Water Conservation and its Ways
Water conservation is a broad category that covers simple ways to save water at home to complex, long term measures taken to preserve water on a larger scale. 70% of the earth's surface is covered with water, though it is not entirely useful to humans. 97% of saltwater covering oceans is not drinkable for humans and the remaining 3% is mostly frozen in glaciers.
Water conservation is the practice of an efficient usage of water by reducing unnecessary wastage of the same. The importance of water conservation becomes even more necessary as there is a limited source of freshwater that is beneficial for all human beings for a Healthy lifestyle. The freshwater available for use is unevenly distributed. Human activities are polluting the water sources threatening the survival of living beings. So, water conservation focuses on the concept of “save water and save a life”.
The Need for Water Conservation
It comes as no surprise that water is one of the most essential elements for the survival of any lifeform on the surface of Earth. The presence of water is what makes Earth different from any other planet. The need to maintain the constant flow of water comes from its vitality for the survival of all flora and fauna on the Earth.
Just because a portion of the human population has easy access to water resources, we keep forgetting why saving water is important. Saving water is not only a necessity for humans, our careless waste of water is also affecting the animals and plants around us. There are serious consequences of water depletion.
Ways to Conserve Water
Water conservation is essential and can be done by everyone. We can all contribute to saving water. Very small-scale changes can be made to preserve water. Even the people who aren’t facing water shortages should find ways to save water at home.
Several techniques can be implemented for the conservation of water that has been discussed below:-
Careful Use of Water: Keep the taps turned off when not in use. Usage of efficient home appliances like washing machines and dishwashers can save a lot of water. Even without the appliances, make sure you don’t overuse water while washing dishes or clothes.
Don’t Wash Down Garbage: Make sure to not wash down small bits of trash that use a large amount of water to flush down the drain. Always put them in the bin.
Don’t Run The Faucet to Clean Vegetables: Fill a container with water to wash fruits and vegetables. Keeping them under the faucet while water runs down will lead to unnecessary wastage of water.
Check for Leaks: Leaks can cause a significant amount of water loss if left unchecked. So, check the faucet, taps, and pipes for leaks regularly. While turning the tap off make sure to turn it all the way or it may keep dripping.
Water the Plants Smartly: While watering your plants keep in mind the temperature and time of the day, so water doesn’t evaporate quickly. Reuse water from cleaning and laundry to water the plants.
Reduce Bathing Water Amount: While bathing or taking a shower make sure to not let the water run down for a longer period or unnecessarily.
The best way to conserve water is to recycle and reuse it.
Try limiting your shower time to 10 to 15 minutes because humans carelessly consume gallons of water for luxuriously long showers. So Reducing the shower time would prevent excessive wastage of water.
Rusting pipes Leaky faucets dripping water from shower heads Earth science of unnecessary water wastage that needs to be fixed immediately to avoid wasting water.
Try using a compost Bin instead of in-sink garbage disposal. Compost bins are environmentally friendly and reduce water wastage.
Maintenance of appliances can prevent potential leaks and wastage of energy.
We can save gallons of water by turning off the water while brushing our teeth, shaving, showering, and washing dishes as these daily routine activities have resulted in excessive consumption of water.
Promote plantation of drought-resistant trees and plants as these can thrive even without irrigation.
Trees and plants with a layer of mulch around them slow down the evaporation of moisture.
These are some of the many ways to save water. Moreover, people need to be educated and made aware of the ways of saving water. Make an effort to educate the people around you on why you think saving water is important.
Water Conservation Facts
With 16% of the world population, India only has 4% of the total available freshwater.
Agriculture only accounts for 80% of India’s total water consumption.
The biggest water rejuvenation plan launched by the Indian government is “Namami Gange” for the Ganges river basin.
Rain accounts for 85% of the available water while the rest 15% is from melting snow.
The water prerequisite of India is 1100 billion cubic meters per year.
84% of rural households do not have access to piped water lines.
Lack of water causes a heavy loss in income since Indian women spend 150 million workdays every year carrying and fetching water.
Around 10 crore people consume water with an excessive amount of fluoride.
Almost 68% of the earth's fresh water is contained in Ice and glaciers. Freshwater can be found in rivers, streams, and lakes and also in glaciers and groundwater.
Do you know where the saltiest water in the world is found?
Well, the saltiest water in the world is found in a small lake Don Juan Pond in Antarctica.
These facts tell more than enough about why conservation of water is important. The current situation regarding the depleting amount of water tells us about the dire need of why it is essential to conserve water.
FAQs on Conservation of Water
1. What is meant by water conservation and why is it essential for life on Earth?
Water conservation is the practice of using water efficiently to reduce unnecessary wastage. It is essential because while nearly 70% of the Earth is covered in water, less than 1% is actually fresh, accessible water available for human use. Conserving this limited resource is crucial for drinking, agriculture, industry, and sustaining all ecosystems for future generations as per the CBSE/NCERT curriculum for 2025-26.
2. Since the Earth has so much water, why is there a growing need to conserve it?
This is a common misconception. The vast majority of Earth's water, about 97%, is saltwater found in oceans, which is not suitable for drinking or farming. Of the remaining 3% that is freshwater, over two-thirds is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps. This leaves a very small fraction available in rivers, lakes, and underground, which is under immense pressure from population growth and pollution.
3. What are some simple yet effective ways to conserve water in our daily lives?
You can easily conserve water at home by adopting a few simple habits. These include:
- Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing hands.
- Fixing any leaking taps or pipes immediately, as even small drips waste a lot of water.
- Using a bucket and mug for bathing instead of a shower.
- Reusing water from washing vegetables to water your plants.
- Running washing machines and dishwashers only with a full load.
4. What are the major methods of water conservation implemented on a larger, community level?
Beyond individual efforts, large-scale water conservation methods are vital. Key methods include: Rainwater Harvesting, which involves collecting and storing rainwater for later use; Drip Irrigation in agriculture, which delivers water directly to the plant roots, minimizing evaporation; constructing dams and reservoirs to store water; and treating and recycling wastewater (greywater) for non-potable uses like irrigation and industrial processes.
5. How does planting more trees contribute to water conservation?
Planting trees, or afforestation, plays a critical role in water conservation. Tree roots help rainwater percolate deep into the soil, which recharges underground water tables. They also bind the soil, reducing runoff and preventing soil erosion during heavy rains. Furthermore, the canopy of trees provides shade, which reduces the rate of water evaporation from the ground, keeping the soil moist for longer.
6. Can you explain what rainwater harvesting is and how it works?
Rainwater harvesting is a simple and effective technique to collect and store rainwater that falls on a surface, typically a rooftop. The process involves channeling the collected water through pipes to a filtration system to remove debris. This filtered water is then stored in an underground tank or sump. This stored water can then be used for gardening, washing, and other non-drinking purposes, reducing the demand on the main water supply.
7. What is the role of the government in conserving a nation's water resources?
The government plays a crucial role by creating policies and infrastructure for water conservation. This includes launching large-scale projects like the 'Namami Gange' mission in India to clean rivers, building dams and canals to manage water flow, promoting water-efficient technologies in agriculture, and running public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the importance of saving water. They also set regulations for industrial water usage to prevent pollution and wastage.
