Water Shortage in Summer – How to Handle It

It was first week of May. The summer heat was scaling new heights every day. I was standing at a railway station. Everyone was watching a water fountain and cursing railway authorities – “Look, how wealthy is this department. Janta is not getting water and this department can afford to waste water”. Actually there was a leak in a water supply line. Everyone’s grumbling at the platform was of no avail. I walked down to one of the offices at the platform and informed a railway official about the situation. He immediately told some one to close the water line and take up repairs. This reminded me of an age-old saying – “Don’t curse darkness, instead light a candle”.

Summer in India does not come with heat alone. It brings other problems as well, like scarcity of water and shortage of electricity. One can do without electricity, but it is difficult to live without water.

After this incidence, I thought, if not completely, at least to some extent, water shortage problem can be resolved by our efforts. The citizens can contribute by adopting a conservationist approach without jeopardizing their requirements. Each family can make conscious efforts in this direction and make life comfortable for themselves as well as for their friends and neighbours. An awakened resident alone can do a lot for oneself instead of depending solely and meekly on someone else (authorities) to act for them.

The major contribution can definitely come from those who can afford for it. Here are a few ways to save water.
Close water tap(s) when not in use
If any tap / source of water is found leaking, inform the service department for immediate repair
Use a glass tumbler instead of running water while brushing your teeth. This saves at least five litres of water each time per family member.
Use shaving mug (for water) instead of running water. This again saves at least five litres of water each time per family member.
Open the tap as less as possible, only to meet requirements, while washing your hands. This saves at least 3 litres of water each time per family member.
If you use a shower to bathe, then shut it while applying soap. This saves at least 10 litres of water each time per family member.
Old system in water closet (WC) flushes 10 to 13 litres of water in one gush. New systems provide options of using 3 litres or full 10 litres depending on requirement. If each member of a family uses the former option in the new system at least twice daily, then a family of four members saves 56 litres of water per day. One inch pipe half-turn valve is another simple, but effective system in WC.
The above practices, if followed religiously, give an opportunity for saving at least 100 litres of water per family per day.
Other areas of water wastage are - ignorant and careless usage of ware while car- washing and gardening. Here again, lots of water can be saved by adopting the right practices, as suggested below:
A car can be easily washed with 2 - 3 buckets (about 30 - 40 litres) of water. Using running water from a hose will drain about 400 litres of water in just 10 minutes.
Use of a 'water can' for watering plants in the kitchen garden, instead of a running hose again saves a lot of water.
Rain harvesting is another concept, which at present is being adopted in isolation in those areas where there is only seasonal rain. This concept when developed at large scale can do a lot good for everyone.
Civil authorities and responsible builders can play a big role by making water conservation practices mandatory. It is high time we start adopting these measures before the problem takes monstrous shape.