A threat to society

 The water crisis in India has taken the shape of a ticking time bomb ready to explode soon. The infamous Cauvery dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and the Northern states fighting for the larger parts of Yamuna has already shown us the trailer for an impending ‘water war’. UNESCO has recently predicted an intensified water crisis across the nation by 2050 and at least one in four people is likely to live in a country affected by chronic or recurring shortages of fresh water. Climate change, global conflicts and drying up of natural resources like reservoirs, streams, and rivers will further worsen the situation.

According to the WaterAid report 2016, an estimated 76 million Indians have no access to clean water. About 361,000 children under the age of 5 die due to diarrhoea, caused due to access of clean drinking water, while 270,000 children die as a result of prematurity, that can be prevented through access of clean water. What made India, otherwise resourced with major rivers and freshwater sources face water stress? Presently, more than half of our rivers are heavily polluted. Forget surface water, groundwater has also been contaminated from both metallic contamination and disposal of human excreta. According to reports from the Central Pollution Control Board, 121 to 275 rivers have been declared polluted in the last 5 years, blaming the huge quantities of untreated sewage being dumped by the industries into the rivers.

While there are various reasons for the grim picture that is painted, lack of sensitization political and institutional incompetence and years of mismanagement has led to a crisis of this magnitude and will not be solved with lip service. Strict implementation of laws and it’s monitoring is important. Some of the control measures that can help the situation include:

1. Proper Sewage Treatment: In a way to reduce the pollution level to zero, more advanced engineered cleaning process needs to be undertaken.  Some advance worlds have sewage treatment plants with extra systems for eliminating pathogens and nutrients. India can also emulate this strategy to save its water bodies. Also, continued maintenance including replacement and repair of leaking and faulty sewage processing infrastructure could also be initiated. Another solution could be to ensure on-site pre-treatment of the wastewater before it infiltrates into the soil.
2. Industrial Wastewater Treatment: Reducing the water pollution effects, by the industries require well-designed treatment and water cooling systems. While most industries do follow specialized water treatment systems, many small-scale industries have poorly maintained systems and some entirely lack quality treatment protocols.The installation of pre-treatment facilities and adoption of quality waste treatment protocols can extensively help to eliminate the toxic contaminants.
3. Green Agricultural Practices: Crop rotation, mulching contour plowing and instilling silt fences can minimize the effect of water pollution. Also curtailing the use of excess nutrients application by reducing the potential for phosphates and nitrates pollution can also help in solving the issue. Integrated pest management by farmers can help to manage the impact of pesticides and herbicides.
4. Individual Efforts and Educative Campaigns: There are immeasurable ways individuals and groups can take initiative or educate people about the dangers of water pollution. The need to use waste bins by never throwing garbage at riversides, beaches or water bodies. Also, sensitization for the use of water also reduces the amount of wastewater to require treatment.

Corporates should also come forward in helping communities understand the importance of water. Take initiative through CSR measures of Planting lots of trees and vegetation to reduce water storm currents so that when it rains, sediments and chemicals do not easily drain into the water.

Water is crucial for life to exist on this planet. Escaping rules or misusing this resource would land us into serious trouble. #SaveWaterSaveLife.