Scientists and researchers are busy finding out the real cause of the groundwater getting disappeared from under the ground in irritation fields of the northern regions of India. Cities like Delhi and Jaipur which is dense in terms of their population is facing a great concern over the disappearance of underground water.
Eminent Hydrologist, Matt Rodell of the NASA has ventured out to hunt down the real cause.
Summarized speculation made by NASA
As per Matt Rodell, the entire water supply from beneath the ground is being pumped out for human consumption at a fast pace. Thus, the natural replenishment of the water supply is not occurring due to this continuous water extraction. As a result, water problem has hit these regions big time this year. Such satellite observational information has been published by GRACE or NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment.
Groundwater-the basic concept
Let us first understand how groundwater comes naturally.
The water from the surface of the Earth goes down to the soil, rocks and gets accumulated in aquifers. Aquifers are cavities made in various layers of the rock comprising of sand, clay and gravel. In a natural manner annually the level of this water increases and decreases. However, this water level does not show rapid changes due to changes in weather as compared to what we experience in lakes, rivers and streams. It is only when water is extracted out for consumption there occurs a significant change in its level.
The present findings by NASA
- It has been found that the region of Northern India like Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana causes 95% of the total groundwater usage for various purposes.
- The usage over the years has grown over the natural refillment of water in this region.
- Every three years the level of groundwater is declining by a meter and feet annually. Hence, in between the years 2002 to 2008 an alarming level of more than 109 cubic km of water underneath the ground has disappeared.
- Scientists after their experimentations based on the soil data, moisture content, lake and water bodies nearby the Himalayas has come to the conclusion that there is no underlying natural cause for such water disappearance. The only probable cause is human usage.
How To Prevent Water Wastage At Home
While Government has major role in implementing water harvesting and storage, each of us also can play critical role in saving water. It’s our responsibility to utilize this precious resource correctly.
Here are simple life style changes you can implement to save water at your home:
- Ensure to close tap whenever you are not using water while washing hand, brushing, saving, washing utensils, cloths etc. Also use water at medium low speed during these activities. This will surely help in saving lots of water.
- Be mindful of your baths. Use bucket instead of shower. Also you don’t need to spend half an hour showering. You can clean yourself equally well if you come out of the shower in ten minutes. Using fifty litres where you could have done with twenty litres will not make you cleaner; it will only make you waste more.
- Avoid washing your car from pipe. Use bucket and cloth to clean your car. It will definitely save lots of water.
- Indulge in water harvesting. It’s a simple process and the tools and material required for water harvesting is very easily available. All you need to do is put in a little effort. Water harvesting will save you a lot of money and help the environment a great deal especially in the monsoon season.
A Short Animation on Saving Water
