India’s water resources – India's Water Crisis

Industries with the Highest Water Consumption

Raisin George — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 22:32:29 +0000

March 22 is celebrated as World Water Day, a day to emphasize the significance of water and its conservation. The 2023 theme by the United Nations is “Accelerating Change to Address the Water and Sanitation Crisis.” Despite global efforts, challenges in the water cycle are impeding progress on various fronts such as health, hunger, gender equality, education, and industry. In 2015, the world committed to Sustainable Development Goal 6, aiming for safely managed water and sanitation for all by 2030. However, we are lagging behind this goal, with billions of people lacking access to safe water and sanitation facilities. This challenge demands collective action from governments, institutions, and individuals alike.

Water Scarcity: A Global Issue

Although 71% of Earth’s surface is covered with water, only 3% is freshwater, essential for survival. Most of this freshwater is trapped in glaciers, polar ice caps, the atmosphere, and soil, leaving just 0.5% accessible for use. Consequently, two-thirds of the global population lives in areas with freshwater access issues. Water scarcity affects every continent, with 1.1 billion people lacking access to water. By 2025, nearly half of the global population might face water shortages, and by 2040, almost a quarter of all children could live in regions experiencing extreme water pressure. This crisis is exacerbated by climate change, population growth, and land-use changes.

Water Consumption by Industry (billion cubic meters/year)

Industry	Water Consumption (billion cubic meters/year)
Agriculture	2920
Fashion	79
Energy	52
Meat	1460
Beverage	746
Mining and Quarrying	16
Construction	14
Car Manufacturing	148

Industries with the Highest Water Consumption

Various industries significantly contribute to water consumption. Here are some of the major water-consuming industries:

1. Agriculture

Agriculture uses 70% of the world’s freshwater, with Europe requiring 44% for this sector. Water is essential for irrigation, fertilizer and pesticide application, crop cooling, and frost control. The sector is also a major source of water pollution due to the use of fertilizers and insecticides. Thirsty crops include wheat, corn, rice, cotton, and sugarcane. Nuts, particularly those grown in water-stressed regions, also demand significant water.

Agriculture uses 2920 billion cubic meters of water per year. This is equivalent to the volume of water used to fill over 1.16 million Olympic-sized swimming pools every year.

2. Fashion Industry

The fashion industry uses 79 billion cubic meters of freshwater annually, making it the second most water-consuming industry. Cotton, the primary material in clothes, has a high water demand. Producing one pair of jeans requires 7,000 liters of water, while a T-shirt needs 2,700 liters.

The fashion industry uses 79 billion cubic meters of water per year. This amount of water could produce approximately 11.3 billion pairs of jeans, enough for every person on Earth to own at least one pair.

3. Energy Industry

Global energy production consumes approximately 52 billion cubic meters of freshwater annually, primarily for cooling processes in power plants. Fossil fuel and nuclear power plants are major consumers, along with bioenergy crops like sugarcane and rapeseed, which require large water quantities.

The energy industry consumes 52 billion cubic meters of water per year. This is enough water to supply the annual water needs of 172 million people, assuming an average consumption of 300 liters per day per person.

4. Meat Industry

Animal products such as meat, dairy, and eggs have higher environmental impacts, including water use, compared to fruits and vegetables. Meat production, closely linked to agriculture, uses one-third of freshwater consumed in agriculture. Beef is the most water-intensive food, with 15,000 liters needed to produce 1 kilogram, followed by other meats and dairy products.

Meat production uses 1460 billion cubic meters of water per year. The water used to produce 1 kilogram of beef (15,000 liters) is enough for one person to take a daily shower for almost four months.

5. Beverage Industry

The Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable reported that 19 companies used 746 billion liters of water in 2017. This figure represents only the water used in production processes, excluding water needed for cultivating ingredients and packaging. Producing one liter of soda requires 350 liters of water, while one liter of beer needs 155 liters.

The beverage industry uses 746 billion liters of water per year. The water needed to produce 1 liter of soda (350 liters) is enough to meet the daily drinking water needs of one person for nearly a year.

6. Construction, Mining, and Car Industries

In Europe, the mining and quarrying industry consumes about 4% of water, and the construction industry uses around 3.4%. Producing a car requires approximately 148,000 liters of water, a tire needs 2,000 liters, a ton of cement requires over 5,100 liters, and a ton of steel needs almost 235,000 liters.

The mining and quarrying industry consumes 16 billion cubic meters of water per year. This amount of water is equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 53 million people.

The construction industry uses 14 billion cubic meters of water per year. Producing one ton of cement (5,100 liters) requires enough water to fill about 2,550 large bathtubs.

Car manufacturing consumes 148 billion liters of water per year. The water needed to produce one car (148,000 liters) could supply drinking water for one person for almost 405 years.

Water is an invaluable resource, and understanding its consumption is crucial. World Water Day offers an opportunity for companies to reassess their consumption patterns and set environmental targets.

“Access to clean water changes everything; it’s a stepping-stone to development.” – Kathryn Reid, 2020, ‘Global water crisis: Facts, FAQs, and how to help’, World Vision

Understanding the Crisis

Raisin George — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 17:18:29 +0000

The documentary delves into various aspects of the water crisis, including:

Health Impacts: Reduced water intake and contamination have severe effects on health, leading to diseases such as gastroenteritis and kidney stones.
Economic Disparities: While the affluent can afford clean water and filtration systems, the poor struggle to access even basic necessities.
Governance and Management: Poor governance and mismanagement exacerbate the crisis, with policies often failing to address the root causes.
Sustainable Practices: Innovations like rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge are crucial for mitigating the crisis.

The Dire Statistics

According to the 2018 Composite Water Management Index report by the National Institution for Transforming India, India is facing the worst water crisis in its history. Approximately 600 million people experience high to extreme water stress. Inadequate access to safe water is estimated to cause 200,000 deaths annually.

Yale University’s 2022 unsafe drinking water index ranked India 141 out of 180 countries. Nearly 70 percent of India’s water is contaminated. By 2030, India’s water demand is projected to be double the amount available, as reiterated by the Interconnected Disaster Risks Report in October 2023. The potential scarcity would affect millions and adversely impact the country’s GDP.

The Importance of Groundwater

Groundwater is vital for India’s agriculture, industry, and population needs. It is a primary irrigation source, crucial for food security. In rural areas, groundwater is a primary source of drinking water through community wells and boreholes. Industries depend on it, particularly where surface water is scarce. Despite its significance, groundwater over-extraction poses challenges, emphasising the importance of sustainable management to ensure its long-term availability.

India has 18 percent of the world’s population but only 4 percent of its water resources, making it among the most water-stressed countries. The average per capita water availability for 2031 has been assessed to be 1367 cubic meters. Per capita annual freshwater availability in 2021 was lower than the Falkenmark Water Stress Indicator threshold.

Around 30 percent of India’s freshwater is stored as groundwater, mostly in aquifers — bodies of permeable rock and sediment — below the Earth’s surface. With more than 60 percent of irrigated agriculture and 85 percent of drinking water supplies dependent on it, groundwater is a vital resource.

Withdrawing water from aquifers causes a reduction in the water table. Conversely, the water table can be elevated by rainwater, snowmelt, rivers, and other surface water inputs.

Strategies for Groundwater Management

There are three main approaches to address groundwater depletion. The first is community-based management of groundwater. The second aims to replenish groundwater levels by reassessing crop patterns and spatial management. The third approach centres on the adoption of water-efficient technologies, such as water-efficient pump sets and technological innovations, like drip and sprinkler irrigation systems.

State electricity boards across India face financial losses. The relationship between electricity and irrigation contributes to this challenge. Output subsidies exert pressure, which leads to heightened electricity demand in agriculture. Farmers are incentivised to extract groundwater for the more lucrative, and equally more water-intensive, crops. Additionally, cross-subsidisation has substantially increased industrial power tariffs over the last decade.

It is crucial to promote a shift in crop patterns towards less water-intensive options, like millets. In the early 20th century, Indian households consumed smaller quantities of rice and wheat, with millets being popular choices. Yet over time, easier production and increased availability have steered households towards consuming more rice and wheat.

Managed aquifer recharge techniques are widely employed to replenish reservoir spaces with surplus fresh water. Common methods include recharging shafts, checking dams, and utilising previously unused dug wells. India must take the lead in adopting these techniques.

The country is prone to annual flooding in certain regions. The Indian Rivers Inter-link, a proposed large-scale civil engineering endeavour, aims to connect Indian rivers through reservoirs and canals. By connecting Indian rivers, the project should enhance irrigation, promote groundwater recharge, mitigate persistent floods, and address water shortages.

The Ken-Betwa River Linking project has received parliamentary approval, though it will necessitate significant time and funding before results become apparent. Quicker approval for smaller river link projects in northern India is feasible.

Communities must take active steps to recharge water, change crop patterns, and adopt a comprehensive and holistic approach to preserving soil and water. There is an immediate need for an educational program that addresses the perils of groundwater depletion and discusses local solutions for increasing the water tables.

Government Policies and Their Impact

Raisin George — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 17:31:03 +0000

In India, the government offers agricultural power subsidies equivalent to 85 percent of the average supply cost to promote agricultural production and foster economic growth, particularly among impoverished rural communities. Some states, like Andhra Pradesh, provide free electricity.

Output subsidies in India, guaranteeing crop purchase above market rates, have significantly contributed to the depletion of water tables. These policies have resulted in a 30 percent overproduction of water-intensive crops, with the state of Punjab experiencing a 63 percent decline in groundwater tables due to rice procurement. In Madhya Pradesh, wheat procurement between 2007–2016 led to a 5.3 percent increase in dry wells and a 3.4 percent increase in deep tubewells.

In India, 70–80 percent of irrigation-dependent farmers rely on groundwater. There is a correlation between intensive irrigation — often powered by free or highly subsidised electricity — and increased income for farmers.

The government’s 2017 Central Ground Water Board report identified 1499 units in six states as ‘overexploited’ or ‘critical’. The findings highlight the danger of dependence on groundwater and environmental challenges caused by agricultural practices.

To tackle declining groundwater levels, the government must reassess power and water subsidies and implement a targeted program addressing the groundwater recharge problem, especially in the northern regions of India where aquifers are drying up.

India’s water resources – India's Water Crisis

Industries with the Highest Water Consumption

Water Scarcity: A Global Issue

Water Consumption by Industry (billion cubic meters/year)

Industries with the Highest Water Consumption

1. Agriculture

2. Fashion Industry

3. Energy Industry

4. Meat Industry

5. Beverage Industry

6. Construction, Mining, and Car Industries

Understanding the Crisis

The Dire Statistics

The Importance of Groundwater

Strategies for Groundwater Management

Government Policies and Their Impact

Annual Reports