Journal of Global Resources
Volume 4
ISSN: 2395-3160 (Print), 2455-2445 (Online)

January 2017

Page 71-75

9ISSUES AND STRATEGIES OF SUSTAINABLE WATER CONSERVATION EDUCATION
Prashant Kumar
Assistant Professor (Business Administration),
Govt. Lohia P.G. College, Churu (Rajasthan), India
Email: pkumar26r@gmail.com
Abstract: This write up reveals many dimensions of water education. The problems
associated with development of water education can be removed through implementation ofspecific strategies. Water is life giving element in this world. Today, problem of unsafe
drinking water is growing very fast. Everyone knows the problem of polluted water andimplications on human body. In today’s world, resources of drinking water are not growing
due to some natural and human causes. The sources of drinking water are very limited
because of many unwanted natural and human activities. Due to natural calamities andhuman activities, sources of water like streams, rivers, lakes and underground water arepolluting very much. In this regime, need of water education has become an important issue
among us. Community driven and community engaged programmes are helpful in the way ofwater saving practices. The present research paper deals with water education issues andstrategies for sustainable development.
Key words: Water Pollution, Waste Water, Aquifers, Water Conservation.
Conceptual Foundation“We should minimize our water use – invest in science and technology to ensure that we cangrow crops which use less water. In other words, find ways of valuing the crop per drop”.
–Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon’ble Ex. Prime Minister of India.
To formalize the water issues, water is demanded for several purposes like drinking
purposes; agriculture (About 70%); industry, and for economic development. Water fordrinking purposes is depending on population of humans and animals, which may beconsidered a direct demand, the rest are derived demands. Derived demands associatedwith demands for agricultural and industrial products. In this modern age, water pollution has
become a big environmental problem like population increase, industrial waste, sewage
disposal. Because of rapid increase in population and consumerism, water resources of ourcountry are extremely polluted. We know that sewage and industrial disposals are polluting
directly our rivers. Due to population growth, requirement of consumer articles areincreasing. This has created industrial development in small towns of India. In India around
10% people are in approach of safe drinking water (Basu, 2010). A big part of our population
is depending on polluted sources of water. Water pollution is adversely affecting our day today life. Due to population explosion, use of pesticides, chemicals, fertilizers is increasing.
The use of pesticides, chemicals, fertilizers are creating serious problems in our biologicallife support system (Chapagain and Hoekstra, 2004). Water in this world, is the mostprecious natural resource. We all know this fact that without water we cannot survive on thisearth. Table 1 indicates Inland Water Resources of India with rivers, canals and area ofreservoirs, tanks, lakes, derelict water, brackish water.
Table 1 show that 7.3 million hectare (Mha) is total area of other water bodies withminimum area 0.80 Mha for lakes and derelict water. Inland water resources are also
polluted due to human activities. Our planet has a limited amount of water. In this regime,
low water literacy is affecting crucially our natural resource management. (Water Footprints
71

of Nations: Vol: 1: published by Institute of Water Education: UNESCO-IHE The
Netherlands: p.16.)
Table 1: Water Resources of India (Inland)
SectorLength/ Area
(A) Rivers and Canals (Length in km)
195095(B) Other Water Bodies
1. Reservoirs
2.93
2. Tanks and Ponds
2.43
3. Flood Plain Lakes and Derelict Water
0.80
4. Brackish Water
1.15
Total ( Area in Million Hectare)
7.31
Source: Handbook on Fisheries Statistics-Year 2014, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairyingand Fisheries, M/O Agriculture, Govt. of IndiaObjectives
The objectives of water education cannot be limited. Water awareness among us affects ourfamily’s water conservation behavior. Our focus is on present education system, training andpublic awareness strategies according to following objectives:• To understand and suggest suitable strategies about water education.
• To examine the various issues associated with water resources.
• To promote the implementation of water conservation policies.
• To integrate the management of water demand and availability.
Research DesignIn order to make the research paper comprehensive, secondary sources of data collection
have been used. The relevant and required data were obtained from national andinternational articles as well as websites of several Indian and international waterorganizations. Present research paper is conceptualized and based on several
brainstorming sessions of discussion with the state and central government officers ofIrrigation Department and Ministry of Water Resources. Within the limit of the availability ofdata provided by the state, central organizations, it is hoped that stakeholders concerned
would find the paper useful.
Water Education Issues“At the end of the twentieth century, the world is facing number of challenges affecting theavailability, use and sustainability of water resources. It has serious implications for thepresent and future generations of humanity and for natural ecosystems. In India, 16% of theworld’s population has roughly four percent of world’s water resources and 2.45 percent ofworld’s land area. The distribution of water resources in India is uneven over space andtime. Over 80 to 90 percent of the runoff in Indian rivers provides in four months of the year
and there are regions of harmful abundance. Our country has to grope with many criticalissues in dealing with water resource development and management…..”–MoWR, Report of the National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development,
Volume-I, Sept 1999.
In urban areas around 57% people depends on ground water. On the other hand around
70% people rely on ground water in rural areas (Yadav. R.N. 2010). But, the activities likeillegal bore wells are adversely affecting ground water storage. Water education consists ofmany issues like:• Proper planning in terms of use of water resources.
• Strategic planning of natural resources conservation activities.
• Analysis and use of natural resources for future requirements.
• Analysis of environmental threats for present status of available water resources.
• Integration of different environment conservation programmes.
• Making of policies and strategies in connection with water conservation.
72

••
•
•

Making of laws in respect of present and future requirements of water.
Promotion and integration of conservation policies and strategies.
Effective solution of water problems through public awareness.
Development of safe drinking water habits in society.

Lack of safe water is a dangerous obstacle for the people of underdeveloped countries
like India for economic empowerment. Universities are not providing a variety of
programmes to teach students and young professionals about water education. Water
education is not providing to formal and non-formal educators strategically. In the way ofwater resources management, shortage of skills is one of the biggest risks. In this scenario,
water education is extremely important for each of us. For sustaining our life, waterconservation is necessary. Education in terms of water conservation has becomecompulsory. Besides inland water resources, rainfall provides another situation. A summaryof rainfall is given in Table 2. In 2013 the rainfall volume was 4085 in comparison to 2012 as3467. The year wise volume of rainfall trend is not adequate as shown in table 2.

Year2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013

Table 2: Rainfall in India
Total Rainfall (Mm)Total Volume of Rainfall (BCM)
1181
3882
1117
3674
954
3136
1213
3989
1116
3669
1024
3467
1243
4085

Source: Indian Meteorological Department, Ministry of Science and Technology, GoI, New Delhi

For conservation of ground water resources, it is necessary that the surplus monsoon
runoff that flows into the sea should be conserved and recharged. The Central Ground
Water Board has made a strategic plan consisting artificial recharge of ground water for thecountry. Out of total geographical area of 3,28,7263 sq. km. of the country, an area of4,48,760 sq. km. has been marked suitable for artificial recharge.
National Water Policy-2012
The National Water Policy deals with development and management of water resources. It isgoverned by national perspective and aims to develop and conserve the scarce water
resources. It recognizes the need of effective and economical management of our water
resources. The fundamental objective of the National Water Policy is to perceive cognizanceof the existing situation of water crisis, to frame a system of laws and institutions and for anaction plan with a national perspective with a view of abovementioned issues:• Water Framework Law• Uses of Water• Adoption of strategies for climate change• Enhancing Water Availability for Use• Demand Management and Water Use Efficiency• Water Pricing• Conservation of River Corridors, Water Bodies and Infrastructure• Project Planning and Implementation• Management of Flood and Drought• Water supply and Sanitation• Water Disputes Tribunal• Database and Information System• Research and Training Needs• Integrated Water Resources Management Programme• Water Habits73

In the context of India, many rivers are having water resources potential. On theother hand, rainfall with snowfall is also a sound source of water. The Central Ground Water
Board (CGWB) has drilled many types of boreholes for sustaining demand of water. As perCGWB, total annual ground water potential is estimated 433 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM).
The Central Water Commission-National Register (October, 2014) presents position of big
dams in India. Around 5202 big dams are recorded. A number of water resources
development projects have been taken by Govt. of India. In this regard, central watercommission is balancing availability and use of water resources. In the context of water
resources requirement, following Table 3 shows projected water demand in India for year
2025 and for 2050 with different sectors. The projection for year 2050, maximum
requirement is 1072 BCM for irrigation sector. Our national water policy should cover thisprojection for availability, accessibility and use in the process of action plan.

SectorIrrigation
Drinking Water
Industry
EnergyOthers
Total

Table 3: Projection of Water Requirement in India(Water Demand in Km3/BCM)
Year 2010
Year 2025
Year 2050
6889101072
56731021223
6515130
5272
8813
1093
1447

Source: Basin Planning Directorate, Central Water Commission, Govt. of India -XI Plan Document.
Water Statistics-2015

Strategies for Water Education
Here, we are discussing some strategies for development of water education. These are as
follows:• Use of media for public awareness in the shape of Printed materials like magazines,
newspaper articles, publishing of books.
• Use of T.V. channels, Internet through advertisements, slogans by social media-facebook, twitter and blogs.
• Use of group discussions, workshops, seminars and counseling sessions.
• Use of conventional methods like CHOUPAL in rural areas.
• Use of water ambassadors by rural boys and girls.
• Use of social talks in social gatherings as and when available.
• Use of water conservation campaigns through education system like schools,colleges and universities.
• Promotion of water education related quiz, essays, poem, drawing, painting drama,
biodiversity tour, formation of water clubs, road shows, street dramas and restoration
activities in the campus and neighborhoods with collaboration of local bodies, public
representatives and non government organizations.
• Use of curriculum and syllabus based activities in education system.
• Use of case studies, small projects related with water conservation and safe drinking
water habits.
• Encouragement of scientific research assignments.
• Strategic incorporation of biodiversity modules in training programmes of humanresources in different government and non government organizations.
• Celebration of International Biodiversity Day, World Environment Day, and World
Water Day is also effective for awareness.
• Promotion of actions by government and non–government organizations inconnection with water resources planning.
• Enhancement of appropriate mechanism for public awareness in terms of waterutility.
74••

Development of ground water level conservation practices, solution of water
problems in Urban as well as in rural areas of different states in India.
Creation of safe and pure water consumption and conservation practices,
awareness for saving water through water tanks in houses, factories and buildings.

Water education is important for solution of various environmental problems. It is a long term
programme for livelihood. Water education focuses on various multidimensional waterproblems. We can use simulation methods, case studies for creating awareness in rural aswell as urban areas. It is necessary to recognize the need of protection in terms of water
issues to ensure the human survival.
Conclusion
In our ecosystem, water flow, weather conditions are not in our hands. We are totallydepends on our natural reflections. In our ecosystem we should make a mechanism forcontinuous monitoring of water flows and levels, purification of water. In our education
system, teaching and learning tools should be accompanied with conservation of water andhealthy consumption habits. In most developed countries, surface water pollution is a big
environmental problem. Water pollution has disturbed our life. Due to human activities,
rivers, lakes, tanks are polluted like gutters. Due to excess use of industrial and agriculturalchemicals, water quality is degrading day by day. In industrialized countries, surface water isalso extremely polluted because of uncontrolled human activities. Water education is only away for sustaining human life. Conduction of mass awareness programmes on rain water
harvesting and artificial recharge of ground water throughout the country involving
Central/State/ NGO's, resident welfare organizations, educational institutions, industries andindividuals. Conduction of training programmes to generate resource persons as a measureof capacity building for designing rain water harvesting structures. The Central Ground
Water Authority & Ministry of Water Resources should include provision of roof top rainwater harvesting in building bye laws for augmentation of grounds water resources. Due tohuman greed, natural assets are deteriorating so much. We all should think aboutsustainable development. We must concentrate on planning and effective execution so that
this problem cannot be an ecological disaster.
References
1. Annual Report 2014-15, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation, Govt. of India.
2. Bhardwaj, T.R., Education of Human Values. Mittal Publication. New Delhi.
3. Bose, shish, Urbanisationand Slums (eds), Har-Anand Publications, New Delhi.
4. Chirashree Ghosh, 2004. Integrated Vermi- Pisciculture-an alternative option forrecycling of solid municipal waste in rural India. Bioresource Technology 93, 71-75.
5. National Water Policy-2012, India
6. Parashar, D.C., Gupta, Prabhat K. and Sharma (2001) Chhemendra, Chemosphere
Global Science. 3,171-174.
7. Patra, A.K., (2004), Environmental Studies, Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi.
8. Reports of Central Water Commission, Govt. of India.
9. Srivastava, Y.N. (1989), Environmental Pollution, Ashish Publishing House, New
Delhi.
10. Water Footprints of Nations: Vol: 1: published by Institute of Water Education:
UNESCO-IHE The Netherlands: p.16.
11. www.india-wris-nrsc.gov.in
12. www.mdws.gov.in
13. www.cgwb.gov.in
14. www.cwc.nic.in
15. www.wrmin.nic.in

75