How to bridge the increasing water gap in India?

India is projected to experience the most severe increase in water gaps under future warming scenarios. In a 1.5°C warmer climate, India will have an additional 11.1 km3/yr water gap. And in a 3°C warming scenario, this will increase to 17.2 km3/yr.

In baseline climate conditions, the largest water gaps are found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra at 56.1 km3/yr and Sabarmati at 52.6 km3/yr.

The Centre for Science and Environment’s December 2024 report titled, ‘Waste to Worth’, mentions the ways in which wastewater could be reused. And the concept of the circular economy can be a sustainable way to cater to the widening gap in water consumption in India.