An essay of 1500 words on ground water the nations lifeline
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GROUNDWATER IS THE LIFELINE OF THE NATION
Water is life! If there were no water, there would be no life! Every life form, be it animal, plant, microscopic, or any other type, can’t live without water. Water keeps the metabolic process running. Cells live because of water; our organs and body systems work because of water; our families, society, nations, and the world all would come to standstill if water were not there.
However, our indifference and apathy to the indispensability of water has never ever let us realize as to what will happen if the earth stopped supplying this life-nectar to us! This wonder life-sustaining liquid is almost omnipresent in the form of oceans, vapour, precipitation, snow, ice, lakes, rivers, ponds, and aquifers underground. The mankind uses the underground water the most.
Imagine on a morning you are given the horrible news that all the water underground has run out. The tube-wells that had been pumping out water abundantly for years, have all of a sudden have gone dry! What will happen to your ablutions, bathing, cooking, washing, clothes, tea, coffee, milk, etc.? Do you think any of the aforementioned luxuries can be enjoyed without water? No, simply not! This is just at the micro level. Let’s see what will happen at the macro level!
According to The USGS Water Science School Groundwater is one of the Nation's most important natural resources. Groundwater is the major source of water supply to households and businesses. It provides drinking water for more than 90 percent of the rural population who do not get their water delivered to them from a city water department or private water company. A major percentage of the water used for irrigation comes from groundwater. Withdrawals of groundwater are expected to rise as the population increases and available sites for surface reservoirs become more limited.
According to a World Bank report Groundwater in India is a critical resource. However, an increasing number of aquifers are reaching unsustainable levels of exploitation. If current trends continue, in 20 years about 60% of all India’s aquifers will be in a critical condition. The report further states India is the largest user of groundwater in the world. It uses an estimated 230 cubic kilometers of groundwater per year - over a quarter of the global total. More than 60% of irrigated agriculture and 85% of drinking water supplies are dependent on groundwater. Urban residents increasingly rely on groundwater due to unreliable and inadequate municipal water supplies.
Water is the force behind all the industry, agriculture, manufacturing and trade and commerce. No production of anything is possible without water. There would be no crops, fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses if water would not give life and form to them! Similarly, dairy industry also flourishes on water.
Now let’s come to the energy production sector. All forms of energy generation is done using water. Be it hydroelectrically projects, or thermal power plant, or nuclear power plant, water is the key ingredient in all of them. There would be no power without water!The gist of all the points mentioned above is WATER IS INDISPENSABLE for life. No water, no life!
In spite of the indispensability of water in our life, our attitude to water is pathetic. We have been abusing its divinity! We have made it scarce. We must stop polluting and misusing it. The best we can do is optimal utilization of this wonder resource. We can save it from disappearing with modifications in our attitude. The first and foremost thing to be done is realize that we the humans cannot create water. We can only use it from nature.
The second thing we have to do is become frugal in using it. We must install highly efficient water management systems which dispense water smartly and intelligently. For example, computerized drip irrigation system for agriculture and smart taps for household consumption. We also must develop the expertise to convert the saline water of oceans and seas into potable water. Israel is an inspiration for the rest of the world. Countries like India can learn the water management technical know-how from Israel. We must never ever forget that without it neither we will survive nor any plant or animal! Let’s be wise; let’s use this life-giving nectar sagaciously!
Agriculture: In agriculture, ground water is used for the crops as they have easy access to ground water for watering the crops and in agriculture fish farming also uses ground water, fresh water is required for the good health of sea animals.
Domestic: Water is used domestically too, for drinking fresh water is preferred, for that people prefer ground water which is why they drill and get the fresh water themselves because ground water is the priority for domestic use.
Industrial: Factories use groundwater for the production of various products, for example, chemicals, gasoline, fabric production, production of microchips.
Irrigation: Water is used for irrigation purposes, the reason why fresh water is preferred for irrigation purpose to acquire healthy fruits and vegetables.
Livestock: To raise the livestock well, groundwater is needed, for cows, goats chickens, horses and etc.
Mining: Water is required for mining valuable minerals.
Thermoelectric Power: Water is used for the production of electrical power.
The above-mentioned points highlight the points why water is so important for the survival. As there so many advancements in the world, to keep up with them there should be products made in bulk as well as in variety and the quality cannot be compromised either. Everything we are using these days requires water for the production. The most important ingredient for all the things is water, if there is no water then there will be nothing to fulfill the needs of people.