Water Scarcity: Threat for the future!

1. Water Scarcity: Threat for the future! Submitted to: Prof. Sanjay Jain • Subject: Design Basics • Date: 19 December 2009

2. The Consequences of Water Scarcity: Improper Supply of water Water Scarcity Causes diseases Health issues Capacity of O/P generation is low Thus, heading towards disaster Unhealthy Society Nation is in Poverty

3. Needis not only restricted to a product based solution but change in the process, method, legislation, awareness and even people’s opinion on Water Scarcity

4. Critical issues which needs to be addressed: • Acceptance of the threat about future crisis • Micro level solutions • Approach towards the solutions • Minimum reliability on monsoon or rains • More focus on conservation measures both at micro and macro level

5. Possible solutions

6. Modified wash basin used in kitchen • The Wash Basin contains two holes for water drainage. • One hole drains water which has soda ash . • Other hole collects the drained water after cleaning vegetables and cereals or waste food of kitchen. • Two holes are managed by Hole Locking System which can be pushed on either side. • Second pipe takes water to a Simple tank which later can be used for watering plants. • Or • It takes water to a Water Collecting Pipe which has drip irrigation facility.

7. Design of a calendar for the maintenance of the tap • Digital calendar can have, add on feature which alarms on maintenance of the tap. • Branded companies of taps can provide a maintenance schedule. • By regular maintenance of tap, would save water leakage at every household.

8. Individual understanding and ownership • Inspiration from traditional or old age methods • Strict legislation mandatory • Cheap methodical designs • Implementation of water conservation products at commercial level.

9. Old Traditional methods of water harvesting • Kund is a 40ft deep water well which can collect 100 thousand liters of pure drinking water. • It is covered from the top with a hole near its steps. • The covering has a slight slope by which rain water flows from the covering into the hole. The hole is covered in other seasons. • Every house in old Rajasthan has a stage kind of a structure in the courtyard which is basically 15ft deep. This structure can collect approx. 25000 liters of water in a good monsoon season per house. • Jaisalmeris a city in Rajasthan which is 800 years old. It receives rainfall of 16 cms. Though being in a scarce rainfall region this city has 52 well maintained water bodies which are filled throughout the year.

10. Certain effective solutions to water harvesting in present day scenario : • Government can implement a law, by defining a time period, all old houses, bungalows and apartments should place a roof water collecting system. The penalty could be in form of non recognition of ownership of that household property. • At every 10 sq km area one Kund can be built which water is used by people staying in that area. The physical maintenance or cost can be contributed by the same people.

11. Conclusion: • In all above solutions the main concern lies in the complete commitment of every individual who is part of the society. It is well known that 3500 years old Harrapan civilization had no modern techniques of water treatment or drainage pumping system, yet on the basis of difference in surface level water was drawn through out the city which was spread hundreds of kms in area. Therefore, having committed to save water one can commit to save life in near future.

12. Thank you Kranti Vanjari