Water & Energy
N. R. Krishnan

Two environmental concerns that need mankind's immediate attention are dwindling per capita availability of freshwater and global climate change brought about by use of fossil fuels like coal and oil for meeting energy needs. The first has already emerged as a serious problem in many parts of the world, notably Asia, and the second is making its impact felt through global warming, melting of glaciers and polar ice-caps and erratic weather patterns.

It is not infrequent to hear these days of water disputes between countries and between regions in the same country. Statesmen have gone to the extent of prophesying 'water wars' in this century, such being the gravity of the problem. The reasons for this situation are not far to seek. Freshwater accounts for just 3% of total global water resources of 160 million cubic meters and much of this freshwater is not accessible as it is bound up in ice and snow. Only a very small proportion (0.015%) of global freshwater is available for man's needs. The geographical distribution of accessible freshwater is highly skewed with a major portion of it contained in the Great Lakes bordering the USA
and Canada.

Among the continents, Asia has the lowest annual per capita availability of 3000 M³ of freshwater. The corresponding figure for India is 1200 M³ and this is expected to go down to 720 M³ in the next 10 to 15 years. Thus, many parts of India will soon slide to the water stress threshold of 1000 M³ per capita per annum in the next few years.

Experts estimate that of the 400 million hectare meters (m.ha.m) of India's annual rainfall, 50% becomes immediately unavailable due to
runoff and evaporation as the rainfall is mostly confined to the monsoon seasons and is not distributed evenly over the entire year. Of the remaining 50%, about 110 m.ha.m alone is the available utilizable potential. By AD 2010, demand for freshwater would reach almost 105 m.ha.m. which would leave little cushion for comfort.

The above facts and projections point to the need for taking urgent steps to conserve water. Agriculture accounts for 87% of today's water demand and would still be close to 80% by 2010. Economy in water use in agriculture would go a long way in releasing water for other sectors. For this to happen, the wasteful irrigation practices of today should give way to improved irrigation techniques, new cropping patterns to suit water availability and calibrated irrigation tariffs to reflect the scarcity of water.

Traditional water harvesting methods such as construction of lakes, tanks, ponds, check-dams and afforestation of catchment areas have an important role to play in water conservation both in rural and urban areas. One conservationist referred to these methods as the 'Dying Wisdom' of the country. These need to be revived. It cannot be anybody's claim that these traditional methods can replace the modern gigantic river valley projects. Such a claim would be preposterous. What needs to be realized is that small solutions answering limited local needs have a place in the overall water conservation strategy of the country. Projects, big and small, need to coexist.

Even industrial and domestic uses offer considerable scope for economy in water requirements. Changes in process technologies like conversion of wet process cement manufacture to the dry process, water recycling and reuse can bring about dramatic changes in the freshwater needs of the industry.

Yet another problem with water is its quality. Water pollution is an all-pervading issue in the country. According to a World Bank study, 58% of the annual environment related costs in India is accounted for by surface water pollution. The plethora of diseases which water pollution gives rise to is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in India. About 30 million Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs, a measure of earnings foregone due to loss of man-hours of work and premature deaths) is the cost of inaction in not improving water quality in India.

Poor water quality is the result of industrial and domestic pollution. While two thirds of untreated effluents flowing into our rivers emanate from municipal sources, half the pollutant load is contributed by industry. Control of water pollution caused by industry and municipal sources is the prime need of the hour. Here again, a variety of measures need to be adopted ranging from command and control measures like regulating release of effluents, monitoring ambient water quality, imposing penalties on defaulters and above all, fixing a proper price for water supplied to industrial and domestic consumers. There is ample scope for rationalizing present water charges. Creating water markets and privatisation of the water industry are possibilities considered abroad for effecting economy in water use and improving water quality. One may hear of such proposals in India also soon.

To be continued in the next issue...