Water Scarcity
Water is the foundation of our existence. Our bodies comprise almost 70 percent water and it is one of the essential elements that all living things need to survive. As an instinct that comes naturally to all living beings, quenching thirst by drinking water is as old as life on Earth. But as man evolved, so did water. From drinking just any kind of water to trying to make it taste better, the purpose behind water purification in its earliest days was to please the senses without any knowledge yet to distinguish between foul and clean drinking water. Turbidity (the measure of water clarity) was one of the main driving forces behind the earliest water treatment. The knowledge of microorganisms and chemical contaminants was still an undiscovered terrain back then.
Why Need to Improve Water Purification
As man discovered more chemical compounds, organic and inorganic materials and biological contaminants, simultaneously arose the need to develop advanced methods of purification to meet the growing requirement for clean drinking water.
As per a report, it is estimated that around 37.7 million Indians are affected by waterborne diseases annually; 1.5 million children are estimated to die of diarrhea alone every year. Water-borne diseases pose an intense burden and have a significant impact on a country’s economic growth which makes it even more necessary to have a proper purification system in place.
Some of the effective water purification methods which have stood the test of time are-
- Boiling- The easiest way to purify water is to boil it for a good time causing the bacteria and virus to dissipate, removing most of the impurities from the water. The dead micro-organisms and impurities however settle at the bottom of the water and must be strained to complete the purification process.
- Water Purifier- The most trusted form of water purification found in most houses today, a water purifier uses a multi-stage process involving UV and UF filtration, carbon block and modern water filtration technology that gets rid of most of the chemicals and impurities.
- Water Chlorination- It is an older technique wherein a mild bleach with approximately 5% chlorine is added to the water. This mixture works as an oxidant and quickly kills microorganisms, making water safe for consumption.
- Distillation- Distillation involves collecting the condensed water after evaporation, ensuring that water is free of contaminants, but it is a time-consuming process and eliminates minerals.
- Iodine Addition- Iodine is a red chemical that is easily available as a tablet or a liquid. It is extremely powerful as it kills bacteria and viruses. However, it adds an unpleasant taste and can be fatal if taken in high doses.
- Clay Vessel Filtration- A method which is still used in some rural regions, clay pots are used to purify muddy water by blocking out the mud and allowing potable water to pass through.
- UV Radiation- Water is exposed to a UV Light that kills microorganisms, thereby preventing it from breeding further.
- Reverse Osmosis (RO)- A popular method used heavily these days, Reverse Osmosis forces water through a semipermeable membrane and removes contaminants. Due to its membrane technology, which necessitates the use of additional water to clean the filter, which is then discarded, for every 1 litre of filtered water, an average RO water purifier wastes approximately 3 litres of water.
RO water purifiers are becoming increasingly popular in India due to their ability to remove a wide range of contaminants from drinking water. These purifiers come equipped with advanced features like-
- TDS controller
- Carbon filters
- UV disinfection
- Reverse osmosis technology
This helps to get rid of contaminants such as lead, arsenic, and bacteria in water. They also come with a warranty and are easy to install, making them an ideal choice for people looking for a reliable drinking water solution.
With a steady growth of the RO market, India’s Reverse Osmosis demand stood at 12.94 Million Units in FY2021 and is forecast to reach 27.99 Million Units by FY2030, growing at a healthy CAGR of 8.95% until FY2030.
Considering such remarkable growth, it is also very hard to ignore the threatening quantity of water that it sends down the drain. To produce a gallon of purified water, multiple other gallons of water are pushed out as reverse osmosis wastewater.
In an already water-scarce country such as ours, the situation of excessive wastage of water could lead to catastrophic results. According to the Central Groundwater Board of India, 17% of groundwater blocks are overexploited, meaning that the rate at which water is extracted is higher than the rate at which the aquifer can recharge.
Status of Groundwater depletion in India-
- According to the CGWB, with 230 billion metre cubes of groundwater drawn out each year for irrigating agricultural lands in India, many parts of the country are experiencing rapid depletion of groundwater.
- The total estimated groundwater depletion in India is in the range of 122–199 billion metre cubes.
- 89% of groundwater extracted is used in the irrigation sector, making it the highest category user in the country. These figures also make the agricultural states, some of the worst hit, by the water crunch.
- A study published by Science.org has found that by 2025, large swaths of northwestern and southern India will have “critically low groundwater availability.” The country is further projected to face severe water stress by 2050.
- If the same trend continues, soon we will have to pay a huge amount to fulfil our very basic needs. This would also lead to a reduction in food crops by up to 20 per cent and an increased risk of earthquakes due to the Earth’s crust becoming lighter.
In this situation, the only possible solution to this problem is-
- Artificial Recharge of Groundwater: It is the process of spreading water on the land to increase the infiltration through the soil and percolation to the aquifer or of injecting water by wells directly into the aquifer.
- Groundwater Management Plants: Installing groundwater management plants at local levels will help the people know the groundwater availability in their area, making them use it wisely.
- Reducing wastage of water- The only proper way to ensure water is available is to not waste it in the first place. It is important to limit usage and be more mindful of our everyday consumption of the same.
- Storing water- There are many unavoidable instances of water getting wasted either through ROs or ACs. Using water-saving solutions like AquaSave water storage tank empowers families to manage water responsibly in a sustainable manner, thereby helping in preserving water resources.
- Reusing water- Water used for multiple purposes before it is finally discarded is water brought to good use. The water saved in AquaSave storage tanks can have numerous uses like mopping and cleaning, washing bathrooms, utensils or hands, cleaning cars, watering gardens or filling coolers. These are all activities for which most families otherwise use fresh water but with a little smartness and a minor investment, one can continue doing the same chores but more responsibly.
You can checkout the most innovative and compact RO Waste water Storage tank at website given below.
AquaSave comes in a sleek and compact design and can be conveniently wall mounted as per preference. Made using HDPE-approved food-grade plastic, AquaSave ensures the stored water is clean and safe to use. With an attached tap which can very well be used as a kitchen tap, you can complete all the household errands, but with the stored water, reducing your overall consumption of water.
To conclude, it is high time we take water scarcity seriously. It is hard to imagine that people will ever go back to not using Air Conditioners and ROs because of the convenience that technology offers but it is equally essential to adopt innovative technology which helps in undoing the damage done by the other. After all, if we don’t take the future in our hands, who else will?
