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India is sitting on a water time bomb. Nearly half of India’s population, about 600 million people, is all set to face extreme water stress in coming years, says a recent NITI Aayog report. The report also estimates that 21 major cities, including Delhi, would run out of groundwater by 2030.The country is one of the world’s largest extractors of groundwater, accounting for 25% of the total available water. Agriculture consumes over 85% of water in India, contrary to the popular belief that domestic usage or industrial usage captures most of the water. With only 40% assured irrigation, the farmers depend heavily either on rains or on groundwater for their needs.
Even though the monsoon season in India extends over four months, and we barely get 30 days of heavy rainfall in all, India has not put in much-required efforts to capture this abundance of rainwater.
India receives 4,000 billion cubic meters of rain, while it needs a maximum of 3,000 billion cubic meters (BCM) of water a year. The country captures only 8% of its annual rainfall, which is amongst the lowest in the world. This also means that rainwater harvesting and replenishing the groundwater, and also conserving the available water resources seems to be one of the most efficient and doable solutions, that has scope and opportunity to resolve water scarcity.
Though rainwater harvesting is not new to India, the lack of expertise and technology has hampered its implementation, particularly in urban areas. One rainwater harvesting system that is making all the changes is AquaStar. Unlike makeshift metal systems that barely survive for months, the AquaStar rainwater harvesting system and products are exclusively designed for rainwater harvesting. Made from virgin uPVC materials, AquaStar products are designed to support contemporary homes and buildings. Available in multiple sizes and colors to suit modern buildings, they offer the perfect solution to harvest rainwater.
The benefits are numerous. Apart from being used to supplement the main supply, it provides water when a drought occurs. Rainwater harvesting helps to mitigate flooding of low-lying areas and reduce demand on wells which may enable groundwater levels to be sustained. It also helps in the availability of clean water, as rainwater is substantially free of salinity and other salts.
India would reach a population of about 1.66 billion by 2050. The annual food requirement will also exceed 250 million tonnes, says a report by Central Water Commission, This also means that demand for water will also increase substantially, And rainwater harvesting is the best way to conserve water for future generations.
To know more about AquaStar rainwater harvesting system and products, visit www.aquarain.in