Enviraj Consulting

Let's go back to our school days, where we have learnt that water is an essential element of life and there are the only 97% seawater and 3% fresh water available on earth. Out of 3%, only less than 1% is available for us and rest are locked up in glaciers, polar ice caps, atmosphere, and soil. So one thing is quite clear that we have a finite water resource available with us, and we have to manage and use it wisely to meet our water demand in various sectors. Talking about freshwater in India, here are some facts that we all must know: India withdraws the Highest amount of freshwater in the world. India is a groundwater economy. At 260 cubic km per year, our country is the highest user of groundwater in the world—we use 25% of all groundwater extracted globally, ahead of the US and China . India has only about 4 per cent of the world's renewable water resources but is home to nearly 18 per cent of the world's population. There are two major sources of freshwater in India:

Before we learn about the causes, we will first understand a bit about water stress. Water stress occurs when there is not enough water for agriculture, industrial and domestic use. Or When water demand exceeds the available water during a certain period of time. Water Demand > Water Availability =  Water Stress! Here are the four major reasons that cause water stress in India: 1- Over Consumption:  The water use efficiency in developed countries is 50 – 60% as compared to only 38% in India.  2- Water Pollution:  About 70% of surface water in India is polluted. So when the water is polluted, that means it's not readily available for direct use. This reduces available water and may also cause water stress. 3- Population: India is one of the most populated countries in the world. The increased population in urban areas increases the water demand of the city, which may lead to water stress. 4-  Climate change: Climate change impacts the water cycle by influencing when, where, and h