Water Conservation
A Comprehensive Project Report
1. Selection of Project Topic (Introduction)
Nature has gifted us some precious and valuable resources and water is one of them and is our basic need.
Tomorrow morning you wake up and find that there's no water running from the washroom tap. So you go to the kitchen and find there's no water in the kitchen tap too. This go for a few hours and you realize that water from the world has vanished mysteriously. What would happen? And there's no one to blame but ourselves. Hard to imagine, isn't it? So let's not waste any more time and start conserving water this minute itself.
Now the world is heading towards water crises due to the excessive and uneconomical use of water by the large human population. Human beings waste tons of water while brushing teeth, bathing, washing clothes, vehicles and utensils, etc. Overuse of water has led to a decrease in supply of water available for human use.
Conserving water means using our water supply wisely and be responsible. As every individual depends upon water for livelihood, we must learn how to keep our limited supply of water.
The uses of water are endless —
Bottom line:
We need water for activities and habits we use regularly. If we want to continue to keep our bodies healthy, clean and everything else – we must conserve water.
— EVERY 🌧️ DROP COUNTS —
2. Importance of the Topic
Importance of Water:
Water is an essential element and plays an important role in the human body. We can survive upto several weeks without food, but only a few days without water. Every system in the body from cells and tissues, to vital organs requires water to function.
Need of Water Conservation:
Although \(71\%\) of earth is covered with water, acute shortage of water is reported all over the world. India receives nearly \(4\%\) of global precipitation, still it suffers from water scarcity.
Increasing industrialization is exerting pressure on existing water resources. Rapid urbanization has also increased the pressure on groundwater sources like tube wells.
Although water is a renewable source, the misuse and wastage of water has resulted in depletion of water resource, conserving water has become a major environmental issue.
3. Objectives of Project Work
The objectives of project work are as follows:
4. Project Work Methodology
ABSTRACT:
India has \(16\%\) of the world's population and only \(4\%\) of the world's water resource, which are depleting rapidly.
The demand for water is expected to grow from \(40 \text{ billion}\) cubic meters (\(\text{bcm}\)) currently to around \(220 \text{ bcm}\) in 2025. Water is one of the most important inputs essential for crops. Both its shortage and excess affects the growth and development of the plants, yields and quality of produce. There are numerous methods to reduce such losses and to improve soil moisture.
While experts appreciate the change in mindsets to provide drinking water supply, the real challenge, they say, is to bring a revolution in water use in farming.
Hearteningly, this is being driven by a rare public private partnership between government and farmers, throwing up innovative cost effective solutions. For instance, in Dewas district in Madhya Pradesh, water had become scare for farmers, who were reduced to growing only one crop.
Deterioration of Water Quality:
Water quality refers to purity of water or water without unwanted substances.
The major sources for water pollution are:
This polluted water after certain scientific methods if reused then less water will be consume which leads to water conservation.
Rainwater Harvesting
Fig: Simple mechanism for Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is the simple process our technology used to conserve rainwater by collecting, storing, conveying and purifying of rainwater that runs off from rooftops generally, for later use.
It is simple process which can be afford by most of the population, which can benefits themselves as well as to the whole society.
Paani Foundation:
Paani foundation was set up in 2016 by the core team of 'Satyamev Jayate' show to learn.
It is a non-profit, non-governmental organization which is active in the area of drought preventing and watershed management in the state of Maharashtra. The Founders are 'Aamir Khan' & 'Kiran Rao'. The primary aim of Paani Foundation is to spread knowledge of watershed management and groundwater replenishment.
Many such organizations are now working on water conservations. Initiatives like Jal Shakti Abhiyan which improves water conservation can improve the stress conditions.
Water metering:
Nowadays, efficient way of cutting down water wastage is to install water meters and measure the amount of water that is being used in residential and commercial buildings. The volume of water used is calculated and charged according to the price of water.
5. Observations
The per capita water availability is a widely accepted parameter for gauging the water security for a country. By this information, India is already in water stress condition, as per estimation by 2050 with the population of \(1.6 \text{ billion}\), the water availability can be further reduce.
Water Availability
Data Breakdown:
Surface water: \(690 \text{ BCM}\)
Ground water: \(433 \text{ BCM}\)
Surface Water (SW): \(450 \text{ BCM}\) (\(65.21\%\))
Ground Water (GW): \(243 \text{ BCM}\) (\(56\%\))
Presently meets the demand, but is inadequate for future demand.
Global Water Scenario
Our observation has shown that, high income households tends to consume \(250 \text{ litres}\) (per head and above) and sometimes as high as \(600 \text{ litres}\). Many homes on the other hand make to do with as little as \(40 \text{ litres}\) per person/day.
While some water efficient devices such as low flush toilets and low demand showers are available in the market, there is no conditionality being imposed that all water delivering devices should meet certain efficiency norms. It is essential in a water-scare country that all taps, showers, washing machine, flushes should be water efficient.
How much water do we consume on a daily basis?
Spain's national statistics institute reported that average water consumption in the world was \(137 \text{ lit/day}\) in 2012, that number exceeds the minimum required per person. Optimal access allows for the consumption of \(100 \text{ litres}\) per person per day. In India, the average water consumption is taken to be \(135 \text{ lit/per day/person}\).
6. Analysis of Data
Flow rate regulation system:
The following system concentrates on manipulating household products such as taps, showers, toilets to reduce the amount of water consumed daily.
Taps: Water efficient taps are fixed with tap aerators which amplify the supposed volume and flow of water. A standard tap releases between 15 and 18 liters of water per minute while water efficient tap supplies 6 liters per minute.
| Product | Normal Product | Water efficient Product |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Tap | \(15-18 \text{ liters/minute}\) | \(6 \text{ liters/minute}\) |
| 2) Shower heads | \(15-25 \text{ lit/min}\) | \(6-8 \text{ lit/min}\) |
| 3) Toilets | \(10-13 \text{ lit/flush}\) | \(3-6 \text{ lit/flush}\) |
Analysis of rainwater harvesting:
In this system, run off flow is a function of roof size. The larger the roof the higher the run-off flow the converse is a case for smaller roofs. The rainwater obtained from a roof in a year is estimated as the product of roof's plan area. In the tropics \(75\%\) of this water runs off the roof while \(25\%\) is lost due to evaporation and splashing occurrences.
Primary data analyzed for this system was that of rainfall. Rainfall is an important factor here. Consequently higher amount of rainfall leads to higher amount of water available for harvest.
Therefore, months which experience dry periods would result to no water in the system unless previously stored in times of heavy rainfall. However, the analysis shows that on an average between peaks of rainfall, there is average water saving of \(17\%\) anually.
Greywater Harvesting:
Greywater harvesting refers to untreated wastewater which is not contaminated by toilet waste. It comprises of water discharged from bathtubs, showers, hand basins, laundry tubs, floor wastes and washing machines. Water released from the dishwasher, kitchen sink or garbage disposal is not included.
Greywater can be re-used for non-potable use such as landscaping, watering outdoor gardens, flushing toilets, etc. It is also an alternative towards water conservation.
Analysis:
In the greywater system, an estimated \(37\%\) of greywater is produced by a household. \(25\%\) of water is required for toilet flushes or irrigation purposes, while the excess is discharged as overflow to the different stream line. This system line can recycle the water further or end in the sewer system.
Through Analysis, following measures are found to be effective:
7. Results and Conclusions
Water problems will not go away by themselves. On the contrary, they will worsen unless we, as a global community, respond and use water responsibly. So, before it is too late, let us all, as individuals, families, communities, companies and institutions, pledge towards using water wisely. Intelligence is not in lavishness, but in conservation, so that our future generations can continue to enjoy the blissful feeling and touch of water.
