Anybody who can solve the problems of water will be worth two Nobel prizes – one for peace and one for science. – John F Kennedy.
Water Management has become a concept of grave importance. If facts are to be referred, about 2/3rd of the world population faces water scarcity at least once a month, every year. This amounts to around 4 billion individuals. Similarly, over two billion people living in different countries do not have access to enough water supplies. Undoubtedly, these figures are highly alarming. Thus, it has become important for us, and especially our youth, to take note of the current scenario and work towards preserving and ensuring optimum usage of the ever-depleting and overtly exploited water resources.
Source – https://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/scarcity.shtml
Overlook Water Management & Face These Repercussions in the Future!
Before we turn our attention to the concept of water management, we believe it is important to understand the repercussions that future generations will face if this area is overlooked.
- With the onset of 2025, half of the world’s population could be living under water scarcity.
- The year 2030 is likely to affect 700 billion people by putting them at the risk of intense water scarcity.
- 10 years hence, that is in 2040, every 1 out of 4 children across the globe will have to live in areas that are under extreme water stress.
What is Water Management?
Let us begin by understanding the gambit of water management.
When water resources go unnoticed and out of control, they are likely to damage life and property. Hence, every step taken in the direction of controlling the movement of water resources to prevent damage and maximize its utility is termed water management.
Water management passes through different phases, which are planning, developing, distributing, and ensuring optimum utilization of water resources. Moreover, water management activities are carried out keeping in mind, the pre-defined water policies and regulations.
Good water management helps to deal with disturbing calamities such as floods, which end up putting life and valuables of thousands of people at risk.
It is important to note that water, which was once an abundantly available natural resource, is today fast depleting. This is mainly because of drought-like conditions and excessive use. This is why we, at Tribhuvan College, one of the leading environmental science colleges in Delhi NCR, firmly believe that it is indeed vital to educate the youth about the rising need for managing water resources while preventing wastage. To prepare the youth to make well-informed decisions in favor of Mother Nature, we, at Tribhuvan College, have introduced a four-year Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Environmental Science, and Water Management.
The basic structure of this course revolves around educating the leaders of tomorrow, i.e., today’s youth, about the various techniques and technologies, which will help in managing water resources in the most effective ways.
Ongoing Challenges in Water Management
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Impact of Climate Change:
To a great extent, it has become rather difficult to manage water resources because of the ever-changing and disturbed climatic conditions. It is a known fact that the Earth’s average temperature is ever rising. To add to these woes, the glaciers are fast shrinking, while there is a steady change in the patterns of precipitation.
These occurrences have a direct impact on water management as they increase the likelihood of droughts and floods. Hence, for starters, it is crucial to bring climatic changes under control by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
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Poor Regulatory Framework:
Water management activities need to be carried out under the purview of the pre-laid regulatory framework. However, all efforts made in this direction have failed to see a logical conclusion mainly because of the poor regulatory framework.
Moreover, in the absence of an on-point legal framework, it has become difficult for the presiding authorities to effectively regulate, control, and allocate water resources effectively.
What adds to the complexity of this framework are policies linked to the various Environment Plans that have been unveiled in this regard, such as the Wastewaters and Drainage Management Plans.
This framework puts forth highly unrealistic alignment timeframes. Water management companies also face challenges in the form of the inability to meet their actual water management goals. This is because these goals conflict with the many objectives highlighted by the various government bodies that form such frameworks. At Tribhuvan College, a renowned environmental science college in Delhi NCR it is this area that receives attention from our Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Environmental Science, and Water Management program. This program helps students understand the importance of developing concrete and transparent water management frameworks.
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Underutilized Irrigation Potential:
Irrigation activities have been encouraged because they reduce the impact of climate change on food production. Likewise, they prevent contamination of groundwater as well. However, most importantly, these activities help to prevent the wastage of water. This is because by implementing the practice of irrigation in farming activities, it becomes possible to supply water directly to the crops. Hence, spillage of water is eliminated on the land surrounding the crop.
Moreover, in the presence of irrigation, water loss resulting from evaporation and distribution can also be contained. Hence, it is clear that irrigation assists water management efforts.
Despite the many advantages that irrigation brings to the area of water management, the optimum potential of this activity isn’t being utilized as of date. Thus, it has become mandatory to encourage farmers to take to irrigation and do their bit for the environment.
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Subsidized Water Pricing:
It would not be wrong to claim that water management efforts have gone for a toss mainly due to the subsidized water prices. This is particularly true concerning water for agricultural activities.
This has, in turn, posed a challenge to carry out water management practices without much of a hustle.
As an urban consumer, you are always under the radar. You are forced to shell out a fat sum. This is towards the amount of water that you utilize. This is mainly because of excess use of water as also wastages. Likewise, over the years, the water quality has deteriorated. This has made it mandatory for authorities to carry-out thorough water processing before the water reaches the final consumer.
If you wish to avoid paying heavily towards the water that is being consumed by you and also be an active participant in the area of guarding water wastages, then you need to both, directly and indirectly, contribute towards the water management efforts.
At Tribhuvan College, the aim is to develop an understanding of natural resource management among the youth as it is them who have the potential to change the future of water management initiatives for the better.
How to Improve Water Management?
By 2050, the water demand is projected to grow at a rate of 55%. Between 2050 and 2100, a drought-like condition has been predicted. Taking into consideration these possibilities, the need of the hour is to focus our attention on improving the overall water management efforts.
One of the primary measures to take would be to restore water bodies. Similarly, the focus should be diverted on improving the situation of groundwater. Moreover, it would help to improve recharge to the groundwater system. Simultaneously, it is significant to decrease discharge from the groundwater system.
For sustainable water management, the volume of groundwater in storage needs to be changed based on the time scales.
These are some of the go-to ways in which efforts to improve water management can be spearheaded.
Water Management – Measures for the Future
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Develop Harmony between Demand & Supply:
It is a known fact that the available freshwater sources are not sufficient to meet consumption needs both residential and commercial. Moreover, a lack of balance between the demand and supply parameters is posing a challenge.
Hence, the future should focus on sustainable development with a focus on preventing the depletion of water resources. This is equally important to guard against widespread environmental degradation.
The best way of finding a middle ground is by altering the pattern of demand or by introducing new sources of supply. Both these alternatives can be applied simultaneously as well. Steps in this direction will help reduce water wastages and increase the efficiency of water usage.
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Focus on Water Conservation:
To meet the objectives of water management, it is of primary importance to focus on water conservation. To get a clearer picture, it is mandatory to measure per capita water consumption in three sectors, namely urban, agricultural, and industrial.
By working in this area, the water management goal of maintaining the quality of water gets ticked. This will help to safeguard people from all kinds of health hazards. In addition, it would also serve as a major step to protecting the environment.
With water conservation on priority, food security can be rightly taken care of. Hence, water conservation must be viewed as a prerequisite to attain a desirable outcome concerning water management.
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Lay Importance on Policy Formulation:
For water management to be possible under the realm of reality, policy formulation must be viewed deeply. Many a time, entities are unable to stick around with their water management programs, primarily because the laid down policies conflict with the actual requirements.
Thus, authorities need to take note of the same and include relevant individuals in the panel that is responsible for drafting water management-based policies and plans.
Once it becomes possible to operate within the available outline, it is not far till water management goals hit the bull’s eye.
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Watershed Management:
At Tribhuvan College, ranked among the best environmental science colleges in Delhi NCR, we believe that we will be in a good position to take a step ahead in the direction of water management if we turn our attention to watershed management. This for sure is likely to act as a pillar in all the water management efforts directed for the future.
Source – https://www.teachoo.com/
With watershed management, it would become possible to focus on the sustainable distribution of water resources. In fact, this concept has gained attention and importance, mainly because it helps to control the pollution of water in the watershed.
This is not it! Watershed management plays an equally pivotal role in highlighting the different kinds of pollutants present in the watershed, determining ways in which the pollutants make an entry, and also coming up with ways to reduce or eliminate the presence of these pollutants inside the watershed. Thus, if you are interested in reaching your water management goals, you must consider watershed management.
At Tribhuvan College, we introduce students to different areas that influence water management through our Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Environmental Science, and Water Management program. Through this course, a different level of learning about natural resources and the environment is imparted to students.
Concluding Words – Support Water Management!!
Water surely seems like an abundant resource to most of us. However, the reality is that water has gradually turned into a limited one. Hence, it is high time we think about it and relook at our actions.
Today, less than 1% of fresh water is available for human consumption. Not to forget, the overall content of freshwater is in itself very less on Earth. Thus, if no measures are taken to carry out water management activities, it is likely to affect the food supply and also limit the amount of clean water available to the human race.
It shouldn’t be a surprise by now that water scarcity can threaten ecosystems worldwide. Thus, it has become necessary to take corrective action at an individual level and support the efforts of authorities in meeting water management goals.
In an attempt to prepare today’s youth to contribute in the area of water management, we, at Tribhuvan College, have rolled out a Bachelors in Ecology, Environmental Science, and Water Management program. One highlight of this 4 year-long course is that apart from imparting theoretical knowledge, this program aims to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students. Likewise, the student tours and seminars, which are a part of this program, help add to the student’s knowledge bank concerning the field of environmental management.
Join the Bachelors in Ecology, Environmental Science, and Water Management program at Tribhuvan College and take your first step in the direction of doing your bit for your surroundings. After all, as Leonardo da Vinci had once said, “Water is the driving force of all nature” – A step forward in the direction of water management directly means a step taken towards environmental management!