Water resourse

Fresh water:
96.5 per cent of the total volume of world’s water is estimated to
exist as oceans and only 2.5 per cent exists as fresh water. 70 per
cent of the fresh water occurs as ice sheets and glaciers in
Antarctica, Greenland and the mountainous regions of the world.
Less than 30 per cent is stored as groundwater in the world’s
acquirers. Fresh water is mainly obtained from surface run off
and ground water. This is continually being renewed and
recharged through the hydrological cycle. All the water moves
within the hydrological cycle making water a renewable
resource.

Three fresh water sources are:

Precipitation—from rainfall; Surface water—in rivers, lakes,
etc.; Ground water—water stored in underground acquirers
which gets recharged by rainfall.

Water scarcity:
Water scarcity means shortage of water. It is usually associated
with regions having low rainfall or drought prone areas.

There are many other reasons which lead to scarcity of water:

Large growing population; In the agricultural sector, water
resources are being over-exploited to expand irrigated areas and
dry- season agriculture; More water required for irrigation
purposes to facilitate higher food production, i. e., for doing
multiple cropping and for HYV seeds; There is greater demand
for water with growing urbanization and industrialization; An
unequal access to water among different social groups; The
quality of water is deteriorating, i.e., getting polluted by
domestic and industrial wastes, chemical fertilizers and
pesticides used in agriculture; Excessive use of water by
industries which also require water to generate hydro-electric
power to run them; and Over exploitation of water in the urban
areas.

Adverse effects of over-exploitation of ground water resources:

 Pumping out more water from under the ground may lead to
falling ground water levels.
 It will adversely affect water availability.
 This, in turn, will affect our agriculture and food security of
the people.
 Impoverishment of water resources may adversely affect the
ecological cycle.
Main causes of water pollution:
Domestic wastes, especially urban sewers; industrial wastes are
disposed off in the water without proper treatment; chemical
effluents from industries and from agricultural sector; and many
human activities, e.g., religious rituals and immersing of idols,
etc. in the water also pollute water.

Measures for water conservation:

 Do not overdraw the ground water, recharge it by techniques

like rainwater harvesting; tapping rainwater in reservoirs,
watershed development programmes, etc.
 Avoid wastage of water at all levels and do not pollute the
water.
  Adopting water conserving techniques of irrigation, e.g.,
drip irrigation and sprinklers etc., especially in dry areas.
A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or
retards the flow, creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment. A
dam is the reservoir and not the whole structure.

Multipurpose river valley projects —’The Temples of Modem

India’:
Jawahar Lai Nehru pro-claimed that multipurpose projects are
‘The Temples of Modem India’, because they were thought of as
the vehicle that would lead the nation to development and
progress. He believed that these projects with their integrated
water resource management approach would integrate
development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid
industrialization and growth of the urban economy.

Advantages:

 They bring water to those areas which suffer from water

scarcity and also provide water for irrigation;
 These projects generate electricity for industries and our
homes;
 They help in controlling floods;
 These projects can be used for recreation, inland navigation
and fish breeding.
Disadavantages:

 Damming of rivers affects their natural flow causing poor

sediment flow;
 Excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir;
  Lack of sediments results in (a) rockier stream bed and (b)
poorer habitat for the rivers aquatic life;
 The reservoirs submerge the existing vegetation and soil,
leading to its decomposition over time;
 They affect the fertility levels of the soil;
 cause large scale displacement of local communities.
Traditional rainwater harvesting methods practiced in different
parts of the country:

 In mountainous areas ‘Guls’ and ‘Kuls’ the diversion

channels were built for agriculture.
 ‘Rooftop rainwater harvesting’ was commonly practiced to
store drinking water, especially in Rajasthan.
 Inundation channels for irrigation were developed in the
flood plains of West Bengal.
 In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were
converted into rain fed storage structures, e.g., ‘Khadins’ in
Jaisalmer and ‘Johads’ in other parts of Rajasthan.
 In semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, particularly in
Bikaner, Phalodi and Banner, all the houses had
underground tanks or ‘tankas’ built inside the house for
storing drinking water. They were a part of the well-
developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system.
‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’:
Narmada Bachao Andolan or Save Narmada Movement is an
NGO that mobilized tribal people, farmers, environmentalists
and human rights activists against the Sardar Sarovar Dam being
built across the Narmada river in Gujarat. The movement
originally focused on environmental issues related to
submerging of trees under the dam water. Recently its aim has
been to enable the displaced poor people to get full rehabilitation
facilities from the government.

Q1. Give some facts and figures about the water resources in the
world.
Answer:

 96.5 per cent of the total volume of world’s water is

estimated to exist as oceans and only 2.5 per cent exists as
fresh water.
 70 per cent of the fresh water occurs as ice sheets and
glaciers in Antarctica, Greenland and the mountainous
regions of the world. Less than 30% is stored as
groundwater in the world’s acquifiers.

Q2. Explain how water becomes a renewable resource?

Answer:

 Fresh water is mainly obtained from surface run off and

ground water. This is continually being renewed and
recharged through the hydrological cycle.
 All the water moves within the hydrological cycle making
water a renewable resource.
Q3. Write three sources of fresh water.
Answer:
Three sources are:

1. Precipitation — from rainfall.

2. Surface water — in rivers, lakes, etc.
3. Ground water — water stored in underground acquifers
which gets recharged by rainfall.

Q4. What is water scarcity? Write the main reasons for water
scarcity. (2015)
Answer:
Water scarcity means shortage of water. It is usually associated
with regions having low rainfall or drought prone areas. There
are many other reasons which lead to scarcity of water.
These are:

1. Large growing population—means more water required for

domestic use and also to produce more food.
2. In the agricultural sector, water resources are being over-
exploited to expand irrigated areas and dry-season
agriculture.
3. More water required for irrigation purposes to facilitate
higher food production, i.e., for doing multiple cropping and
for HYV seeds.
4. There is greater demand for water with growing
urbanisation and industrialisation.
5. An unequal access to water among different social groups.
 6. The quality of water is deteriorating, i.e., getting polluted by
domestic and industrial wastes, chemical fertilizers and
pesticides used in agriculture.
7. Excessive use of water by industries which also require
water to generate hydro-electric power to run them.
8. Over exploitation of water in the urban areas. Housing
societies and colonies have their own ground-water
pumping devices. This causes depletion of fragile water
resources in the cities.

Q5. How intensive industrialisation and urbanisation have posed

a great pressure on existing fresh water resources in India?
Explain with two examples for each. (2012)
Answer:
Intensive industrialisation and urbanisation have put greater
pressure on existing fresh water resources. With the ever
growing number of industries, the demand for water has grown
tremendously:

1. Industries are heavy users of fresh water as water is required

for cooling the machines as well as for the processing of
goods.
2. Also the machines run on the power supplied by the hydel
power plants.
3. 22 percent of the total electricity is hydro-electric power.
4. Rapid urbanisation has led to expansion of industries which
increased the requirement of water.
5. The untreated industrial effluents which are discharged into
water bodies are polluting the water and making it
 hazardous for human consumption. This is responsible for
creating water scarcity.
On the other hand, multiplying urban centres with:

 Large urban populations and

 urban lifestyles have not only added to water and energy
requirements but have further aggravated the problem by
over-drawing the groundwater by using their own
groundwater pumping devices for meeting their water needs
for domestic purposes such as cleaning, cooking, washing,
etc.
Thus, water resources are being over-exploited which has
caused their depletion in several cities.
Q6. Write the adverse effects of over-exploitation of ground
water resources.
Answer:

1. Pumping out more water from under the ground may lead to
falling ground water levels.
2. It will adversely affect water availability.
3. This, in turn, will affect our agriculture and food security of
the people.
4. Impoverishment of water resources may adversely affect the
ecological cycle.

Q7. Write the main causes of water pollution.

Answer:
Water gets polluted by:
 1. Domestic wastes, especially urban sewers.
2. Industrial wastes are disposed off in the water without
proper treatment.
3. Chemical effluents from industries and from agricultural
sector.
4. Pesticides and fertilisers used in agriculture may get washed
into rivers by rain-water and may pollute the water by
enriching it with minerals.
5. Many human activities, e.g., religious rituals and immersing
of idols, etc. in the water also pollute water.
Q8. What is the need for conservation of water resources?
(2015)
Answer:

1. Our water resources are limited and our requirements are

increasing day by day. The water resources are unevenly
distributed.
2. Most of our resources especially in the cities and urban
areas are polluted and unsuitable for drinking and other
purposes.
3. To safeguard ourselves from health hazards.
4. We need to conserve water for the continuation of our
livelihoods and to prevent degradation of our natural
ecosystem. To ensure food security and for continuation of
our livelihoods.
5. For productive activities of the nation.
6. To prevent degradation of our natural ecosystem.

Q9. Write some measures adopted for conservation of water

resources. (2015)
Answer:
Measures for water conservation:

1. Do not overdraw the ground water, recharge the ground

water by techniques like rainwater harvesting.
2. Avoid wastage of water at all levels.
3. Do not pollute the water.
4. Increasing the water resources by tapping the rainwater in
reservoirs, watershed development programmes, etc.
5. Adopting water conserving techniques of irrigation, e.g.,
drip irrigation and sprinklers etc., especially in dry areas.
Sufficient water percolation facilities should be increased to
help in raising the level of the water table.
Q10. What is a dam? Describe the functioning of dams? On
what basis are dams classified into different types?
Answer:
A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or
retards the flow, creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment.
A dam is the reservoir and not the whole structure.
Functioning:
Most dams have a section called spillway or weir over which or
through which, water will flow intermittently or continuously.
Classification:
Dams are classified according to structure, intended purpose or
height.

 According to structure and materials used, they are

classified as timber dams, embankment dams or masonry
dams.
  According to height, they are classified as large and major
dams, low dams, medium height dams and high dams.

Q11. What is the main difference between traditional dams and

modern dams?
Answer:
Traditionally dams were built to impound rivers and rainwater
that could be used later to irrigate the agricultural fields.

Today, dams are referred to as multipurpose projects where

many uses of the impounded water are integrated with one
another. The main purposes served by these projects are
irrigation, electricity generation, flood control, water supply for
domestic and industrial use, fish breeding and tourism.

Q12. Why are multipurpose river valley projects called ‘The

Temples of Modern India’? Who first made this statement?
(2014)
Or
Jawahar Lai Nehru proudly proclaimed the ‘dams as the temples
of modern India’. Analyze this statement. (2013)
Answer:
Jawahar Lai Nehru proclaimed that multipurpose projects are
‘The Temples of Modern India’, because they were thought of
as the vehicle that would lead the nation to development and
progress. He believed that these projects with their integrated
water resource management approach would integrate
development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid
industrialisation and growth of the urban economy.
Dams or multipurpose river valley projects have the following
advantages:

1. They bring water to those areas which suffer from water

scarcity and also provide water for irrigation.
2. These projects generate electricity for industries and our
homes.
3. They help in controlling floods by regulating the water flow.
4. These projects can be used for recreation, inland navigation
and fish breeding.

Q13. ‘Construction of dams on rivers has caused environmental

degradation.’ Give reasons to support this statement. (2015)
Answer:

1. Damming of rivers affects their natural flow causing poor

sediment flow.
2. Excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir.
3. Lack of sediments results in
 rockier stream bed and
 poorer habitat for the river’s aquatic life.

4. Dams also fragment rivers, making it difficult for acquatic

fauna to migrate, especially for spawning.
5. The reservoirs submerge the existing vegetation and soil,
leading to its decomposition over time.
6. Flood plains are deprived of silt and khadar, affecting the
fertility levels of the soil.
7. Construction of dams also faces resistance because of large
scale displacement of local communities.
Q14. Multipurpose projects and dams have been the cause of
many new social movements. Name two such social movements
and write the underlying causes for these movements.
Answer:
Resistance to these projects came from social movements, e.g.,

1. ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ and

2. ‘Tehri Dam Andolan’.
Their major concerns were as follows:
 Initially the environmental concerns were of utmost
importance.
 Dams have resulted in large-scale displacement of local

communities.
3. Local people have to give up their land and livelihood.
4. Local people do not benefit from such projects as they are
even deprived of the local sources on which they have little
control.
5. Many settlements and agricultural lands are submerged
under water.
6. Rehabilitation of the displaced persons is now the prime
concern of these movements.
Q15. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of
multipurpose river valley projects.
Answer:
Advantages:

1. They bring water to those areas which suffer from water

scarcity and also provide water for irrigation.
 2. These projects generate electricity for industries and our
homes.
3. They help in controlling floods by regulating the water flow.
4. These projects can be used for recreation, inland navigation
and fish breeding.
Disadvantages:

1. They have failed to achieve the purpose for which they were
built.
2. The dams that were constructed to control floods have
triggered floods due to sedimentation in the reservoir.
3. The big dams have mostly been unsuccessful in controlling
floods at the time of excessive rainfall.
4. These floods cause extensive soil erosion in addition to loss
of life and property.
5. Sedimentation deprives the flood plains of silt, a natural
fertiliser.
6. It was observed that these projects induced earthquakes.
7. Floods cause water-borne diseases and pests.
8. Results in pollution also.
9. These river valley projects lead to large scale displacement
of people and loss livelihoods.
Q16. Name two multipurpose projects and the rivers on which
they are respectively situated.
Answer:

1. Hirakud Project is situated on river Mahanadi in Orissa, and

2. Bhakra Nangal Project is situated on river Sutlej.
Q17. Give an example of an inter-state water dispute.
Answer:
Krishna-Godavari dispute. The Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
Governments objected to the diversion of more water at Koyna
by the Maharashtra government for a multipurpose project as
this results in reduction of downstream flow to Karnataka and
Andhra Pradesh adversely affecting agriculture and industry in
these States.

Q18.Describe the traditional method of rainwater harvesting

adopted in different parts of India.
Answer:
In ancient India, people developed wide-ranging techniques to
harvest rainwater.

1. In mountainous areas ‘Guls’ and ‘Kuls’ the diversion

channels were built for agriculture.
2. ‘Rooftop rainwater harvesting’ was commonly practised to
store drinking water, especially in Rajasthan.
3. Inundation channels for irrigation were developed in the
flood plains of West Bengal.
4. In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were
converted into rainfed storage structures, eg. ‘Khadins’ in
Jaisalmer and ‘Johads’ in other parts of Rajasthan.
5. In semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, particularly in
Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer, all the houses had
underground tanks or ‘tankas’ built inside the house for
storing drinking water. They were a part of the well-
developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system.
Q19.Explain how rooftop rainwater harvesting in semi-arid
regions of Rajasthan is carried out. (2012)
Or
Write the features of the ’tankas’ built in the houses of Bikaner,
Phalodi and Barmer.
Answer:
‘Rooftop rainwater harvesting’ was commonly practiced to store
drinking water, especially in semi-arid and arid regions like
Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer in Rajasthan.

1. In semi-arid and arid regions, all the houses had

underground tankas or ‘tankas’ for storing drinking water
built inside the house. They were the part of the well-
developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system.
2. The tankas could be as large as a big room. One household
in Phalodi had a tank that was 6.1 metres deep, 4.27 metres
long and 2.44 metres wide.
3. The tankas were built inside the main house or the
courtyard.
4. The tanks were connected to the sloping roofs of the houses
through a pipe. The falling rain would travel down the pipes
and get stored in the underground ‘tankas’. The first spell of
rain would not be collected as it cleaned the roof and pipes.
The rainwater from subsequent showers was collected.
5. Many houses constructed underground rooms adjoining the
tanka to beat the summer heat as it would keep the room
cool.

Q20. Write how modem adaptations of traditional rainwater

harvesting methods are being carried out to conserve and store
water.
Answer:

1. In modem times, rainwater harvesting is done in both rural

and urban areas to recharge the groundwater by capturing
and storing rainwater by constructing structures, e.g.,
dugwells, percolation pits, digging trenches around fields,
etc.
2. Rooftop rainwater harvesting structures are a common
practice in many cities. Rain-water is collected using a PVC
pipe and is filtered using sand and bricks.
3. This water can be stored to meet the household needs
through storage in tanks. This water is readily available for
immediate usage.
4. Excess water or a pipe can be connected to an underground
reservoir which may recharge the ground-water through
hand-pump or through abandoned dugwell. Later, this water
can be drawn for varied uses.
5. Storage tanks/reservoirs are built to store rainwater which is
later used for irrigation purposes.
Question 21.
Give a brief description of the ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’.
Answer:
Narmada Bachao Andolan or Save Narmada Movement is an
NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) that mobilised tribal
people, farmers, environmentalists and human rights activists
against the Sardar Sarovar Dam being built across the Narmada
river in Gujarat.
  The movement originally focussed on environmental issues
related to submerging of trees under the dam water.
 Recently its aim has been to enable the displaced poor
people to get full rehabilitation facilities from the
government.
Question 22.
Which village in Karnataka has earned the distinction of being
rich in rainwater?
Answer:
In Gendathur in Mysore, Karnataka, nearly 200 households have
installed rooftop rainwater harvesting system.

Question 23.
Name the state which has made rooftop rainwater harvesting
compulsory.
Answer:
Tamil Nadu has made rooftop rainwater harvesting structure
compulsory for all houses across the state.

Question 24.
When does water stress occur according to Falken Mark, a
Swedish expert?
Answer:
Water stress occurs when water availability is less than 1000
cubic metre per person per day.

Question 25.
Name the unique irrigation system prevalent in Meghalaya.
Answer:
Bamboo Drip Irrigation System.
Question 26.
Name two states where rooftop rainwater harvesting is common
practice.
Answer:
Shillong, Meghalaya.

Question 27.
What is the present condition of Indian rivers?
Answer:
India’s rivers, especially the smaller ones have turned into toxic
streams. Even the bigger ones like the Ganga and Yamuna are
slowly getting polluted.

Question 28.
Mawsynram is the region of highest rainfall, yet it faces acute
water shortage. Why?
Answer:
Mawsynram faces acute water shortage because the rainwater
harvested is not sufficient to meet the needs of the people.