Droughts and rising water needs for irrigation have led farms and cities to rely more on groundwater, leading to a steady decline in underground water supplies. Now, based on observations made by NASA and German satellites, an international team of scientists has found that the amount of fresh and fresh water on Earth has declined sharply since May 2014 and this decline has continued since then.
Declining freshwater reserves
Global situation
- Between 2015 and 2023, freshwater stored on land, including lakes, rivers and groundwater, will decrease by 1,200 cubic kilometers.
- Freshwater quality has declined in about half of the countries. More than 400 river basins are seeing a decrease in water flow, including important catchments such as the Congo Basin.
- According to a World Meteorological Organization report, 2023 will be the driest year for rivers in the last three decades, which will further aggravate the freshwater crisis.
Indian situation
- India is home to 18% of the world’s population, but the country has only 4% of freshwater resources and occupies just 4% of the Earth’s surface.
- Half of the country’s rivers are polluted, and more than 150 major reservoirs are operating at only 38% of their storage capacity, further aggravating the water crisis.
- According to the 2018 Water Management Index of Niti Aayog, a large population of India is affected by water stress. About 600 million Indians are facing water shortage.
- Groundwater is being over-exploited in agricultural states like Punjab and Haryana, leading to a severe decline in water levels.
- States in central and western India like Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat often face droughts, further depleting water reserves.
Major reasons for the decline in fresh water levels
El Niño events
- The El Niño event of 2014-2016 affected global rainfall patterns, further aggravating drought and water crisis.
- The increase in the temperature of the Pacific Ocean changed atmospheric jet streams, deepening the climate crisis across the world.
Climate change
- Climate change has increased problems like uneven rainfall and irregular monsoon, which has increased the incidence of drought and famine.
- Intense runoff after rainfall and prolonged drought is reducing water absorption capacity.
- Climate change has increased the rate of evaporation, further aggravating the situation of drought and water crisis.
Excessive exploitation of groundwater
- Excessive use of groundwater for irrigation, especially in drought-affected areas, is causing a decline in water level.
- Due to excessive exploitation of groundwater, it is becoming difficult to keep the water level balanced through natural replenishment. Ecosystem damage
- Deforestation and the loss of ecosystems such as wetlands have reduced water holding capacity.
- Soil erosion and reduced water absorption capacity of the land have a negative impact on water storage.
Agricultural practices and pollution
- Inefficient irrigation practices and water-intensive crops are leading to water wastage.