of sewage and other organic wastes.
(c) For disposal of industrial effluents.
(d) For generation of electricity.
(e) For use in industrial plants.
(f) For construction of buildings.
(g) For irrigation (94 mha of land in India is irrigated which is less than 50%)
(h) For rearing of fish and other aquatic organisms.
2. Rising Demand of Water and its Overuse: Water use has been increasing 4-8% annually
since 1950. 70% of the total water accounts for agriculture, 1.1% for domestic and municipal
con- sumption and the rest by industries.
There is increasing demand of water to fulfill our basic needs due to ever growing population.
On the basis of ratio of young people in the developing countries, it is estimated that the
population will continue to grow in coming decades. We are in a habit of over utilization of water
while bathing or washing our clothes. Many farmers use more water for irrigation than needed.
There are many ways to decrease the use of water without reducing yields, eg., sprinkler
irrigation, drip irrigation, etc.
III. Problems Associated with Water Resources.
1. Water Scarcity or Shortage: About 40% of world population is living in arid and semi-arid
areas and the people have to waste too much time, money, energy and power for getting
potable water for drinking and domestic use. According to UN estimates. India is likely to face
critical levels of water stress by 2025. By the year 2050, 4 billion people of the world will be
seriously affected by water shortages. About 20 major cities of India face chronic or interrupted
water shortages.
In the modern society, per capita daily consumption of water is 350-700 litres. If the annual per
capita availability of water falls below 1700 cubic metres (m³) then it is called water stress. If it
falls below 1000 m³ then it is called water scarcity. Per capita availability of water in India has
been in 1947 to 2266 m2 in 1997. By 2010, countries facing water scarcity include Egypt (29m
per capita), saudi Arab (103 m³) Jordan (153 m³). Israel (260 m³), Kenya (436 m³), decreased
from 6008 m3 Alginia (579 m), Botswana (622 m). Oman (880 m³) and Sudan (905 m³).
2. Water Pollution: Causes of pollution of surface water sources like rivers, lakes, canals,
tanks, etc are as follows:
(a) Flow of untreated sewage in the water sources.
(b) Throwing industrial effluents into water sources (streams, rivers) through drains (nallas)
(c) Flow of farm run-offs in water sources which conain chemical fertilizers and poisonous
pesticides
(d) Flow of oil in water sources from oil refineries.
(e) Flow of hot water in the water sources (rivers, streams) from thermal power plants and
other plants.
(f)Soil particles due to soil erosion make the water turbid.
3. Floods: Submerging of very large land area under water, which harms crops, organisms and
humans, is called a flood. About 4 crore hectare land (1/8 th of total) is susceptible to floods.
India and Bangladesh suffer from loss of crops, lives and property every year because of floods.
Out of total deaths due to floods, 50% occur in Bangladesh and 20% in India. Most of floods
occur due to excessive flow of water in rivers in the monsoon season. Main causes of floods are
as follows:
(a) Deforestation of watersheds or catchment trees of rivers which is due to human activities.
Rivers get silted due to soil eroded from denuded mountains and water overflows the riverbanks
causing a great harm.

(b) Water absorbing capacity of soil decreases due to deforestation resulting into flash floods in
rainy season and drought in other seasons. (c) Wetlands of wet areas of rivers in the plains are
the natural ways to control the floods. Crop cultivation in wet areas and destruction of welands
have resulted into great destruction by floods.
(d) Sometimes landslides block the way of a river and water gets accumulated in the upstream
areas which results into flood.
Note: Effects and control of floods have been described elsewhere.
4. Drought: Most arid and semi-arid areas of world are drought prone due to unpredictable rains
in certain years leading to serious scarcity of water to drink, to use in agriculture, or to provide
for urban and industrial use. In these drought years, agriculturists have no steady income. For
such areas, India has 'Drought-Prone Areas Development Programmes', under which people
are given wages in drought years to build roads, minor irrigation programs and plantation
programs.
5. Water Crisis and Conflicts Over Water: Water is an essential natural resource for
sustaining life and environment. It was considered as sufficiently available free gift of nature. But
now it has become a scarce commodity due to uncontrolled population growth and carelessness
of human beings. Many states in India are now in the grip of a severe water shortage which
include Rajasthan, Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.