Question

What is water scarcity? Write the main reasons for water scarcity.​

Answer 1

Water scarcity means shortage of water. It is usually associated with regions having low rainfall or drought prone areas. There are many other reasons which lead to scarcity of water.

These are:

• Large growing population—means more water required for domestic use and also to produce more food.
• In the agricultural sector, water resources are being over-exploited to expand irrigated areas and dry-season agriculture.
• More water required for irrigation purposes to facilitate higher food production, i.e., for doing multiple cropping and for HYV seeds.
• There is greater demand for water with growing urbanisation and industrialisation.
• An unequal access to water among different social groups.
• The quality of water is deteriorating, i.e., getting polluted by domestic and industrial wastes, chemical fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture.
• Excessive use of water by industries which also require water to generate hydro-electric power to run them.
• Over exploitation of water in the urban areas. Housing societies and colonies have their own ground-water pumping devices. This causes depletion of fragile water resources in the cities.

Answer 2

Explanation:

water resources to meet the demands of water usage within a region. Water shortages may be caused by climate change, such as altered weather patterns including droughts or floods, increased pollution, and increased human demand and overuse of water. ...