Water Consumption in Karnataka Semi-Arid Region - Case Study Example

The Running Head: Water Provisions   Your name:   Course name:             Professors’ name: Date: Introduction Water provision and management in semi-arid areas can be recognized to be one of the major challenges (Baumgartner, 2004), and is often linked with development issues in developing nations. Most farmers in these nations are small scale farmers holding between 2 to 4 Hectares and they cannot afford to pay for powered irrigation, and they heavily depend on rain to water their crops; livelihoods of the poor are unstable by nature (Nair,1992). This is according to study conducted in semi-arid region in Karnataka, India. Farming is the backbone of Karnataka semi-arid region, and approximately 52 per cent of the populations earn their living by working on their farms or are agricultural laborers. The drought which happened in the year 2000 has shows how this region is dependant to water; the severest impact was loss of livelihoods and livestock, and majority of communities were displaced (Baumgartner, 2004). Problem statements Water consumption in Karnataka semi-arid region has increased, the underground water is being depleted, while severe drought experienced in this region cause more and more famine; further degrading the livelihood of already impoverished populations. It is acknowledged that 20 million people in this region live without satisfactory access to clean drinking water and many people yearly are losing lives due to water borne diseases such as diarrhea. Experts predict that conflicts in these regions are likely to be revolving around access to water resources. It has been noted that 40 per cent of water for agriculture in this region is lost through evaporation, spills or absorption by the deeper layers of the soil, and this is beyond the reach of plants roots. Various projects can be employed to increase the water availability in these semi-arid areas (Nair,1992). Water reuse This method of water provision is recognized to be one of effective method to increase water provision in semi-arid regions or in places where availability of water is scarce (Middlebrooks, 1985). These systems of water reuse are based on reclaiming water that has been used for bathing is used in toilets for flushing or in field for irrigation. Waste water reuse contributes the following: it improves efficiency of water consumption, it prevents water resource degradation and it contributes to the development of new water sources. Waste water reuse usually will provide alternative sources of water; also it reduces pollution to the environment because there is less wastewater discharged. Moreover waste water reuse in farming and industries will enable efficient use of freshwater, because most of irrigations in this region are using fresh water to irrigate their farms. In urban areas, they should employ a recycling system that will deal with reuse water, and this will play a bigger role for controlling water consumptions and it will also reduce pollution to the environment. The water used different activities such as fire-fighting, car washing and garden irrigations, need not have the quality as high as that of drinking or cooking water. Treatment of waste water by filtration and disinfections should be used for non-portable purposes in these regions, such places as toilets flushing in business, homes or commercial places. The use of greywater will therefore be highly cost effective solution for water scarcity in semi- arid regions which receives small amount of rain, various studies shows that reusing greywater will result in a 60 per cent increase in water availability in these semi-arid regions (Middlebrooks, 1985). . Rainwater harvesting It is important for the region to start storing large amount during monsoon rains- wet seasons- for use at a later time, for the purpose of domestic usage and in their farms (Kinkade-Levario, 2007). Rain will be collected from various sources, also some systems can be employed to harvest rainwater; example of such system is situ, this is whereby low lying areas in Karnataka region is used to harvest and store rainwater; rainwater collected from the ground, sometimes from areas which are especially prepared for this purpose, is called Stormwater harvesting. In some instance where the monsoon rain has taken long to fall, rainwater harvesting may be the only available for both domestic and agricultural usage. These systems for harvesting rain are simple to construct, and inexpensive local materials can be used, and there have been many success in most habitable locations, rooftop rainwater can be of good quality and may not required to be treated, if it will be used for consumption. Although in some areas, rainwater harvested from rooftops or sidewalks may be harmful to both human beings and animal’s health, such water can be used in flushing toilet, irrigations or washing cars. The following are some of advantages of rainwater harvesting; minimal labor is required is construction of these systems, furrows can be constructed before and after planting; this will offer flexibility in implementation, water harvesting will allow better utilization of rain for irrigation and domestic usage, and lastly, rainwater harvesting is compatible with farming best management practices (Kinkade-Levario, 2007). Ground water Underground water is the water that infiltrate down the surface soil into the pore spaces of rocks. Groundwater will provide moisture for plants, and sometimes they can be source of stream and lakes (Chilton, 2005). Ground water is part of water reserves for agricultural sectors and for urban water supply, but in Karnataka semi-arid region, this supply sector is largely untapped. The water table will indicate the level at which water is found in the ground- will rise and fall- and this will depend on the water penetration down the ground when the rain falls, and at same time the amount of water being pulled out from the water table, in spite of irrigation in Karnataka semi-arid region, groundwater has been under-exploited. Ground water will be a source of high-quality drinking water for communities living in Karnataka semi-arid region, and this water can be used in irrigating farms, thus it will increase the value of land and plants in many parts of Karnataka semi-arid region. Also an aquifer- this is a porous substrate layer that contains and transmits groundwater- can be used as a source of clean water. The characteristics of aquifers will vary with the geology and structure of the soil or rocks, water coming out of aquifer in Karnataka region can be taped and used for both irrigation and domestic purposes (Chilton, 2005). Dams constructions Karnataka region depend largely on water from monsoon rains, at moment there are some worrying facts about the water situation particularly in the world and specifically in India. The effect of climate change are being all over and this has affected Indian subcontinent; the effect of this is there has been an increase temperature levels and the weather pattern in Karnataka region has been widely been affected. Agriculture based projects which are found in Karnataka region are dependent on regular monsoon rain, this is called for worry because since climatic change, there has been no adequate and reliable water supplies to support these projects. Therefore major dam projects should be initiated for both domestic usage and agricultural irrigation in Karnataka semi-arid region (Schuyler, 1982). The amount of water usage in this region has quadrupled since the 90’s, this is as a result of increase in settlements which have huge requirement for water and they will depend on dams for water supply. Therefore, the use of dam water will therefore be highly cost effective solution for water scarcity in semi- arid regions which receives small amount of rain, various studies shows that dam water will result in a 60 per cent increase in water availability in these semi-arid regions (Schuyler, 1982). Conclusion There are large varieties of advanced technologies that will help people in semi-arid areas to be able and manage well their water resources, and should be employed. Technology such as: remote sensing technology that will give more access to hidden water resources, while progress in environmental engineering will enable people in semi-arid areas to recycle already used and waste water in this areas. Also technology such as desalination, the use of solar energy for water lifting from boreholes is a dream no more, this is because it will help in water provision in this areas. Woman in these semi-arid regions are the ones suffering the most due to lack of access of clean drinking water; they carry a disproportionately high burden in transporting water in semi-arid lands, therefore, it is important to combine income-generating projects for women with an improved access to clean drinking water, and this will bring extra income to women who are affected with lack of clean drinking water, at same time it will improve gender relations. Bibliographies Baumgartner, R. In search of sustainable livelihood systems: managing resources and change. London: Sage Publications, 2004. Chilton, J. Developing groundwater: a guide for rural water supply. New York: ITDG Pub., 2005. Kinkade-Levario, H. Design for water: rainwater harvesting, stormwater catchment, and alternate water reuse. New York: New Society Publishers, 2007. Middlebrooks, E.J. Water reuse, Volume 1. New York: Ann Arbor Science Publishers, 1982. Nair,V.B. Ecology, development, and population problem: perspectives from India, China and Australia. Michigan: B.R. Pub. Corp., 1992. Schuyler, J. Reservoirs for irrigation, water-power, and domestic water-supply: with an account of various types of dams and the methods, plans and cost of their construction. Michigan: Wiley & sons Publisher, 1982. Read More