World Water Day: Are we ready for the thirsty future?

All the noise and worries about water scarcity and river pollution notwithstanding, we are making things worse for the conservation of the valuable resource. Water is not just important for economic growth but also for the survival of life on this planet. 

In the 15th century, Akbar left Fatehpur Sikri because of water scarcity. In 2022, Indonesia announced it may be shifting its capital from Jakarta because it is feared that the entire city could sink by 2050 due to recurrent floods.

Water scarcity implies that either sufficient water is not available (because it does not rain, the water table has gone down or the demands have increased) or is inaccessible (because it is present in snowcapped mountains and glaciers, the infrastructure is not appropriate or because of geo-political factors).  

Approximately half of the population of the world will be facing acute water shortage by 2025, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This indicates that water crisis is not just the future, but very much a part of the present. It is visible in various forms like water scarcity, water-related disasters, water pollution, waterborne diseases, water conflicts, water distribution and so on. 

India is among the top 20 countries facing severe water stress, according to the recent report by the World Resources Institute. 

Let us explore the underlying causes. Take the case of agriculture: The Green Revolution of the 1960s ushered agricultural productivity but also led to a surge in groundwater extraction through borewells. 

Today, groundwater in northern India is being lost at a rate of 19.2 gigatonnes per year. India’s groundwater usage exceeds that of China and the United States combined. 

This is mainly because of extensive cultivation of water-intensive crops. Shift in the preference for protein-based diet, commercial agriculture and faulty agricultural practices aggravates this situation. 

The groundwater level dipped considerably in five districts of Tamil Nadu, according to the 2021 Report of the State Ground and Surface Water Resources Data Centre. The situation is the same in other states like Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. 

Reduced water table coupled with declining rainfall, and persistent drought-like conditions rings alarm bells about the availability of water in the years to come.

Climate change is another prominent cause behind water shortage. Shrinking Himalayan glaciers may make Ganga and Yamuna seasonal rivers, which will flow only during monsoon and not during summers. This, in turn, can affect food production as well as the lives of millions of people dependent on these rivers.  

Population increase, affluent lifestyles, industrialisation also contribute towards the looming water crisis. Shimla, for instance, receives 20 million tourists every year. It is 10 times the population of the city. Such high influx increases the demand of water and if this continues, ‘Day Zero’ will not be far away. The city reported an acute water crisis, especially during the last few summers. 

The United Nations General Assembly in 2010 recognised the right to clean and safe water as a human right. In many cases, social elements such as race, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status influence the exercise of this right.

Prioritised action is needed to eradicate the underlying causes giving rise to this situation. Water conservation needs corrective actions. Urgent, substantial and sustainable reforms are needed in the policies and frameworks directed towards water management because quick fixes will not work anymore. 

All important rivers are interstate and in the control of states. The Centre has no direct control over these water bodies. Conflicts arising thereof are a threat to the region’s harmony. 

The union ministries for water, tourism, health and family welfare, environment, forest and climate change, urban development as well as rural development, which are related to water use and consumption, must come together and work on a common agenda. 

We need to recognise that smart and climate-resilient agriculture is an adaptive approach. Through the course of evolution, no human species survived without water or maintaining minimum hygiene standards. Our metabolism, body functions and nutrition all require clean and sufficient water. Innovations in agriculture and industrial processes are designing water-smart techniques but these are also energy intensive. 

Further, improved access to water through better infrastructure and distribution can foster social equality. The health, nutrition and safety of marginalised communities depend much on water availability and accessibility. 

The cultural value of water also needs to be revoked. In all these endeavours, the most dominant determinant will be our ability to mitigate the effects of extreme weather events and ensure a water-secure world. 

Local water management is crucial. Switching off a tap in Delhi will not solve the water scarcity problem in Chennai. Water is a local resource and depends on the hydrology, climate, terrain and geography of a particular area. Even without being alarmist, today we have reached a consensus on declaring water issues as a non-negotiable agenda.

Let us understand that even the manufacture of vaccines requires water. With the ongoing threat of future pandemics, we can no longer ignore this vital gift of nature. 

Views expressed are the author’s own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth.

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