WATER CONSERVATION

WATER CONSERVATION

A village head man from Hariyana visiting kerala had this to say” I don't know what to say about water scarcity in Kerala.If we have half the water that is naturally available, we won't be having any water scarcity problems.''
In kerala, the land blessed with so many rivers, how ever is going dry and no one knows why water available, it is important that the earth is recharged. Rain water harvesting is mandatory, Ground water needs to be recharged. Builders are now making provisions for it.
Un like earlier, some of the open area around apartments and villas is left unpaved and un-toled now so that rain water can percolate in to the soil. Every house owner should join the effort. Allowing wter to percolate in to the earth is the only way to ensure water in wells and bore wells.
Since more and more people now opt for piped water pumped by the Kerala water Authority, they become blind to future considerations and do nothing to recharge local water sources.
There are quite a number of ways to recycle water and use it. But people need to know the best technology available for introducing these methods. Water conservation methods should be adopted in existing buildings too. Residents association can play a very important role in this. Innovations in plumbibng has, perhaps, revolutionized water conservation.
There are many ways that an individual can go about conserving water.It starts from the selection of plumbing fixtures for the house. Selecting low-flow fixtures will help the user reduce the use of water tremendously. Use of water closets with dual flushing options is another. For cleaning cars, one can use high-pressure cleaning jets that will lower water consumption . While the equipments costs more, cleaning takes less time and less water.
Water pressure in high story buildings should be minimum and should conform to the plumbing design. One needs to check that there are no leaks for better and efficient water distribution in flats. Installing plumbing devices is as important as choosing them and with regular maintenance,one can develop a more or less reasonable water conservation level in flats.
Lack of government initiatives and unscientific infrastructure development activities have led to acute drinking water scarcity in many villages in Kerala especially in upper Kuttnad. Well water in these villages is polluted and the residents depend on the drinking water supply by the Kerala water Authority. How ever, water supply in many parts of kerala is regulated to twice a week. Water still remains a priced commodity for people.
Those residing in various settlement colonies and in small houses built on the bunds surrounding the paddy fields use the water collected from the polluted canals for the domestic needs, leaving them vulnerable to epidemic threats. Some even dig pits in paddy fields to collect water.

Prof. John Kurakar