Question

How do urbanization and industrialisation adversely affect the availability of water

Answer 1

The following points may help you:

a. Water is available in abundance, around three fourth of earth is covered with water. However, only a small  proportion of it actually accounts for fresh water which can be put to use rest is saline water not suitable for human consumption.
b. Water is a scarce resource and a life sustaining resource.
c. Water scarcity is the result of many factors, like industrialisation , urbanisation.
d. Post independence India pursued policy of rapid industrialisation to bring about growth and prosperity.
e.  Rise of industrial units , their growing use of water became one of the factors for water scarcity.
f. Apart from that industries need electricity remain operational and carry out production, much of their energy needs come from hydroelectric power.
g.  Industrialisation has also impacted the quality of water,  Bad quality of water due to pollution, dumping of chemical and industrial waste, garbage dumping also accounts for shortage of water.
h. Rise of urban centres has increased the demand for water for domestic consumption purposes.
i. Growth of housing societies, towns have aggravated the problem, as they generally have their groundwater pumps to meet their water needs leading to over exploitation of water .
j. Unequal distribution of  water among different social groups also accounts for water scarcity. The poor in the rural areas blame the state  machinery of diverting water in urban areas and benefiting the rich.