Every drop of water counts

Tomorrow is World Water Day, and here are some ways we can conserve this precious resource

CHENNAI, 21/03/2014: World Water Day is observed globally on March 22. Forecasting that the global population will need 40 percent more water by 2030, the ambitious report highlights the threat to water supplies posed by the conflicting interests of a growing global population for energy and food, as well as water itself. The list is extensive, including regulations and governance that lead to perverse outcomes, along with threats from water contamination, pollution, climate change and the often profligate ways in which we use and manage freshwater resources. World water day 2014 also offers potential solutions, focusing in particular on governance at the water-energy nexus. `Energy and water are at the top of the global development agenda?, Rector of United Nations University, David Malone, this year's coordinator of World Water Day on behalf of U.N.-Water together with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Photo: S_R_Raghunathan

Water is the driving force of all nature said Leonardo da Vinci, and unfortunately for our planet, supplies are beginning to run dry, at an alarming rate. The world’s population continues to soar, but that rise in numbers has not been matched by an accompanying increase in supplies of fresh water. “Water is a finite and irreplaceable resource that is fundamental to human well-being and it is only renewable if well managed,” says Joakim Harlin a water resources and international development professional from UNDP.

“Water is at the core of sustainable development and is critical for socio-economic development, healthy ecosystems and for human survival itself.”

Large swathes of Bengaluru lack access to safe drinking water. Waters tankers and bottled water seem to be their saviours. As the summer heat hits the city, the requirement of fresh water grows and the difficulty to obtain it is felt across the city.

In order to handle a difficult situation, many residents are taking measures to meet the summer crisis. Sumithra Balu who lives in Cooke town says, “Rainwater harvesting is the sensible way of recycling, whether it is an apartment or independent house, and we have been getting the benefits from it for the past few years now. Apart from that, whenever we clean the overhead tank or the sump, instead of wasting the water, we use it to water the plants, and clean the garage since Cauvery water is our only source of water.”

A resident of Kothanur, Jennifer Pinto uses the soap water from soaked clothes to either flush or clean the bathrooms. “I end up saving about three buckets of water every other day.”

“I use the water I wash vegetables with to water my plants, says Shilpa Bhat from Basaveswaranagar and Natasha Lobo from RT Nagar says, “I use the water from the rinse in my washing machine for the plants; the soap water is used for washing the bathrooms or even the cars; the water from mopping the floor is also recycled.”

Rajani Chandrasheka from Koramangala has “Invested in a 10 ft by 10 ft sump to hold rain water from my terrace. I am glad I did it as I used water from the tank for about two months. I am waiting for the rains now!”

In Bengaluru, there have been massive losses of groundwater, which has been pumped up with reckless lack of control over the past decade. We have to realise that using water the way we have in the past simply will not sustain our city in future.