Who Can Stop It and How?

Who is working to stop water depletion and how they are planning on doing so?

         As mentioned in my previous blog pertaining to the causes of water depletion, there are major concerns about the water levels in many Indian cities. With the research done by the previously mentioned organizations – UNICEF and WWF – India has come up with suggestions and approaches to addressing the causes discussed. A few of their proposed solutions include:

·  Identification and isolation of contamination sources

·  Adoption of latest technologies in order to reduce the waste generation and/or to treat them effectively

·  Improved and innovative planning of water resources

·  Increased participation of the public, either directly or indirectly in solving the crisis

·  Enhanced co-ordination among the Agencies involved (both Governmental and Non- Governmental) for the cause of the Nation

They have some very sound ideas for addressing their current problem. Going into further detail with one of their suggestions – the adoption of latest technologies – they have come up with specific things these new technologies should address to continue solving the problem of water depletion. They state that, “Any promising technology to be adopted for the treatment of the waste effluents should give a close look at the following aspects: cost, availability, reliability, development nature, and limitations of treatment capacity.”

         On a smaller scale, the town of Rhonda, North Carolina has become aware of the dangers of water depletion. Mayor of Rhonda, Victor Varela has made an effort to conserve water in Wilkes County by stating that residents are not allowed to wash their cars or water their homes and gardens. The start of this conservation act began when the mayor realized the school was using much more water than it needed to – about 260,000 primarily when it was empty. This was due to a broken water line. Since then, it has come to Varela’s attention that the town’s supply of water is much less than it used to be and he has been advocating for residents to conserve as much as possible.

         Overall, many people believe it is the government who need to make an effort to prevent the depletion of water. Keshav Parthasarathy wrote an article for the online newspaper Viewspaper titled “Water Depletion: A Silent Killer,” in which he stated, “Government can boost private sector investments in the area of developing water conservation techniques by providing security to their investments and giving incentives in the form of higher returns.” More ideas on how the government could aid in stopping water depletion are that the government should work with other governments to agree on how each country can use water for purposes where it is essential. Also, the government should ensure the best irrigation facilities in agricultural areas so farmers will be able to efficiently use the limited amount of water. Finally, in an attempt to involve the entire public in the fight for water conservation, the government should make an enormous effort to raise public awareness. This can be done through workshops and public awareness campaigns so we all can be a part of stopping this problem by understanding the enormity of the situation and acting accordingly.

Sources:

Parthasarathy, Keshav. "Water Depletion: A Silent Killer." The Viewspaper. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. <http://theviewspaper.net/water-depletion-a-silent-killer/>.

Ramakrishna, V., and Dr. B.V. Babu. "Fresh Water Depletion – A Crisis: Causes & Remedies." Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. <discovery.bits-pilani.ac.in/~bvbabu/FrshwaterE%26P98.pdf>.

"Mayor Takes Action To Stop Water Depletion." WXII - 12 TV. 05 Sept. 2010. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. <http://www.wxii12.com/r/24890304/detail.html>.