Asian World School

Water Resources
Grade X

The main source of water on earth is the hydrological cycle.

Hydrological Cycle also known as water cycle is the continuous movement of water on, above and below the
surface of earth.

 Water covers nearly 3/4th of the Earth’s surface.

 96.5% of the total water on Earth is in oceans.
 2.5% is freshwater that exists in rivers and glaciers (70% of this occurs as Ice Sheets and Glaciers)
 India receives 4% of the world’s rainfall and it ranks 133 in terms of water availability per person in a
year.

Water Scarcity

Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient available fresh water resources to meet the demands of water usage
within a region.

Q. Explain any four reasons responsible for water scarcity in India.

OR
Q. Give three reasons for water scarcity in post independent India.
OR
Q. How have industrialization and urbanization aggravated water scarcity in India?
1. Growing Population: Growing population is one of the basic factor which is responsible for water
scarcity. Most of our cities are facing this problem due to overpopulation. A large population means
more water not only for domestic use but also to produce more food.
2. Commercialisation of agriculture: After the success of Green Revolution, our farmers are producing
commercial crops. The commercial crops need more water and other inputs. Assured means of
irrigation like tube wells and wells are responsible for the falling groundwater levels.
3. Industrialization: The post independent India witnessed intensive industrialization and urbanization.
The ever increasing number of industries has made matters worse by exerting pressure on the existing
freshwater resources. Industries, apart from being heavy users of water, also require power to run
them. Much of this energy comes from hydroelectric power.
4. Urbanisation: Urbanisation has also aggravated the problem of water scarcity. Most of our cities are
overpopulated. Overpopulation leads to over-utilization of the water resources and also pollutes the
existing resources.
5. Pollution: In India, many places or regions may have sufficient water resources but may still suffer
from water scarcity. This may be because of the deterioration in the quality of drinking water. Disposal
of household and industrial wastes and the use of insecticides and pesticides in agriculture may result
in worsening of the quality of water.
6. Water scarcity also happen due to variation in seasonal and annual precipitation.
 7. Unequal distribution of water resources.

Water Conservation
Water conservation includes all the policies, strategies and activities to sustainably manage the natural
resource of fresh water, to protect the hydrosphere, and to meet the current and future demand.

Q. Why is it essential to conserve and manage our water resources?

1. Precondition for life: wate is necessary for life on earth. It is believed that life originated in water
before it invaded land. Water is in fact a precondition of life.
2. Water is essential for crops: Cultivation of crops depends on the availability of water. Water dissolves
minerals and other nutrients in the ground. The roots of the plants draw this nutrients from the soil.
India is an agricultural country so availability of water is must.
3. Water and industries: Industries need water as coolant, solvent, raw material, energy etc.
4. Water for daily life: Water is also used for drinking and domestic consumption. The growing
urbanization with its modern lifestyle has been demanding greater share of water day by day.
5. Water important component of ecosystem: conservation of water is also important to prevent
degradation of our natural ecosystem.
6. Water scarcity: it is essential to conserve and manage water because its overuse and misuse has led to
water scarcity.

Q. What is rainwater harvesting? What is its importance?

It is a technique of increasing the recharge of ground water by capturing and storing rainwater by
constructing structures such as percolating pits, check dams etc.
Importance:

1. Rainwater harvesting is the need of the hour as demand for water is increasing day by day.
2. Rainwater reduces pressure on existing water resources.
3. It is cheap source of water supply
4. It helps in recharging groundwater.
5. The rain water store is extremely reliable source of drinking water when all other sources are dried
up.

Q. Explain the Roof-Top Rainwater Harvesting technique.

 Rainwater is collected in underground tanks connected to the rooftop through PVC pipes.
 Collected water is filtered using sand and bricks.
 Underground pipe is used to take the water to the sump for immediate usage.
 Excess water from the sump is taken to the well.
 Water from the well recharges the underground water.
 Most common is the desert districts of Rajasthan.

Q. Write a short note on Bamboo Drip Irrigation System.

 Practiced in Meghalaya.
  Water from the streams is tapped using bamboo pipes and used for irrigating the roots of plants.
 Long bamboo pipes are connected with each other to form a chain from the stream to the crops.
 Water flows through the pipes and drops directly at the site of the plant.

Q. Why are different water harvesting system considered a viable alternative both Socio- economically and
environmentally in a country like India?

No single method can be applicable everywhere. It is true in rain case of water harvesting system too, as
geographically there are different regions. Different regions have different methods.

a. In Arid Region:- Like in Rajasthan rainwater is collected on roofs, then piped into ground storage
system. That method is also economical, needing no extra effort.
b. In Hilly Region: - Through Kuls or Guls it is very easy to divert water for irrigation. It is a low cost
method.
c. In villages agricultural fields are converted into pods where rainwater is collected. All these methods
are very easy and viable.

Hydraulic Structures in Ancient India

 Dams, lakes and reservoirs were built at the time of the rule of Chandra Gupta Maurya.
 Evidences of irrigation works have been found in Kalinga (Odisha), Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh,
Santhebennur in Karnataka and Kolhapur in Maharashtra.
 Bhopal Lake was built in the 11th century. (Artificial Lake)
 In the 14th century, a tank in Hauz Khas was built in Delhi by Iltutmish.

Q. What is a multipurpose river valley project? Give any four objectives of the multipurpose river valley
project.
OR
Give any four objectives of multipurpose river valley projects.
The Multipurpose river valley project is a river project in which a dam is constructed on the river and stored
water is then used in a number of for like irrigation, power generation etc.

Four Objectives of multipurpose projects are:-

i. Generation of Power(electricity): These multipurpose projects are the main source of power
generation. According to Economic Survey, 2013 these produce more than 39,788.40 MW power. They
provide us neat, pollution free and cheapest energy which is the backbone of Industry and agriculture.
ii. Flood Control: These projects control the floods because water can be stored in them. These projects
have converted many ‘rivers of sorrows’ into ‘rivers of boom’. For example the river Kosi.
iii. Soil Conservation: they help to conserve the soil because they slow down the speed of water.
iv. Irrigation: These projects are the main source of irrigation for our country. These irrigate the fields
during the dry seasons. Many perennial canals have been dug and they irrigate dry areas.

Q. What are Dams? How do these help to conserve and manage water?
A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow often creating a reservoir,
lake or impoundment.

1). Dams were traditionally built to impound rivers and rainwater that could be used later to irrigate
agricultural fields.

2). Dams are also source of perennial canals.

Q. Distinguish between a dam and a multipurpose project.

Dam Multipurpose projects

1. A dam is a barrier across the following 1. A multipurpose project is that which

water that obstruct, dissects or retards fulfills a variety of purpose at the same
the flow , often creating a reservoir, time, for example – irrigation,
lake or an impoundment. generation of electricity, flood control,
2. It is traditional concept. fish breeding , soil conservation etc.
2. It is a modern concept.

Q. Why are multipurpose projects facing resistance?

OR
Mention any four disadvantages of multi-purpose projects.
1. Adverse effect on the fertility of the soil: Due to the construction of dams, there are no annual floods in the
river. And because of this, the soil of the downstream region does not get nutrient rich “silt”. This decreases
the fertility of the soil.

2. Adverse impact on aquatic life: Due to the construction of dams on the rivers, the fish in the downstream
areas do not get sufficient nutrient material. Regulating and damming of rivers affect the natural flow of water
causing poor sediments flow downwards, and excessive sedimentation at the bottom of reservoir, resulting in
rockier stream beds and poorer habitats for the rivers’ aquatic life. Dams also fragment rivers making it
difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate for spawning i.e., to produce eggs.

3. Displacement of local communities: The building of large dams results in displacement of local
communities. The local people often have to give up their land and livelihood and their meager access and
control over resources for the greater food of the nation.

4. Change in the cropping pattern: The multipurpose projects are responsible for providing assured means of
irrigation to farmers. Due to this most of the farmers have changed the cropping pattern shifting to water
intensive and commercial crops. This has led to salinization of soil leading to ecological imbalance.