Why water harvesting is must?

Water is one of the most vital driving forces which form the basis of our life. We require this cyclic natural resource almost in every aspect of life, we need it for drinking, irrigation, industrial use, for generating hydro-electricity, transportation etc.
Scientific studies have assessed that in present scenario water crisis is becoming calamitous. Hence, there is dire need to revive and reform water management system in India which should be backed by Individual initiative and active public participation.
Rain water harvesting is a term used to define system of collecting rainwater and conserving it for future needs. It is one of the most effective methods by which rain water is managed and conserved. There is huge amount of monsoon flow which remains un-captured and eventually ends in natural sinks like oceans
According to estimates of the ‘Centre for Science and Environment’ based in New Delhi merely capturing the rain water and runoff water on 2 per cent of India’s land area will result in a supply of 26 gallons of water per person.
The water reservoirs are prone to large scale pollution due to urbanization and industrialization and this is resulting in scarcity of clean drinking water. In a developing country like India with poor waste water management system the shortage of water will become more acute until preventive measures are not employed.
Rain water harvesting in rural areas is much more cost effective when compared to water pumping and purifying systems. Use of rainwater harvesting has added advantages when done on community level and helps in sustainable development by reducing water wastage. Rain water is free from chemicals and can be utilized directly for irrigation and watering gardens. Its harvesting requires minimal infrastructure and most rooftops act as a feasible catchment area which can be directly connected to supply systems for irrigation. It not only reduces the consumption of groundwater but also helps the poor farmers and their families in reducing their utilities bill.
According to a parliamentary data, tabled in the Rajya Sabha on March 4, 2016 astounding 3,228, farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra during 2015, due to less crop production owing to drought and poor irrigation facilities. Rain water harvesting if done on large level community scale then it can act as a breakthrough to solve situations like these.
Rain water harvesting is the need of the hour and had it been practiced the present drought like situations in the western parts of India could have been minimized. Latur, In Maharastra is currently parched and forms the ground Zero of worst drought stricken areas with monsoons still a couple of months away. Rain water harvesting mitigates such drought like conditions.
Water management is a collective responsibility of both urban as well as rural dwellers. In urban areas, rain water available from roof tops of buildings goes waste. This rain water can be utilized in recharging aquifer and can be used at the time of need. Small Steps towards conserving rain water can bring huge difference in getting water shortage issues solved. Urban dwellers should use rain water for flushing toilet and gardening, to avoid water wastage considerably.
Rain water harvesting is known to be effective in controlling floods in some low lying areas. It is also beneficial in minimizing soil erosion due to ripple action of rain water and thus, preserves the fertility of soil. It prevents pollution of drinking water bodies and ponds from eutrofication caused due to contamination by pesticides and fertilizers due to rainwater run-off. Rain water harvesting can also be used for safeguarding areas which are prone to frequent forest fires.

Rainwater harvesting overcomes the inadequacy of ground water to meet our requirements by preventing decline in the level of ground water. Rain water harvesting is also instrumental in recharging ground water and in improving its quality through dilution. It can also be used to increase permeation of rain water in the subsoil. It positively improves the ecology of an area by enhancing green vegetation cover.

We wake up realizing the worth of water only when the well is dry. It’s high time that we resort to Rain water harvesting which is definitely a step to manage water scarcity.

-Window To News Network