Page 31 - Water Every Drop Counts

THE WATER WE USE : WHERE IT COMES FROM?
In the backdrop of estimates that demand for water will outstrip its supply by 2020, there is still
hope for India. Water scarcity in India is predominantly a manmade problem. Significant and
timely changes in the way we think about water and manage our resources, can ward off, or at
least mollify, the impending crisis.

SURFACE WATER
India receives an average
of 4,000 billion cubic meters
(bcm) of rainfall every year,
75% of it in four months
(June to September). Only
48% of this rainfall ends up
in India’s rivers.

GROUND WATER
Groundwater is a major
source water for human
consumption as well as for
agricultural and industrial
usage in India.

India has about 432
bcm of groundwater
reserves, of which only
395 bcm are utilizable.
As withdrawals exceed
recharge, Groundwater is
being pumped out from
increasingly lower levels, Groundwater withdrawals as a % of groundwater recharge
and, much in excess of
the rates of replenishment.
This is manifested in a falling water table in most parts of the country. In addition, the human,
agricultural, and industrial wastes that pollute India’s rivers seep into groundwater aquifers.

“UNUSED” SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER
600 cubic kilometers per annum

500
400
300

200
100
0
1997 2010 2020 2050
Ground Water Surface Water
Source : National Commission on Water, 1999

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