We all know that we have limited sources of water which one fine day will exhaust if not used wisely. This is the reason that man is continuously looking to find enhanced and quality ways of protecting and managing available water resources. Though water is limited but with intelligent water management and water reuse it can be used and preserved for a longer period and for our coming generations.
Water pollution is one of major concerns in India. Rivers like the Ganga and the Yamuna are so over-polluted with sewage, industrial waste and wastewater that it can hardly be considered even for the purpose of irrigation. Today they are more like large drains and moving dustbins rather than being considered the lifeline for living organisms. India, in the past few decades, has seen many steps being taken to manage water for its efficient use. Water is not only required for domestic purposes but also required for industrial use on a larger scale. So it becomes a mandate to manage water between these two areas.
One of the best ways to help water retain its composition is through wastewater treatment. It is the treatment or cleaning of wastewater before it is released back into the environment to help water retain its oxygen component which is necessary for aquatic life to survive. The absence of wastewater treatment will no only have bad impact on the aquatic organisms but also on wildlife population. The wastewater treatment is done in two parts, popularly known as Primary and Secondary Treatments. The Primary treatment helps eliminate about 60 percent of floating solids and the secondary treatment helps remove over 90 percent of floating solids in this process.
Another possible way of purifying water for water reuse is through desalination. Desalination as the word means to remove certain amount of salt and harmful minerals from water. This process helps the water to be used for the purpose of irrigation as well as for human consumption depending on the type of filtration. This process could be expensive depending on what kind of outcome you want. If it is meant for human consumption (drinking water) then it could get very expensive as the infrastructure required demands a lot of minute details to be addressed on a larger scale.
There are various other ways one can follow to make full use of water during a time where there is huge scarcity of water. Water reuseor usage of water that has already been used for one job can be used for the other. For example water that has been used to wash your clothes can be used to flush in the toilet and the water used to rinse your clothes at the end of the washing can be used for cleaning your floors. Water used to wash your vegetables and utensils can also be used to water your kitchen garden.
Today, practically most nations are having a shortage of water supplyfor human consumption. This crisis can be handled with every individual taking it as a personal responsibility to ensure that water needs to be used effectively and efficiently. It’s time we as individuals start respecting this natural resource and use it with diligence rather than blaming others for its shortage.