Do you know India has 18% of the world’s population against only 4% of water resources? This makes our nation one of the water-stressed countries on this globe, which is what we understand as a water crisis in alternate words.

Every year lakhs of lives are lost due to consumption of contaminated water. This means even the available water is not 100% safe for use and consumption.

Moreover, as you all know, survival without water is next to impossible. This is why we at the Tribhuvan College, one of the renowned environmental science colleges in Neemrana, have been taking active steps toward educating our students about ensuring the mindful use of water. It is worth mentioning that we encourage our students to create awareness about this alarming issue in their circle as well. Let us now look at the causes, consequences, and solutions associated with the nationwide water crisis.

Causes of Water Crisis:

We have observed that one of the central reasons behind India being struck by the water crisis is the overexploitation of water. Similarly, social dynamics also act as a perpetrator, indirectly leading to the water crisis.

Now, we all are well aware of the rapid rate at which the population of our country is growing. Water resources are unable to take this additional stress, which again sows seeds for the most undesirable water crisis.

There was a time when we learned about the Earth’s cover being clad 70% by water. However, rising environmental concerns, such as pollution, poor waste management, and heavy industrialization, have led to this fact becoming a thing of the past. The only reality we know of today is the dreaded water crisis, which needs to be acknowledged and addressed on an immediate basis.

From the rural to the urban population, the ongoing water crisis is known to impact not just agriculture but the ecosystem as well.

Consequences of the Water Crisis:

We have just read about the many causes that tend to trigger the water crisis issue. Now that we know the problem exists, zeroing in on a solid solution becomes necessary. To make sure that collective and corrective action is taken immediately, it is necessary for us to look at the consequences of ignoring the impact of the ongoing water crisis.

Firstly, the water crisis is sure to impact survival on this planet. Without access to safe and clean drinking water, it will be difficult for life on Earth to sustain and thrive. A situation may arise where humans will be left with no option but to consume contaminated water. This, in turn, will create an epidemic, which will occur in the form of waterborne diseases like typhoid, diarrhea, and cholera. 

Not to forget the sanitation problems that the lack of water accessibility can create. Just imagine the impact of 2.4 billion people going without water, even to fulfill the most basic sanitary needs.

Also, a situation may arise where people will have to shell out money just to get access to little water for day-to-day use. Leading a normal life under such circumstances will be next to impossible. This is one of the many reasons why we at Tribhuvan College strongly believe that it is important to work on and reverse the water crisis as early as possible.

Solutions to Prevent Water Crisis:

Now that we have understood that the water crisis issue exists, we need to come up with feasible and realistic solutions to tackle this hurdle.

One of the first steps to take is for every individual to be mindful of the water he/she uses regularly. One must attempt to reduce the pressure he/she ends up putting on the water system.

At a more advanced level, households and authorities can join hands to put the following solutions into play:

• Water Conservation
• Water Reuse
• Desalination
• Rainwater Harvesting
• Building of dams and reservoirs

In a country like India, where agriculture is a primary occupation, water dependency is on the higher side, which can again be reduced by opting for improved farming practices.

Similarly, having improved sewage systems is also believed to play a crucial role in managing the water crisis. Last, but not the least, we cannot but underline the importance of education and awareness in the area of water crisis so as to curb the impact of this life-threatening concern.

At Tribhuvan College, we believe it all comes down to genuine, collective effort.

Summing Up:

All this while, if you have been living under the impression that come what may, you will always have access to an unlimited supply of water, you need to snap yourself back into reality.

We at the Tribhuvan College, being one of the renowned environmental science colleges, have been closely observing the impact man-made activities are creating on the environment. Water management is no exception.

In the current scenario, there is not just a shortage of water, but the available water is unsafe for consumption too. Thus, it has become mandatory to recognize the water crisis just in time and take the necessary steps. We would hence like to urge each of you to please try your bit towards water conservation so that we can together defeat the problem of water crisis before the matter gets out of our hands.