Jay water advisory

Water is said to be abundant in nature. Despite its abundance, freshwater is only 2.5% of the available water, with 68% locked up in ice and glaciers and 30% below the ground. Although water is continually regenerated through the water cycle year after year, the quantity of water we have remains relatively constant each year. With the rise in population and industrialisation, a question that may linger in our hearts is, “Are we running out of water?” or “How fast are we running out of fresh water?”

Surface water

Surface water – lakes, rivers and reservoirs- is 1.2% of freshwater, and rivers make up only 0.49%. Surface water is replenished through rainfall and melting snow. However, a large amount of surface water is drying up due to climate change. Surface water has a self-cleansing mechanism, which allows for the removal of impurities. This improves the quality of the surface water over time, provided it is not being polluted consistently.

Groundwater

Groundwater, which lies beneath the Earth’s surface is 30% of freshwater and heavily relied upon. Groundwater is replenished through percolation of water in the aquifer when rain falls. As rainwater or melting snow seeps through the layers of the earth’s crust, it gets naturally filtered as impurities and suspended solids are removed from the water. Groundwater tends to contain a high level of dissolved solids because minerals from beneath the earth’s surface seep into the water as it flows through the crust. Due to overdependence, groundwater is withdrawn faster than it is being replenished. This over-extraction of groundwater is leading to declining water tables.

Water pollution

Even with the availability of water, it is not safe for consumption. This is due to the high level of contamination freshwater is facing around the world. High levels of mineralisation in groundwater and algae blooms in surface waters. Treating the water makes it safe for consumption. However, the costly treatment or the unavailability of the treatment is making water scarce. Major reasons why we are running out of water include

1. Improper disposal of waste: Some waste disposal companies in some countries directly dump waste into rivers and streams with the hope that “it takes away the problem (the waste)”. In reality, the accumulation of these wastes in waterbodies degrades the water quality over time, and because the waste is dumped from time to time, the self-purification mechanism of the river does not help much with purifying the water bodies. Disposing in landfills also affects the quality of groundwater within that area as leachate gets into the aquifer.
2. Wastewater mismanagement: Enormous amounts of wastewater are generated daily from industries, residential areas, and commercial buildings. Wastewater could be a reliable source of water for agriculture, industrial cooling, or potable use if it is recycled rather than simply being discharged into the environment.
3. Overconsumption and misuse: Overconsumption is an activity that humans overindulge in. From extra time in the shower to over-irrigating farmlands and excessive water use in industries, humanity uses more water than is sustainable. With erratic rainfalls, prolonged droughts, and rising global temperatures due to climate change, water scarcity has become a consistent phenomenon.

Moving forward

Water crises aren’t inevitable, but urgent tasks need to be prioritised. These tasks include:

• Enforcing regulations about waste (water and solid waste) disposal to reduce pollution levels due to contamination.
• Encouraging sustainable use of water in homes, agriculture, and industries.
• Limiting dependence on surface water and groundwater by harvesting rainwater.
• Investing in wastewater treatment and reuse to reduce water pollution levels and employ wastewater as a potential water source.

Conclusion

We may not be “running out” of water in a literal sense, but we are running out of clean, usable freshwater. And that poses a threat to life and the ecosystem. Water is a renewable resource only if we protect and manage it wisely. Otherwise, the well may run dry sooner than we think.