Wakal River Basin Project - Case Study

• sustainable water supply = a water supply will be available for future generations to come - does not damage the natural environment
• appropriate technology = technology that is suitable for the social and economic conditions of the area - simple technology that benefits the most people for the least amount of money
• appropriate technology needs to cover:

  • needs to use local materials
  • be affordable for those using it
  • be maintained by those using it
• wakal river basin is in rajasthan (state in north west india) it is part of the thar desert and is known for extreme dryness and poverty
• issues with current wakal water supply:

  • climate is harsh - hot summers
  • very low annual rainfall
  • little surface water as it is absorbed/evaporates quickly
• water management in the area is poor:

  • excessive water use for irrigation
  • over-extraction from wells
  • wells dry up
• sustainable approach for wakal river basin:

  • the NGO works with local communities to enhance water supply and storage through locally sustainable techniques
  • their efforts focus on educating the community about efficient water management
• three strategies to increase water supply:

  • taankas
  • johed
  • pats
• taankas are underground storage systems that collect surface water from roofs
• joheds are small earth dams that capture and store rainwater
• pats are small dams that are built across streams to divert water into irrigation channels - transfers water to fields
• increasing public awareness about the river basin:

  • education
  • by doing so water security is increased and problems like soil erosion, desertification and ground water pollution are reduced
• water conservation = use less water
• water conservation examples:

  • fixing leaks in reservoirs, pipes and taps
  • fitting dual-flush toilets
  • buying efficient washing machines
  • irrigating farmland using drip pipes and sprays
  • water meters
• groundwater needs to be managed to prevent over-abstraction and pollution
• groundwater management:

  • monitor the amount of groundwater being extracted
  • farmers are encouraged to apply fewer artificial fertilisers/pesticides
  • international agreements prevent countries taking unsustainable amounts of water
• recycling water = taking water that has already been used and using it again
• water from homes/industries can be piped to water treatment plants making it safe again
• recycling water is more sustainable because less water needs to be extracted to meet demands
• most recycled water is used for irrigation, industry, power plants and toilet flushing
• grey water = type of recycled water that is reused immediately without being treated
• grey water is usually from washing machines, sinks, showers but NOT from toilets
• grey water is used for irrigating gardens/farmland, washing cards and flushing toilets
• grey water helps conserve energy as it isn't being treated
• grey water systems can be expensive to install and it must be reused quickly to stop bacteria from developing