Ch-Water

Resources
-by Keshav Agarwal
X-B3
Agenda
• Water Scarcity and Need for Water
Conservation and Management.
• Dams as Multi-purpose River
Projects.
• Rainwater Harvesting.
• Conservation of Water.
• Bamboo Drip Irrigation System.
Introduction
Water resources refers to natural resources
of water that are potentially useful as a
source of water supply. About 97% of the
water on the Earth is mainly salt water
and only around 3% is fresh water;
approximately around two thirds of this is
frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps.
Why Is Water
Important ?
• Water travels throughout your body
carrying nutrients, oxygen, and wastes
to and from your cells and organs.
Water keeps your body cool as part of
your body's temperature regulating
system. Water cushions your joints,
and protects your tissues and organs
from shock and damage.

• Water helps improve the circulation of

oxygen throughout the body. It also
plays a crucial role in the digestion of
food. Water is a very important
component of saliva, which helps
break down food. The excretion of
waste in the human body requires
water.
Water Scarcity
WATER SCARCITY IS THE LACK OF FRESH WATER RESOURCES TO MEET THE STANDARD WATER
DEMAND. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF WATER SCARCITY NAMELY PHYSICAL AND ECONOMIC WATER
SCARCITY. PHYSICAL WATER SCARCITY IS WHEN THERE IS NOT ENOUGH WATER TO MEET ALL THE
DEMANDS NECESSARY FOR AN ECOSYSTEM TO FUNCTION.

MAJOR CAUSES OF WATER SCARCITY:-

1. CLIMATE CHANGE.
2. NATURAL CALAMITIES SUCH AS DROUGHTS AND FLOODS.
3. INCREASED HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
4. OVERUSE AND WASTAGE OF WATER.
5. A GLOBAL RISE IN FRESHWATER DEMAND.
6. OVERUSE OF AQUIFERS AND ITS CONSEQUENT SLOW RECHARGE.

AS WE ALL KNOW WATER IS UNEQUALLY DISTRIBUTED OVER THE EARTH SURFACE AND OF THAT
AMOUNT MUCH OF IT IS WASTED, POLLUTED AND SUSTAINABLY MANAGED.
Dams As Multi-purpose River
Projects
Dams are called multi-purpose projects because:-

1. Earlier they were built to impound rivers and rainwater could be used later for irrigation.
2. Now dams are built not only for irrigation but for generation of electricity water supply for domestic use flood control recreation inland
navigation and fish-breeding.
3. For example in the Sutlej-Beas river basin the Bhakra-Nangal project water is being used both for hydropower production and irrigation.

A multipurpose dam may combine storing and supplying water for irrigation, industry and human consumption with other uses such as flood
control, power generation, navigation, run-off storage and water discharge regulation.

Multipurpose projects and large dams have come under opposition because of the following reasons:-

1. Large dams affect the natural flow of rivers. This results in hampering the flow of sediments.
2. Excessive accumulation of sediments in the reservoirs causes damage to the marine life.
3. The dams on the flood plains submerge the vegetation and soil leading to its gradual decomposition.
4. It further results in floods due to the deposition of sediments in the reservoirs.
5. It causes destruction of the forest areas and the displacement of tribal and local communities.
6. The construction of big dams destroys the natural surroundings and biodiversity of an area.
7. If large dams are constructed at the place where tectonic plates meet, it can induce earthquakes.
•
Dams
Bhakra Nangal is the highest
multipurpose dam project in India.

• Damodar Valley Corporation

(DVC) is the first multipurpose
project in India. It came into
existence by an Act of the Central
Legislature in the year 1948.
•
Hirakund Dam is the longest dam
in India with a total length of 25.79
km. It is also in the list of the
longest dams in the world. The
Hirakud Dam is situated on the
river Mahanadi.

• The Bhakra dam is 226 meters

high. It is the highest gravity dam
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is the collection and storage of rain, rather than allowing it to run off. Rainwater is collected from a roof like surface and
redirected to a tank, cistern, deep pit (well, shaft, or borehole), aquifer, or a reservoir with percolation, so that it seeps down and restores the ground water.

It reduces soil erosion and flood hazards by collecting rainwater and reducing the flow of stormwater to prevent urban flooding. Most buildings that utilize
rainwater harvesting systems have a built-in catchment area on top of the roof, which has a capacity of collecting large volumes of water in case of
rainstorms.

Rainwater Harvesting is one of the most commonly used methods to save water. It refers to storing of rainwater for various uses. The notion behind rainwater
harvesting is to not waste the rainwater and prevent it from running off.

Swales are an effective way of capturing snow and facilitating rainwater harvesting when the snow melts. The in-situ nature of swales allows water to be
used for agricultural purposes directly, thus minimising the need to transport water back and forth across the farm and the costs associated with this.

Disadvantages of Rainwater Harvesting:-

1. Regular maintenance is required.

2. Requires some technical skills for installation.
3. Limited and no rainfall can limit the supply of rainwater.
4. If not installed correctly, it may attract mosquitoes and other waterborne diseases.
5. One of the significant drawbacks of the rainwater harvesting system is storage limits.
Conservation Of Water
Water conservation is the practice of using water efficiently to reduce unnecessary water usage . According to Fresh Water Watch,
water conservation is important because fresh clean water is a limited resource, as well as a costly one.

Ways to Save Water:-

1. Check your toilet for leaks.

2. Stop using your toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket
3. Take shorter showers
4. Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors
5. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth

Using water-saving techniques can save you money and diverts less water from our rivers, bays, and estuaries, which helps keep the
environment healthy . It can also reduce water and wastewater treatment costs and the amount of energy used to treat, pump, and
heat water.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the average home wastes 90 gallons of water per day. That adds up
quickly — 10,000 gallons of water per household per year, and over 1 trillion gallons if you tally the national average.

When running your dishwasher or washing machine, make sure you fully load each cycle. Running full cycles helps conserve water
because these appliances will fill to a certain level and having more dishes or clothes reduces the amount of water needed for each
cycle.

This ensures that you get the most energy-saving and water-saving use from each run of your appliances. Here’s a video on how to
Bamboo Drip Irrigation System
Bamboo drip irrigation system is a 200-year-old system of tapping stream and spring water by using bamboo pipes. This irrigation
system is prevalent in Meghalaya.

Bamboo drip irrigation system is widely used in Meghalaya, where bamboo pipes are used to transport water from the hilltops to the
fields. The bamboo drip irrigation system is normally used to irrigate the betel leaf or black pepper crops planted in areca nut
orchards or in mixed orchards.

Bamboo drip irrigation system is a simple and cost-effective method of watering plants using bamboo pipes. The system involves
creating small holes in bamboo pipes which are then placed strategically near the plant roots to deliver water directly to the plants.
This method helps in conserving water and ensuring efficient watering of plants.

Advantages of bamboo drip irrigation system include:-

1. Cost-effective: Bamboo is a readily available and inexpensive material, making it a cost-effective option for setting up a drip
irrigation system.
2. Sustainable: Bamboo is a renewable resource and environmentally friendly material, making it a sustainable choice for irrigation
systems.
3. Easy to install: Bamboo drip irrigation systems are easy to set up and maintain, requiring minimal tools and expertise.
4. Efficient water use: Drip irrigation systems deliver water directly to the roots of plants, reducing water wastage and promoting
efficient water use.
Thank You
Hope you liked the PPT and
got some Important
Information Regarding Water
Resources and its Factors.