Water Literacy For All…
By : Dr S K Srivastava Chief Engineer. National Water Academy – Pune India Water Week 2016
What is Water Literacy? “Water Literacy means knowing realization of where your water comes from and how you use it. � Ministry of Water Resources, India
A Water Literate is one who knows :
How water travels around the world to meet demand (Water Foot prints/ Virtual Water) Integrated water cycles with human demand as part of the system. Infrastructure: How we move and control Surface Water and Process Waste Water. Groundwater recharge and consequences of over drafting. Up-to-date research on contaminants and how they travel through the water supply. Healthy watersheds Water, Health and Sanitation. Ministry of Water Resources, India
Know the Facts !
Ministry of Water Resources, India
Know the Facts ! (Water Availability in India)
Total Precipitation 4000 BCM Total water availability 1869 BCM
Total utilizable water resources 1123 BCM
Surface water 690 BCM
Ground Water 433 BCM
Current utilization of SW 450 BCM ( 65.21 % )
Current utilization Of GW 243 BCM (56%)
Presently meets the demand but is Inadequate for future demand Ministry of Water Resources, India
Key Objectives
To promote behavioral change on water use and water conservation. To promote water sector careers in schools/universities and provide opportunities for youth to pursue careers in the water sector. To raise awareness of water and climate change to the public at large. Ministry of Water Resources, India
Water Sector Challenges
No substitute for water, unlike oil Water essential for survival, Water Security Availability reduces due to population growth and climate change Global Economy grows, so will thrust on water Low Water Use Efficiency Uneven availability of water in space and time: leading to water scarcity
… Ministry of Water Resources, India
… Water Sector Challenges
Rising Multi Sectoral Demands Equity in Supply of water for irrigation Lack of appropriate sites for Storage Projects Environment and Water Quality Degradation Over-exploitation of Ground Water Conflicts on ownership of water
Ministry of Water Resources, India
Strategies in Water Sector Developmental activities to reduce Gap between Availability and Utilization Management Practices to bridge Gap between Creation and Utilization of facilities
Research & Development to mitigate Gap between Demand and Supply
Ministry of Water Resources, India
Topics for Water Literacy: Awareness about Need for Developmental Activities Storages
Inter-basin Transfers Ground Water Recharge Watershed Development Rainwater Harvesting Pollution Control Desalination of Water Ministry of Water Resources, India
Literacy about Water Efficient Water Distribution Network EquityManagement and Demand based management Practices Participatory Water Management Cropping Pattern Realistic Water Rates Waste Water Treatment Recycle and reuse of waste water Conjunctive use of surface and ground water Extension, Renovation and Modernization of old schemes Water Footprints and Virtual Water - Agricultural and Industrial Water Footprints
Ministry of Water Resources, India
Climate Change and Water Resources Climate change makes extreme events more severe and more frequent at unexpected times Likely to alter hydrological cycle
– Change in total amount of precipitation and its intensity / frequency – Impact on regional water resource affecting river flows water supply – Change in floods and droughts situation
Likely to aggravate water scarcity condition High risk of Violent conflicts The stakeholders must be made aware of this important issue
Ministry of Water Resources, India
Economic Development and Water Development To create Resources conducive public opinion about water sector projects, it is
important to sensitize the public about the connection between water resources development & economic development Accelerated pace of economic development – tremendous impact in water sector (Water demand to increase due to economic change and increase in population) Water Resources Development & Management to undergo major change by 2050
Ministry of Water Resources, India
Target Audience
A. High Multiplier Effect Group • School / college students & through them their parents, teachers. • Women • Households (Urban and Rural) and RWAs B. Sector-wise Group • Industrialist • Agriculturalist • Tribal Population • Mass Transport Users • Cinema / TV viewers / Listeners of Radio • Visitors to prominent places/exhibitions/fairs • Readers of newspapers/magazines
Ministry of Water Resources, India
Target Audience
C. Policy Makers, Influencers, Implementing Agencies • Policy makers / Leaders • Government Officials (Centre and State) (i) Engineers (ii) other functionaries (iii) WUAs, PRIs, Local Urban Bodies, NGOs, RWAs etc. • Media D. Innovators, Knowledge Creators and Disseminators • Research Students • Professionals / Experts in water management • National / International delegates at conferences / seminars /workshops etc. • Professional Bodies / Associations
Ministry of Water Resources, India
Government of India Initiative: • Information, Education and Communication Scheme had been launched during the XI Plan with the aim to create awareness among various target groups about the importance of development and management of water resources in a holistic manner with due emphasis on a coordinated effort for addressing various water related issues and propagate the policies/programmes of the Ministry of Water Resources. • During the XII Plan Period (2012-2017), the IEC Scheme has been merged in HRD/Capacity Building Scheme as IEC Component along with other components.
Other GOI Initiatives: • National Water Policy 2012 also emphasize a National Campaign of Water Literacy for Capacity Building of all Stakeholders • National Water Mission (The main objective of NWM is “conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within States through integrated water resources development and management”) • Jal Kranti Abhiyan (To consolidate water conservation and management in the country through a holistic and integrated approach involving all stakeholders, making it a mass movement.) • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Sanitation, Cleanliness)
Involvement of Women
Pooling the young minds
Water consumption needs to be understood in a physical manner as well as virtual use
Posters, Campaigns, Street plays
What Can I Do? • When you put it in your mouth, learn how much water it takes to get there! • Here’s a quick guide to eating with Water Sense: plants take less water to feed you than meats. All land animals take thousands of gallons of water to grow and process, so eating meat in smaller quantities saves lots of water. • It takes 5 litres of water to make 1 litre of bottled water. • When you put it on your body, learn how much water it takes to make it! • All clothing takes water to make, water to grow or create the fibers, water to process the dyes, water to run the machines. Do you buy cotton? Cotton is a water intensive crop, so don’t buy cotton grown in deserts. Growers in dry countries suck lakes and groundwater source dry to grow cotton for export, leaving nothing for local food crops and fishermen. Buying vintage clothing is a smart water choice. You save money and don’t spend more water.
What Can I Do? • When you turn it on, understand the Energy-Water connection. • Creating energy is water intensive. Hydro-electric dams require reliable, strong river flows. Coal and nuclear plants cost billions of gallons of water to supply ore and operate. Even solar panels cost water to manufacture. Turning off unnecessary lights and unplugging “vampire” appliances will save water as well as energy. • Think – Ask – Speak Out. Your voice makes a difference. • Companies that make your clothes and grow your food want to hear from their customers. Make sure they know that conserving water is important to you! Email or Tweet the companies you buy from asking if their water use is sustainable. Find out what they’re doing to conserve fresh water for the future. Make sure they’re not putting toxic dyes or pesticides in their local water. Then tell all what you’ve learned so share it with everyone else!
What Can I Do? • Conserve water in your home and garden. • Conserving water at home can be as simple as turning off the tap and taking shorter showers. Fixing leaks in household pipes is also a reliable way to save water. New awareness about grey water systems, rainwater harvesting and garden perma-culture is exciting and broadens our personal management of water resources. • Help people less fortunate than you. • You’ve heard that children living in poverty and water-stress can’t go to school because they have to walk miles for water. There are many fine organizations working to help them. Choose a group you like then give what money you can. Consider volunteering to help the billions of people living without clean water and adequate sanitation.
… to Summarize: Water Literacy is a must to spread awareness about Water Conservation Should cover all challenges facing the water sector & the initiatives needed Use of print and electronic media, campaigns, observation of Water Resources Day etc. to have effective impact Cover all stakeholders Make it a part of academic syllabus in school & colleges Ministry of Water Resources, India
Just Remember ‌
Ministry of Water Resources, India
By being informed, there is a natural empathy and conscientiousness when interacting with water So it’s always more comfortable to be informed than to be surprised !!
THANK YOU