3.

WATER RESOURCES H
CBSE CLASS 10TH GEOGRAPHY
 Water Coverage and Freshwater Availability:

 Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is covered with water, but only a small proportion
is freshwater usable by humans.
 Freshwater is mainly obtained from surface runoff and groundwater, continuously
renewed through the hydrological cycle.

 Water Scarcity:

 Despite water being a renewable resource, many regions suffer from water scarcity.
 By 2025, nearly two billion people are predicted to live in absolute water scarcity.

 Water Facts and Figures:

 96.5% of the world's water volume exists as oceans, and only 2.5% is freshwater.
 Nearly 70% of this freshwater is in ice sheets and glaciers in Antarctica, Greenland,
and mountainous regions.
 Less than 30% of freshwater is stored as groundwater in aquifers.

 Water Availability in India:

 India receives nearly 4% of the global precipitation.

 Ranks 133rd in the world in terms of per capita water availability.
 The total renewable water resources in India are estimated at 1,897 sq km per annum.

 Water Scarcity Causes:

 Water scarcity is often associated with regions of low rainfall or drought-prone areas.
 Most water scarcity is caused by over-exploitation, excessive use, and unequal access
to water among different social groups.

 Future Water Scarcity Prediction:

 By 2025, it is predicted that large parts of India will experience absolute water
scarcity.

 Global Water Facts:

 Despite water being abundant and renewable, many regions suffer from shortages.
 Variations in water availability are due to seasonal and annual precipitation changes.
 Case Examples:

 Deserts of Rajasthan and the image of women carrying water in earthen pots.
 A boy collecting drinking water in Kolkata after heavy rainfall, indicating that even
regions with occasional heavy rains can face water challenges.
 A Kashmiri earthquake survivor carrying water in snowy conditions, highlighting
extreme scenarios of water scarcity.

 Need for Water Conservation and Management:

 Essential to address water scarcity despite the renewability of water resources.

 Emphasis on the necessity of sustainable practices to ensure equal access and prevent
over-exploitation.

 Urbanization and Water Demand:

 Dense populations and urban lifestyles increase water and energy requirements,
leading to the over-exploitation and depletion of groundwater in cities.

 Water Scarcity Despite Availability:

 Water scarcity can also occur due to poor water quality from pollution by domestic
and industrial wastes, chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers.

 Causes of Water Scarcity:

 Over-exploitation, excessive use, unequal access to water, and pollution are major
contributors.
 Growing population and higher demands for water exacerbate the situation.
 Intensive irrigation for agriculture leads to falling groundwater levels, affecting water
availability and food security.

 Impact of Industrialization and Urbanization:

 Post-independence industrialization and urbanization have increased pressure on

freshwater resources.
 Industries are heavy users of water and require hydroelectric power, which contributes
approximately 22% of India's electricity.

 Water Stress and River Pollution:

 Water stress occurs when availability is between 1,000 and 1,600 cubic meters per
person per year.
 Many of India's rivers, including the Ganga and Yamuna, have become toxic due to
pollution from population growth, agricultural modernization, urbanization, and
industrialization.

 Need for Water Conservation and Management:

  Conservation and management are essential to prevent health hazards, ensure food
security, sustain livelihoods, and protect ecosystems.
 Over-exploitation and mismanagement can lead to ecological crises.

 Historical Water Management:

 Ancient India constructed sophisticated hydraulic structures like dams, reservoirs,

lakes, embankments, and canals for irrigation.
 Notable examples include:
o Sringaverapura (near Allahabad) had a sophisticated water harvesting system
in the first century B.C.
o Extensive dams, lakes, and irrigation systems during Chandragupta Maurya's
reign.
o Sophisticated irrigation works in Kalinga (Odisha), Nagarjunakonda (Andhra
Pradesh), Bennur (Karnataka), Kolhapur (Maharashtra).
o Bhopal Lake, one of the largest artificial lakes, built in the 11th century.
o Tank in Hauz Khas, Delhi, constructed in the 14th century by Iltutmish for
supplying water to Siri Fort area.

 Modern Dams and Their Functions:

 Dams are built to impound rivers and rainwater for various uses such as:
o Irrigation
o Electricity generation
o Domestic and industrial water supply
o Flood control
o Recreation
o Inland navigation
o Fish breeding
 Multi-purpose projects integrate these uses for efficient water management.

 Examples of Multi-purpose Projects:

 Bhakra-Nangal project in Sutluj-Beas river basin for hydel power and irrigation.
 Hirakud project in the Mahanadi basin for water conservation and flood control.

 Dams Classification:

 According to structure and materials: Timber dams, embankment dams, masonry

dams (with subtypes).
 According to height: Large dams, major dams, low dams, medium height dams, high
dams.

 Post-Independence Multi-purpose Projects:

 Aimed at integrated water resources management for national development.

 Jawaharlal Nehru termed dams as the ‘temples of modern India’ for their role in
integrating agricultural and village economy development with industrial progress.

 Environmental Impact of Dams:

  Regulating and damming rivers affect natural flow, causing poor sediment flow and
excessive sedimentation.
 Results in rockier stream beds and poorer habitats for aquatic life.
 Fragmentation of rivers makes migration and spawning difficult for aquatic fauna.
 Submersion of vegetation and soil in reservoirs leads to decomposition over time.

 Environmental Movements:

 Movements like Narmada Bachao Andolan and Tehri Dam Andolan emerged in
opposition to large dams.
 Resistance is due to large-scale displacement of local communities and loss of
livelihood.

 Beneficiaries of Large Projects:

 Often, landowners, large farmers, industrialists, and urban centers benefit from such
projects.
 Landless villagers may not gain from these projects, questioning the equitable
distribution of benefits.

 Irrigation and Cropping Patterns:

 Irrigation has shifted cropping patterns to water-intensive and commercial crops.

 This has ecological consequences such as soil salinisation and changes in social
landscapes.

 Traditional Water Management:

 Historical records show sophisticated hydraulic structures like dams and irrigation
systems were constructed in ancient India.
 Examples include Sringaverapura’s water harvesting system and the tank in Hauz
Khas, Delhi.

 Narmada Bachao Andolan:

 A movement against the Sardar Sarovar Dam, focusing on environmental issues and
rehabilitation for displaced people.
 Highlights the suffering and displacement faced by local communities.

 Sardar Sarovar Dam:

 Built on the Narmada River in Gujarat, one of the largest water resource projects in
India.
 Covers Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
 Aims to meet water requirements in drought-prone areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

 Social Inequality:

 Dams and irrigation projects have increased the social gap between richer landowners
and the landless poor.
 Conflicts Over Water Use:

 Dams create conflicts between different groups wanting various uses and benefits
from the same water resources.
 Example: Sabarmati-basin farmers in Gujarat were agitated over the prioritization of
water supply to urban areas during droughts.

 Inter-State Water Disputes:

 Disputes between states are becoming common regarding the sharing of costs and
benefits of multi-purpose projects.

 Krishna-Godavari Dispute:

 Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments objected to Maharashtra's diversion of

more water at Koyna for a multipurpose project.
 This diversion would reduce downstream flow, adversely affecting agriculture and
industry in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

 Failure to Achieve Project Purposes:

 Many objections to projects arose due to their failure to achieve intended purposes,
such as flood control.
 Dams constructed to control floods have ironically triggered floods due to
sedimentation in the reservoir.

 Flood Aggravation:

 Release of water from dams during heavy rains has aggravated flood situations, as
seen in Maharashtra and Gujarat in 2006.
 Floods caused extensive life and property damage and soil erosion.

 Sedimentation Effects:

 Sedimentation in reservoirs deprives floodplains of silt, a natural fertilizer, leading to

land degradation.

 Negative Environmental Impacts:

 Multi-purpose projects have induced earthquakes, caused waterborne diseases,

increased pests, and led to pollution due to excessive water use.

 Rainwater Harvesting as an Alternative:

 Given the disadvantages and resistance to multi-purpose projects, water harvesting

systems are considered a viable alternative both socio-economically and
environmentally.

 Historical Water-Harvesting Systems:

  Ancient India had a tradition of sophisticated water-harvesting systems.
 People had in-depth knowledge of rainfall regimes and soil types, developing various
techniques to harvest rainwater, groundwater, river water, and floodwater.

 Regional Water-Harvesting Techniques:

 Hill and Mountainous Regions: Diversion channels like 'guls' or 'kuls' of the
Western Himalayas were built for agriculture.
 Rajasthan: Rooftop rainwater harvesting was commonly practiced to store drinking
water.
 Flood Plains of Bengal: Inundation channels were developed to irrigate fields.
 Arid and Semi-Arid Regions: Agricultural fields were converted into rain-fed
storage structures like 'khadins' in Jaisalmer and 'Johads' in other parts of Rajasthan to
allow water to stand and moisten the soil.

 Traditional Rainwater Harvesting in Rajasthan:

 Houses in semi-arid and arid regions like Bikaner, Phalodi, and Barmer traditionally
had underground tanks (tankas) for storing drinking water.
 Tankas were part of a well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system, built
inside the main house or courtyard and connected to sloping roofs via pipes.
 The first spell of rain was used to clean the roofs and pipes, and subsequent showers'
rainwater was collected in the tankas.
 Stored rainwater could last till the next rainfall, serving as a reliable source of
drinking water in the summers.

 Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting in Meghalaya:

 In Shillong, despite being near the highest rainfall areas in the world (Cherapunjee
and Mawsynram), the city faces water shortages.
 Nearly every household in Shillong has a rooftop rainwater harvesting structure,
providing 15-25% of the total water requirement.

 Decline of Rainwater Harvesting in Rajasthan:

 The practice is declining in western Rajasthan due to the availability of water from the
Indira Gandhi Canal.
 Some houses still maintain tankas as they prefer the taste of rainwater over tap water.

 Adoption in Other Parts of India:

 Rooftop rainwater harvesting is being successfully adapted in many parts of rural and
urban India.
 Example: In Gendathur, Mysuru, Karnataka, nearly 200 households have installed
rooftop rainwater harvesting systems, making the village rich in rainwater.

 Traditional Water System in Meghalaya:

 A 200-year-old system uses bamboo pipes to tap stream and spring water.
  About 18-20 litres of water enter the bamboo pipe system and transport over hundreds
of meters, reducing to 20-80 drops per minute at the plant site.

 Bamboo Pipe Channels:

 Bamboo pipes divert perennial springs from hilltops to lower reaches by gravity.
 Channel sections made of bamboo divert water to plant sites, where it's distributed
through different forms of bamboo pipes.
 The flow of water into the pipes is controlled by manipulating the pipe positions.

 Water Application at Plant Sites:

 Reduced channel sections and diversion units are used in the last stage of water
application.
 The last channel section enables water to be dropped near the roots of the plant.

 Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting in Gendathur:

 Gendathur, a village in Mysuru, Karnataka, receives an annual precipitation of 1,000

mm.
 Each house can collect and use about 50,000 litres of water annually with 80%
collection efficiency and around 10 fillings.

 Total Rainwater Harvested:

 With 200 houses using the system, the net amount of rainwater harvested annually is
1,00,000 litres.

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Classify Each Situation: (a) Region with high annual rainfall: Not suffering from
water scarcity (b) Region having high annual rainfall and large population:
Suffering from water scarcity (c) Region having high annual rainfall but water is
highly polluted: Suffering from water scarcity (d) Region having low rainfall and
low population: Not suffering from water scarcity
2. Identify the Incorrect Statement: (c) Multi-purpose projects lead to large scale
displacements and loss of livelihood.
3. Identify Mistakes and Rewrite Correctly: (a) Incorrect: Multiplying urban centres
with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have helped in proper utilisation
of water resources. Correct: Multiplying urban centres with large and dense
populations and urban lifestyles have led to over-exploitation and depletion of water
resources. (b) Incorrect: Regulating and damming of rivers does not affect the river’s
natural flow and its sediment flow. Correct: Regulating and damming of rivers
affects the river’s natural flow and its sediment flow. (c) Incorrect: In Gujarat, the
Sabarmati basin farmers were not agitated when higher priority was given to water
supply in urban areas, particularly during droughts. Correct: In Gujarat, the
Sabarmati basin farmers were agitated when higher priority was given to water supply
in urban areas, particularly during droughts. (d) Incorrect: Today in Rajasthan, the
practice of rooftop rainwater water harvesting has gained popularity despite high
water availability due to the Indira Gandhi Canal. Correct: Today in Rajasthan, the
 practice of rooftop rainwater harvesting has declined due to high water availability
from the Indira Gandhi Canal, though some houses still maintain the tankas.

Short Answer Questions (about 30 words):

1. How does water become a renewable resource?

o Water becomes a renewable resource through the hydrological cycle, where it
continuously moves and gets renewed by processes like precipitation,
evaporation, and condensation.
2. What is water scarcity and what are its main causes?
o Water scarcity occurs when the demand for water exceeds its availability.
Main causes include over-exploitation, pollution, unequal distribution, and
increasing population.
3. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of multi-purpose river projects.
o Advantages: Provide water for irrigation, generate electricity, supply water for
domestic and industrial use, and control floods.
o Disadvantages: Cause displacement of communities, environmental
degradation, sedimentation in reservoirs, and potential increase in waterborne
diseases.

Long Answer Questions (about 120 words):

1. Rainwater Harvesting in Semi-Arid Regions of Rajasthan:

o In semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, traditional rainwater harvesting is carried
out using structures like tankas (underground tanks) for storing drinking water.
These tankas are connected to rooftops to collect and store rainwater, which is
then used during dry periods. The first spell of rain cleans the collection
surfaces, and subsequent rainfall is stored in the tankas. This method provides
a reliable source of water during the summer months when other sources dry
up. The collected rainwater, known as palar pani, is considered pure and is an
important source of drinking water in these regions.
2. Modern Adaptations of Traditional Rainwater Harvesting:
o Modern adaptations of traditional rainwater harvesting methods include
rooftop rainwater harvesting systems, which are widely used in urban and
rural areas. In Gendathur, Mysuru, Karnataka, nearly 200 households have
installed such systems, allowing them to collect and store rainwater for various
uses. This system involves collecting rainwater from rooftops through pipes
and storing it in tanks for later use. This method is cost-effective, reduces
dependence on external water sources, and helps in groundwater recharge. It is
especially beneficial in regions facing water scarcity and can significantly
contribute to water conservation efforts.