“I grew up in a large family of 11 cousins including my little brother. Even as a child, I was curious and mischievous. I was the so-called “Leader” of our happy cousin’s gang. When I was a kid, I had no idea what scuba diving was, but I knew I wanted to learn to swim. Even though I learned it much later in life, I am grateful that I did.

I started painting at the age of 45 and I was looking for a theme to hold a painting expo. It was then that I watched a documentary on coral reefs and grew fascinated with them. Slowly, I began to understand more about them, and I was residing in the Maldives at the time with my husband, who is a medical practitioner, so corals were all around me.

I was nervous before diving for the first time, but curiosity and excitement gradually overtook my feelings. I saw a lot of fish the first time I went underwater, and it was a pretty surreal experience. Since I did my PADI certification in the Maldives, the visibility underwater was clear and it was much more beautiful and surreal than I had expected. Soon after, I learned about the plight of corals all around the world, and I was filled with worry and concern.

I do scuba diving at least twice or thrice a year. My day to day is almost the same as any other individual, I cook for my family, handle the household chores, read about coral reefs, and paint every day. In addition, I engage in online webinars and speak at institutions about the oceans and coral reefs.

One of my dreams was to make a documentary about “coral reefs,” and I even shot an underwater movie with my GoPro, but I didn’t know how to produce a documentary, which requires a thorough understanding of aspects of filmmaking. Then I began contacting many documentary filmmakers; luckily, Ms. Priya Thuvassery believed in me and stepped in. She, on the other hand, wanted to produce a documentary on my journey, so it became “Coral woman” rather than “Coral reef gardens,” as I had initially intended.

Today, I dedicate 25%-50% of the proceeds from my paintings to coral restoration. I speak to students and employees of organizations on proper garbage disposal, solar energy, and rainwater conservation. Of course, I use all of these techniques at home. If we as citizens can just accomplish the three things listed above, we will be able to save both the land as well as the oceans.

We require the oceans at this time since they are also an important part of our ecosystem. Above all, we must ensure that every living entity has the opportunity to live in peace and that their surroundings do not become dump yards. To safeguard both our land and our oceans, sewage should be treated before being released into the oceans, trash on the beach should be prohibited, garbage should be responsibly disposed of, and renewable energy sources such as solar power, rainwater collection, and tree planting should be encouraged.”

Check out our other articles: Water Revolution- Projects & Initiatives in India, Increasing Water Footprint- A concern for all!

For more blogs- www.indrawater.com

#mywaterstory- Uma Mani was originally published in Indra Water on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Today, we live in cities with facilities such as accessibility to water and power backup. Nevertheless, in the course of making life a little easier or offering these services, we have forgotten that every move we take has an ecological footprint. When it comes to water conservation, in recent years the demand-supply gap has grown as a result of rapid urbanization, which has resulted in water scarcity and an increase in the number of polluted water bodies.

If we look back through the ancient Indian History, there have been times when civilization was frequently affected by floods and drought. Perhaps this has been why every region has its own traditional water conservation techniques due to its unique topography and cultural factors. The fundamental idea was to do rainwater harvesting. Archaeological evidence reveals ancient India’s deep-rooted knowledge and excellent water engineering.

Let’s have a look at some of the water conservation methods adopted across the country-

Zing (Ladakh)-Zings are small tanks found in Ladakh that collect melting glacier water. Water is transported from the glacier to the tank via a network of guiding channels. The glacier’s melting waters begin as a trickle in the morning and turn into a flowing stream by the afternoon. The water is collected in the evening and used in the fields the next day.

Kuhls (Himachal Pradesh)- Kuhls are surface water channels found in Himachal Pradesh’s hilly regions. The channels carry glacial waters into the fields from rivers and streams. The Kuhls were created either by public donations or by royal monarchs and are an important cultural tradition.

Apatani (Arunachal Pradesh)- It’s a multipurpose water management technique that protects soil erosion, conserves water for irrigation, and promotes paddy-cum-fish culture by integrating land, water, and farming systems. This is wet rice cultivation and fish farming system used in elevations of around 1600 meters with an average annual rainfall of about 1700 mm and abundant water resources such as springs and streams.

Zabo (Nagaland)- Nagaland’s Zabo or Ruza system integrates water conservation, forestry, agriculture, and animal care. Rainwater gathered on forested hilltops is channelled into pond-like structures built on terraced slopes. The channels also flow past cattle yards, collecting animal waste before eventually winding their way into paddy fields at the foot of the hill. Ponds dug up in rice fields are then utilized to raise fish and cultivate medicinal herbs.

Ahar Pynes (South Bihar) — Ahars are reservoirs with three-sided embankments constructed at the end of diversion channels like pynes. Pynes are man-made small streams that branch off from rivers to collect water in ahars for irrigation during the dry season. Ahar pynes are used mostly for paddy farming in this low-rainfall region.

Bawaris (Rajasthan) — Bawaris are one-of-a-kind step-wells that were once part of Rajasthan’s historic water storage networks. The region’s little rainfall would be redirected to man-made tanks via canals built on the hilly edges of cities. The water would then enter the soil, raising the water table and replenishing a vast network of aquifers. A system of layered steps was created around the reservoirs to narrow and deepen the wells, reducing water loss through evaporation.

Eri/ Ooranis (Tamil Nadu) — Tamil Nadu’s Eri (tank) system is one of India’s oldest water management systems. Eris are still frequently utilised in the state to manage floods, minimise soil erosion and runoff during seasons of heavy rains, and recharge groundwater. Eris can either be a system fed by channels that divert rainwater or a non-system where it is fed only by rain. The tanks are connected to allow access to the farthest village and to keep the water level balanced in the event of an excess supply.

Surangam (Kerala)- Surangams are equivalent to qanats, which existed around 700 BC in Mesopotamia and Babylon. Egyptian civilization, Persia (now Iran), and India were all using this innovation by 714 BC. The cost of digging a surangam is the sole expense required, as it requires very little maintenance. It was traditionally excavated at a slow pace, taking generations to finish. A horizontal well that’s generally dug in laterite rock formations. The digging continues until a significant amount of water is struck. Water seeps through the tunnel and out of the hard rock. Outside of the surangam, this water is normally gathered in an open pit.

Check out our other articles: Water Revolution- Projects & Initiatives in India, Increasing Water Footprint- A concern for all!

For more blogs- www.indrawater.com

Water Conservation- Traditional Methods was originally published in Indra Water on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The landscape of India is diversified; from snow-capped mountains in the north to vast open plains, and arid hot deserts all of which are surrounded by mighty flowing rivers. With growing modernization and civilization the ecology has been disrupted to an extent where the need to revive the blue planet and bring it back to its original form has arisen. Water has been a global concern in recent years and the government has responded to the demand for water conservation by launching a number of water conservation programmes.

One of the most popular projects is ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan’ launched in 2019. It was a nationwide water conservation campaign that aimed at citizens’ participation to promote water conservation at the grass-root level. With the launch of the Jal Jeevan Mission, 4 crore new families gained access to piped drinking water, which was only possible through the participation of the public and local governance.

‘Jeevika Project’ aimed at conserving the discharge from perennial water bodies. The primary objective was to utilize innovative water harvesting structures for access to untapped perennial sources, thereby expanding irrigation potential, and encouraging effective water use for irrigation. “Catch the rain” campaign was launched in 2021 with the tagline- “Catch the rain, where it falls when it falls”. The project focused on the creation and maintenance of rainwater harvesting structures with the participation of people and stakeholders to ensure rainwater is stored.

Another well-known water conservation project was ‘The Jal Sanchay Project” implemented in the Nalanda district of Southern Bihar. The project’s approach was to build more check dams, remove silt from irrigation channels and traditional water bodies, and create awareness around water harvesting. ‘Namami Gange Programme’ the flagship programme of the Union Government was launched in June 2014 with the twin objective of effective removal of pollution, conservation, and rejuvenation of the national river Ganga. ‘AMRUT Project’ was started with the mission of rejuvenation and urban transformation to provide basic civic amenities like water supply and sewage connection, well maintained open spaces and greenery, and switching to public transportation for reducing pollution. The Rural Development Ministry has also taken various water conservation projects under ‘MGNREGA’ which include building check dams, ponds recharge, and renovating traditional water bodies.

When the reason for the devastating floods in Chennai in 2015 was placed on the encroachment of water bodies, the initiative of ‘100 Ponds in 50 days’ was taken. The idea was to revive 100 ponds in 50 days with public participation to restore the groundwater levels as it would assist in agriculture and drinking water shortage would never become a concern.

Similarly, brands like Harpic India also took the initiative of ‘Mission Paani’ for water conservation and increased awareness around public hygiene to ensure a healthy life for the citizens.

All of these water conservation efforts have not only improved the availability of water but have also made a positive impact on farm production and groundwater levels. The impact of water conservation is a sense of responsibility that we all need to take so that we are able to build a better tomorrow.

“When we take small steps and become responsible we bring a bigger change for the future.”

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WATER REVOLUTION- Projects & Initiatives in India was originally published in Indra Water on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

World water day reminds us of the importance of water in our lives. However, we should also be aware of the necessity of water for the remaining 364 days of the year. Today, the growing water scarcity around us makes us think deeply about water footprints for our future and present usage. Research shows that at present industrial water consumption is the highest. Here we will look at the topmost water-consuming industries on the planet.

Textile Industry

Fashion has affected the ecosystem worldwide both directly and indirectly. Today, many people want to be in line with the new trends in fashion. The textile industry uses a lot of water in its manufacturing process, which includes spinning, dyeing, and finishing. A pair of jeans made conventionally (with a standard weight of 1 kg) uses about 10,850 liters of water. According to statistics, 85% of the water used in textile processing goes into dyeing. This leads to running off of the water that remains unused.

Agriculture

India is land of farmers with over 70% of rural households still depending primarily on agriculture. Globally, in this sector, irrigation is the largest water consumer. This sector uses water in a diverse way which includes- irrigation, pesticide, fertilizer application, sustaining the livestock (domesticated animals), and food preservation like crop cooling. The amount of water used in producing the daily food needs of one person is around 3,000 liters.

Meat Production

India has always been known for its diverse livestock-raising techniques. The global water footprint of livestock production now accounts for nearly one-third of the total water footprint. It takes more than 2,400 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of meat. The use of water is massive when compared to agriculture. It takes 24–28 months for livestock to reach the desired marketplace weight.

Food & Beverage Industry

A day’s worth of food for a household of four requires approximately 25,000 liters of water to grow and produce. Food and beverage companies are sensitive towards their customers. As a result, a lot of water is used in day-to-day operations, from cleaning raw materials to the incorporation of the recipe. Water is required in every process from production, refrigeration, steam generation, to cleaning purposes.

Automotive Industry

With the increasing growth seen in the world population, it’s estimated that in the next 50 years the population is going to expand 40–50%. It is estimated that the production of one car uses 40,000 gallons of water. In the production process, a large quantity of water is used in surface treatment and coating, washing, rinsing, hosing, painting spray booths, air-conditioning systems, and cooling.

Paper and Pulp Industry

As we have moved towards digitization today the usage of paper has also reduced to a large extent when compared to a few years back. Usage of paper still exists as we still use it in offices, schools, colleges, homes, etc. The pulp and paper manufacturing process requires water throughout. A single sheet of A4 paper uses around 20 liters of water during its production phase. Water is required in almost every part of the process from digesting wood chips, making fiber slurries, to washing rollers and machines.

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While it has long been recommended that reduction in water consumption can solve water footprint to a large extent in various spheres. Adopting ways of saving water like collecting and reusing wastewater is much more rewarding as it saves considerably more water. Industries can recycle the wastewater by treating the water and using it within the industrial facility which helps in controlling water pollution discharges.

Increasing Water Footprint - A Concern for all! was originally published in Indra Water on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Did you know wetlands are natural water filters where water covers the soil throughout the year or over varying periods of time? Wetlands are known by many names such as swamps, peatlands, sloughs, marshes, muskegs, bogs, fens, potholes, and mires. It has been found that some wetlands form quickly while others take years to develop. The Wetlands represent roughly 4.7 percent of India’s total area. It is also estimated that nearly 30% of natural wetlands have been lost in India in the last three decades.

The Ramsar Convention was formed for wetlands for International importance that was signed in 1971 and went into effect in 1975. The mission of this program was to conserve all national and international wetlands and wisely use them. Wetlands were designated under the Ramsar list to effectively manage them, bring international cooperation over the transboundary, share wetlands systems, and share species.

Wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining our natural cycles. They purify and recharge the groundwater and serve as a natural sponge against drought and flood, also helping to fight climate change and protect our coastlines. They are unique ecosystems where both terrestrial and aquatic habitats meet. These wetlands are home to many endangered bird species like grebes, cormorants, pelicans, terns, and gulls, to name a few. They depend on them during parts of their life cycle, especially for food and nesting.

Wetlands are the prime priority for preserving our ecosystem since they help reduce the damage created by floods, pollution control, and regulate climatic conditions.

We can do our bit of protecting and saving these wetlands by reducing, reusing, and recycling our household waste.

WETLANDS; Conserve them for a healthy tomorrow! was originally published in Indra Water on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Ayyappa Masagi also known as the Water Warrior has facilitated the development of numerous solutions to India’s water scarcity problem. His contribution has resulted in many communities, farms, and towns becoming more water-efficient over the years. Villagers on the borders of Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh have fondly nicknamed him “Water Gandhi.”

He hails from a village named Nagaral in North Karnataka’s Gadag district, which used to be a drought-prone area. As a child, he woke up at 3 AM and walked several kilometers every day with his mother to help bring water to his family. It was for the same reason he developed a passion for water conservation. After graduating, he began his career as a mechanical engineer with Larsen & Toubro in Bangalore, where he worked for over 23 years. While still in L&T, he worked as a one-man army on weekends, assisting farmers with non-irrigated agricultural practices and urban residents with rooftop rainwater gathering and borewell recharge.

He was awarded the Ashoka Fellowship in 2004 for his efforts to conserve water in the agricultural sector. He then formed the non-profit Water Literacy Foundation (WLF) in September 2005 to reach out to more individuals and aid them. Three years later, he launched Rain Water Concepts Pvt. Ltd. to financially support WLF’s work and provide everyone with efficient water-saving strategies. He was motivated to serve all suffering communities in need of a solution that would provide them with clean, safe drinking water on a daily basis.

As Mr. Ayyappa, has been so keen on water conservation he made sure that his household was no different. He has made specific changes to make it as water-efficient as possible, including building a rooftop rainwater harvesting structure and collecting greywater in an outdoor pit to recharge groundwater. He built a structure where he collects wastewater from his house and sends it to the farm, where it gets used as manure. He solely engages in organic farming and has a bio-gas unit as well. He recalls how it all began when he had 100 coconut trees on his farm, one of which was in poor shape. He immediately began collecting grey water from his house and transferring it to his farm to water this specific tree. Today, he has over 400 incredibly healthy coconut trees along with a feasible strategy in place.

Mr. Ayyappa has been instrumental in building several lakes and water conservation initiatives all over the country along with the revitalization of over 1000 dry boreholes. He has also constructed over 700 artificial lakes, and his name has been published in the Limca Book of World Records. His initiatives have contributed to the transformation of over 25,000 hectares of dry land into wetland by harvesting greywater and rainwater.

He says, “If we harvest rainwater and greywater daily, we can celebrate every festival but, if we allow it to flow we will eventually face drought.”

Mr. Ayyappa has authored Bhageeratha: War on Water Crisis, Converting Dry Land into Wet Land; he discusses his personal experiences with water challenges along with his accomplished projects. The book also teaches readers several strategies for conserving and replenishing our valuable resource- Water.

We are inspired by Mr. Ayyappa’s desire to solve India’s water crisis by working with communities at the ground level and making every drop count.

#mywaterstory- Ayyappa Masagi was originally published in Indra Water on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Dr. Priyanand Agale is the Founder of the Eco Needs Foundation, a “youth organization dedicated towards environmental conservation and an Eco-Revolution.” He’s also a professor at a government polytechnic institution. He and his team have been working at the grassroots level for years to address India’s growing water crisis and encourage people to save water.

Dr. Priyanand and his foundation have played a pivotal role in the restoration of various water bodies around Maharashtra. The Kham and Sukhna Rivers are two rivers flowing through Aurangabad city. It was becoming extremely contaminated as a result of domestic sewage and industrial wastewater discharges. Dr. Priyanand and his team began a river conservation campaign in 2011, in which the river was cleaned with the cooperation of local communities. They were also successful in obtaining a ban on effluent disposal into the river in 2015. Similarly, lakes such as Salim Ali Lake, Kamal Lake, Nehru Garden Lake, and Naher-E- Ambari (Historical water supply system to Aurangabad city) were experiencing pollution as a result of domestic wastewater discharge, waste disposal, and damage. The restoration process started by approaching government officials, organizing cleaning drives, desilting, and raising awareness among the local people. The Foundation has also collected data on water quality of 35 parameters at five locations over the last two years and generated a report for Godavari River protection in 2004. Dr. Priyanand and his Ph.D. guide Dr. Parag Sadgir invented a new method for domestic wastewater treatment and also received a patent from the Indian government for their wastewater treatment module, which does not require any machinery, chemicals, or electricity to operate.

Dr. Priyanand is most renowned for his role in developing Dhanora village into India’s first smart village. Along with Dr. Satyapal Singh Meena (IRS) to save water in Dhanora, he implemented the percolation tank link system. Three-kilometer-long canals connected eight percolation tanks in this system. He solved Dhanora’s water scarcity problem with this water conservation scheme. He also built a sewage treatment plant, which provides re-used water for various irrigation uses. It’s a one-of-a-kind model that makes use of zero — concrete. As a result, the cost of implementing this model is lower in comparison, and overall water conservation is higher.

Dr. Priyanand describes his childhood affinity to the environment and playing near rivers in his native village of Parsoda with fondness. When he went to a city school for higher education, he never seemed to be interested in the school and would wander off to a nearby river. As a result, his parents enrolled him in a school near the river. As a young student who had recently completed his tenth grade, he had approached the collector of his district, claiming that Bibi Ka Maqbara (historical monument) was becoming polluted because it was surrounded by brick kilns and that due to the emission of gases from these kilns, the monument’s white color was turning blackish. Brick kilns were relocated as a result of his tireless efforts. This was his first step into the field of social work.

Today, Dr. Priyanand and his team have inspired over 20,000 young people, who are now involved with his foundation and assist with various programs. Dr. Priyanand has pioneered a series of Eco Revolution conferences throughout Asia in connection with his work at the Eco Needs Foundation, many of which have resulted in significant environmental commitments by conference attendees.

Dr. Priyanand also started World Rights to water Day on 20th March from 2017 and demanded the right to water for every citizen with the fundamental right under the comprehensive scheme of suitable legislation. Dr. Priyanand’s contributions to the water and environmental sectors motivate us to do more for our planet. Let us all do our part to save water.

#mywaterstory- Priyanand Agale was originally published in Indra Water on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Padma Shri awardee Shyam Sunder Paliwal, a former village council leader from Piplantri, Rajasthan, celebrates every newborn girl child in the village by planting 111 saplings. Mr. Paliwal, a farmer by profession was satisfied with farming and providing for his family, as were other farmers. After successfully merging the “111 Trees for Each Girl Child” concept to empower Beti while conserving the environment, he got recognized as the “Father of Eco-Feminism.”

“Swajaldhara Yojana” was promoted by him to conserve and exchange water, and over 1800 dams were built in the area. As a result of the campaign, the Piplantri community successfully overcame Rajasthan’s chronic drought and water scarcity issues as check dams on the fields helped recharge the groundwater level.

Mr. Paliwal was elected Sarpanch (village leader) in 2005. During his time, he implemented several changes, including improved seating in the Panchayat Bhawan (Village council), building sanitation facilities for every household, and keeping a register for residents to record their problems. He also altered the panchayat timings to evening hours because most government officials and organizations arrived in the village after people had left for work, so changing the schedule to evening hours was advantageous to the villagers. The goal for Mr. Paliwal from the beginning was to implement government initiatives properly; to date, all major modifications in village infrastructure have taken place under government schemes and initiatives.

Piplantri village was affected by drought in 2006 due to excessive mining, which resulted in a shortage of water and vegetation. Around this time, Mr. Paliwal, a humble, straightforward, and self-motivated sarpanch had lost his eldest daughter to sickness. That is when he planted a Kadam tree (Burflower Tree) in her memory, and his massive project of “111 Trees for Every Girl Child” began. Not only that, but people also planted “11 Trees every time they lost a loved one,” and every girl from the village who got married and moved away also planted a tree. At that time, it also appeared that the issue of killing girl children had been on the rise, which had disrupted the village’s sex ratio. As part of the campaign, the panchayat started opening a fixed deposit bank account in the name of the newborn girl child. The parents were to take care of the saplings and sign an affidavit promising not to engage in foeticide or marry their daughters off until they turn 18. Later, he with his fellow villagers started planting aloe vera and rose plants. Today products made of those plants are providing them employment.

Mr. Paliwal recollects that they used to have a lot of challenges because they were constantly worried that the plants, they were planting would be uprooted by those who didn’t agree with their way of thinking. In comparison to 2005, there has been a significant shift in the way people view their work in the village. Then, villagers could never have imagined that their efforts would have an impact on humanity and the environment, yet they continued to work. But today, they are mindful of their activities, they realize the importance of water, seedlings planted 15 years ago have grown into trees, and young girls feel secure riding their two-wheelers to work or college.

He recently went on the television show Kaun Banega Crorepati and he plans on utilizing the funds for the betterment of women and sustainable development of his community. Not everyone has the mindset of Mr. Shyam Sundar. We congratulate him on his accomplishments and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

#mywaterstory- Shyam Sundar Paliwal was originally published in Indra Water on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The young engineer who left his high-paying job to restore water bodies around the country, Ramveer Tanwar, also known as the Pond Man, and his team are rehabilitating 12 water bodies at once and have already restored over 40 water bodies around the country. From the very beginning, Mr. Tanwar was passionate about water conservation. He started a campaign during his early graduation days named Jal Chaupal in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Budhha Nagar district. He conducted several rallies, made wall paintings, and posters to educate people on the negative impacts of wasting water. Many households would keep their taps open, wasting water for hours at a time. He continued this campaign for three years with his students and encouraged the villagers and family members to reduce the wastage. In an exclusive discussion, he will tell us about his journey and experiences with water.

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I realized that cleaning drives and public awareness campaigns alone would not be enough to bring about change. Work has to be done from the ground level to bring about change. After graduation, while I was working, I simultaneously started approaching corporate entities and village heads to get their support and assistance in restoring water bodies. After 5–6 months of launching my initiative, I received support from a small corporate group. They claimed they would support us with recommendations and expand our initiative provided the project is completed at a low cost. The first pond to get restored was in Dabra village; it was a successful restoration attempt, and we instantly got recognized by media sources, corporations, government officials, and others. After this, I left my job at MNC, and I committed myself to restore water bodies. The initiative which started with a pond has now spread to several water bodies across the country.

When it comes to pond restoration, it’s crucial to identify the pond and the problem that exists there, such as water hyacinth, village encroachment, waste fill-up, or ponds getting dried up as their water lines are disconnected. Once the problem gets identified, we use a 3-pit system to solve it. The pond is partitioned into 2–3 small sections in the 3-pit system approach. The water hyacinth or garbage is removed manually in the first section, then desilted, and finally, a treatment system is installed at the pond’s inlet where the greywater enters. Freshly treated water enters the pond because of our approach, and that is how we restore the ponds. We also build a pathway around the pond, build benches, and plant trees so that the locals can enjoy themselves.

#Selfiewithpond was a social media campaign that was started with the intent of identifying youths across the country supporting the idea of restoring water bodies. The campaign created a huge impact, and we got support from around 10,000 youngsters. Although our initiative has received positive reviews, the biggest challenge to date has been the encroachment of these water bodies. Residents are hesitant to allow the water bodies to be cleaned or restored as they believe that doing so will lead to officials evicting them from their houses. Also, our projects are funded through CSR but getting financed for restoring water bodies in rural areas remains a struggle. Maintaining the recovered water bodies is also a challenge because they fill up with garbage again after 2–3 years. To avoid this, we’ve begun to link the ponds with local livelihood options such as aquaculture, fish farming, and lotus farming.

On a personal note, the moment I see the before and after photographs of the same water body, it motivates me to keep going forward. It pleases me greatly to see the residents’ faces light up when they witness the improved condition of their water body, which they had feared could not be restored.

#mywaterstory- Ramveer Tanwar was originally published in Indra Water on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

‘Conserve water, conserve life’ is not just a slogan but a major concern today. The whole world is struggling to save every drop of water. Earth is the fifth-largest planet in our Solar System and the only one having liquid water on its surface. Water covers over 71% of our planet’s surface. Once upon a time, we had water in abundance but now the water level is depleting daily. Today Water has become the most valuable resource of the 21st Century. Water scarcity is caused by a number of factors which include population expansion and outdated infrastructure. Certain water-stressed regions have water crises throughout the year. With the growing technology and awareness among people, everyone is on the mission to save a lot of blues to save the future on our earth.

We should get into the habit of using wastewater rather than draining it out. Study shows a lot of water gets wasted in industrial use, household utilities, and irrigation. More than 93% of this water can be treated and reused. Untreated water is a great threat to mankind and life on earth. The effluent is then discharged into the environment, polluting lakes, rivers, and oceans. Unsafe water is more hazardous and causes more diseases. As the water quality gets polluted, water quality degradation happens. It’s high time that we realize our responsibility. Every household, industry, and individual makes a difference in reducing the wastage of water.

Definitely with the help of technology we are moving towards a better and more sustainable future. Today, with the new age development in the field of technology — IoT and AI, which helps to monitor water activities like water leakages, water quality, soil moisture, and access weather forecasts, we have come a long way. The manual meter reading has also been replaced by sensors that have upgraded the conventional system by lowering their costs. The growing trend has allowed obtaining meter readings remotely and automatically in real-time. Such technology is required when the world is moving towards digitalization.

Today, we can detect running water and leakages due to technological advancements. At present, we understand that change is required since it has an impact on the lives of many living species on our planet. We can succeed by reducing water pollution and following the positive footprints of reusing wastewater instead of wasting it. Individually, we must take responsibility for saving our future.

“You never realize how important water is until the well goes dry.”

Role of Technology in Water was originally published in Indra Water on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.