Building water security in a rapidly drying India, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• India is experiencing severe water stress, with a significant monsoon rainfall deficit and urban water shortages across cities like Delhi and Bengaluru.
• Research by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) indicates that 11 out of 15 major Indian river basins are water-stressed.
• Several basins, including Krishna, Cauvery, Mahi, and Tapi, are below the water scarcity threshold of 1,000 m3 per person.
• The article proposes four key actions for water security: climate-proofing water systems, enabling water reuse, scaling micro-irrigation, and closing water data gaps.
• India, with 4% of global water resources, supports 18% of the world's population, highlighting inherent water uncertainty.

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Detailed Insights:

• Delhi's water supply has plummeted to about 70% of its total demand of 1,250 million gallons per day due to severe shortages.
• The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) has warned of global water bankruptcy, citing depleted aquifers and polluted river basins.
• While schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana have aided infrastructure, poor upkeep and inadequate wastewater treatment persist.
• Climate-proofing water systems involves granular climate risk assessments, which help prioritize investments in high-risk locations.
• Cities can utilize mechanisms like the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) to finance water risk assessments, as demonstrated by Visakhapatnam.
• Promoting water reuse for non-potable purposes, such as car washing and landscaping, shifts towards a circular water economy.
• The Thane Municipal Corporation is scaling up treated wastewater reuse to reduce its annual freshwater deficit and generate revenue.
• Scaling micro-irrigation systems, including drip and sprinkler technologies, is crucial for efficient water delivery to crops.
• Subsidies for micro-irrigation should be redesigned for small and marginal farmers, using 0.4 hectares as the base unit.
• Farmers need support to transition to low-water, higher-value crops, and low-cost insurance like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana can mitigate risks.
• Closing water data gaps at the river basin level is essential for improved decision-making, efficient allocation, and detecting losses.
• AI-based monitoring and smart bulk water meters, as installed in Delhi and Bhubaneswar, can help detect and measure physical losses in distribution.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Water Stress: A condition where annual water availability falls below 1,700 m3 per person.
• Water Scarcity: A more severe condition where annual water availability drops below 1,000 m3 per person.
• Circular Economy (Water): An approach focused on treating and reusing water for various purposes to minimize freshwater consumption.
• Micro-irrigation: Advanced irrigation techniques like drip and sprinkler systems that deliver water directly to plant roots, enhancing efficiency.