Water claims to be an important resource. An important use of water in our country is for irrigation. Besides, water is also required in large amounts for industrial and domestic consumption.
USES
- Is essential for all forms of life.
- Many uses of water include agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities. Virtually, all of these human uses, require fresh water.
Effects of over utilization of water
1. Decrease of ground water: i. Increased usage decreases the ground water. ii. Insufficient rain fall iii. Building construction activities sealing the permeability of the soil.
2. Ground subsidence: If ground water withdrawal is greater than it’s recharge rate, then the sediments in the aquifers get compacted. As a result shrinkage of land surface takes place. Problems: a. Structural damages to the buildings b. Fracture in pipes. c. Reversing the flow of canals.
3. Lowering of water table: Over utilization of ground water in arid and semi arid regions for agriculture disturbs the state of equilibrium of the hydrological cycle.
4. Over utilization of water causes earth quakes, landslides and famines.
5. Drying up of wells: Due to over utilization, ground water level decreases much faster than can be regenerated. It leads to drying up of dug well and bore wells.
6. Pollution of water: Near the agricultural land ground water decreases therefore water containing nitrogen enters into the ground and pollute the ground water. Problem: Water which contains excess nitrate content is not suitable for drinking
