Introduction:
- A significant portion of India’s urban population still lacks access to safe drinking water. The recent Pey Jal Survekshan report reveals that only about 10% of Indian cities meet safe drinking water standards.
- Water quality in urban areas often deteriorates due to factors like aging pipelines, sediment buildup, and the accumulation of pathogens. This issue is further aggravated by leaking pipelines situated near sewer systems in many Indian cities.
Body:
- Water demand in Indian cities: As per the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO), urban areas require 135 litres of water per capita daily to meet basic needs.
Growing dependency on packaged drinking water (PDW):
- The gap in reliable piped water supply has led to a booming market for packaged drinking water.
- In Chennai, 70% of households, and in Kolkata, 38% of households, regularly purchase 20-litre water jars, despite having piped water access.
Shift towards decentralised water supply models:
- Over the last 15 years, PDW’s decentralised purification and non-piped distribution model has gained prominence. This system involves local service providers and global corporations, relying heavily on groundwater and a robust supply network.
- This model is increasingly seen as reliable due to its independence from municipal water networks.
Challenges in municipal water distribution:
- The existing piped water systems require urgent repairs and maintenance to ensure safe delivery.
- Cities like Bengaluru have begun experimenting with water ATMs to provide clean drinking water, and similar initiatives are emerging in cities like Delhi.
- However, concerns persist regarding the widespread use of reverse osmosis (RO) technology, which can strip water of essential minerals.
Recent urban water crises:
- Bengaluru: Faced its worst water crisis due to rapid urbanisation and depleting groundwater resources.
- Chennai: Experienced severe water shortages, indicating a lack of integrated water management in urban planning.
- Delhi: Rising temperatures have worsened the water crisis, sparking debates over water allocation to the capital.
Conclusion:
- With the urban population facing water scarcity projected to rise to 1.7–2.4 billion by 2050 (UN report), India will be among the hardest-hit nations.
- Although the government has focused on providing tap water connections through schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission, the critical issue of aquifer quality remains overlooked.
- There is a pressing need for better coordination between departments managing surface and groundwater, irrigation, and drinking water.
- Despite frequent droughts and floods, rainwater harvesting initiatives remain under-implemented, highlighting the need for holistic water management solutions.
Legacy Editor Changed status to publish November 8, 2024