Venkatachalam H S4 Chemical Engg.

GEC Thrissur-9

Water Scarcity

Water Scarcity
Water shortage is used to describe an absolute shortage where

levels of available water do not meet certain defined minimum requirements. The actual quantity that determines a per capita minimum may differ from place to place.
Water scarcity is a more relative concept describing the

relationship between demand for water and its availability.

Water stress is the symptomatic consequence of scarcity which

may manifest itself as increasing conflict over sectoral usage, a decline in service levels, crop failure, food insecurity etc.. This term is analogous to the common use of the term "drought".

Causes of water scarcity

Population growth
Climatic change and variability Land use

Water quality
Political realities Sociological issues Overdevelopment of hydraulic infrastructure for irrigation

 The concepts of water stress and water scarcity are relatively

new. Fifty years ago, when there were fewer than half the current number of people on the planet, the common perception was that water was an infinite resource.
Now, the situation has changed. Water crisis has grown into an

issue of global concern.

The total amount of available freshwater supply is also

decreasing because of climate change, which has caused receding glaciers, reduced stream and river flow, and shrinking lakes. Many aquifers have been over-pumped and are not recharging quickly. Although the total fresh water supply is not used up, much has become polluted, salted, unsuitable or otherwise unavailable for drinking, industry and agriculture.

The Average Home Uses More Than 200 Gallons of Water Per Day!
An average of 8% of all home water use is wasted through leaks.
1 US gallon = 3.7854L
So, 200 gallons = 757.08L !!!

Water conservation

Water conservation refers to reducing the usage of water and recycling of waste water for different purposes such as cleaning, manufacturing, and agricultural irrigation.
Other Definitions Any beneficial reduction in water loss, use or waste as well as the preservation of water quality. A reduction in water use accomplished by implementation of water conservation or water efficiency measures; or, Improved water management practices that reduce or enhance the beneficial use of water.

Goals
Sustainability. To ensure availability for future generations, the

withdrawal of fresh water from an ecosystem should not exceed its natural replacement rate. Energy conservation. Water pumping, delivery, and wastewater treatment facilities consume a significant amount of energy. In some regions of the world (for example, California ) over 15% of total electricity consumption is devoted to water management. Habitat conservation. Minimizing human water use helps to preserve fresh water habitats for local wildlife and migrating waterfowl, as well as reducing the need to build new dams and other water diversion infrastructure.

History
Indus Valley Civilization

Drainage System Rain Water Harvesting

Egyptian (Nile Valley) Civilization

Canals and embankments for irrigation

 In ancient times, houses in parts of western Rajasthan were

built so that each had a rooftop water harvesting system. Rainwater from these rooftops was directed into underground tanks. This system can be seen even today in all the forts, palaces and houses of the region.

Underground baked earthen pipes and tunnels to maintain the

flow of water and to transport it to distant places, are still functional at Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh, Golkunda and Bijapur in Karnataka, and Aurangabad in Maharashtra.

New Strategies

Social Solutions
Water conservation programs are typically initiated at the local level, by either municipal water utilities or regional governments. Common strategies include public outreach campaigns. One fundamental conservation goal is universal metering. The prevalence of residential water metering varies significantly worldwide. Recent studies have estimated that water supplies are metered in less than 30% of UK households, and about 61% of urban Canadian homes (as of 2001). Although individual water meters have often been considered impractical in homes with private wells or in multifamily buildings, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that metering alone can reduce consumption by 20 to 40 percent.

Household Applications
Low-flow shower heads sometimes called energy-efficient

shower heads as they also use less energy, Low-flush toilets and composting toilets. These have a dramatic impact in the developed world, as conventional Western toilets use large volumes of water. Rainwater harvesting High-efficiency clothes washers Weather-based irrigation controllers Garden hose nozzles that shut off water when it is not being used, instead of letting a hose run. Using low flow taps in wash basins

Commercial applications
Pressurized water brooms, which can be used instead of a

hose to clean sidewalks X-ray film processor re-circulation systems Cooling tower conductivity controllers Utilization of Lake Water and or Sea Water for Cooling Towers Water-saving steam sterilizers, for use in hospitals and health care facilities.

Agricultural applications
For crop irrigation, optimal water efficiency means minimizing losses due to evaporation, runoff or subsurface drainage while maximizing production. 1. Overhead irrigation, using center-pivot or lateralmoving sprinklers, has the potential for a much more equal and controlled distribution pattern.

2. Drip irrigation is the most expensive and least-used

type, but offers the ability to deliver water to plant roots with minimal losses.

Thank You !!!