Ajay Sharma
Pure water is the world’s first and foremost medicine. The life on this planet earth exists mainly due to water. The human body comprises of 78 percent water in newly born babies and gradually decreases to 60 percent in adult men and 55 percent in adult women. Biologically, speaking brain and heart are composed of 73 percent water,lungs 83 percent water, skin contains 64 percent water while musceles and kidneys contain 79 percent of water and bones are watery by 31 percent.
The water as explained above being life line for mankind is becoming scarce by every passing day and we owe to explain this drastic over exploitation to the future generations.
Rapid urbanization, lack of awareness, over exploitation of the fresh water by industries, households, improper sanitation are decreasing the share of fresh water available by every passing day and if the remedial measures are not taken on war-footing the mother earth will be devoid of this extremely precious gift of the Almighty.
Before concentrating on the water conservation, water harvesting or water regeneration techniques the quality of fresh water available in Jammu needs to be evaluated.
We in Jammu and Kashmir State have the purest form of fresh/potable water as compared to other states in India and the constituents of water are well within the permissible limits as established by WHO or Bureau of Indian Standards as per BIS Code IS-10500.
The water quality tests are being performed on daily basis at major water supply schemes/filtration plants in Jammu and cover all sources of water viz spirngs, tube wells, dug wells etc at least twice in a year through well established water quality testing laboratories functioning at Divisional levels being expanded upto Sub Division levels and these results are updated on the website on daily basis in accordance with Ministry of drinking water supply guidelines.
The figures reveal that the fresh water at sources viz Sitlee, Boria Filtration Plants (The two main filtration plants from where drinking water is supplied to inhabitants of Jammu City) and tube wells has all the constituents under the permissible limits and there is nothing to panic. The ground water which earlier was considered as purest form of water has started lagging slightly to the surface water in certain quality parameters but still under the permissible limits. The contamination of ground water in other neighbouring states has taken abnormal increase, mainly due to release of toxic wastes by industries, excessive uses of fertilizers and water pollutants. It, therefore, becomes imperative for each human being in this state to ensure cleanliness of the surface water specially rivers, lakes, springs bowlies etc so that the raw water quality is maintained.
Despite the water quality as explained above at source level, every household is using water filters at their places which work on different principles viz Ultra filtration through membrane filters,. Reverse Osmosis process and Ultra violet lamps to kill the bacteria viruses and protozoa. The selection of water filtration should always have the basis of the technology, should be cost effective, provide clean water and should not remove the essential constituents of water.
WATER CONSERVATION:-
Water conservation is extremely essential requirement in the future so that next generations are blessed with this precious commodity. The Govt Departments, NGO’s etc. cannot alone take on this challange but involvement of communities, social organizations and every individual has to deliver for this cause so that wastage of water is reduced to zero level.
Membrane Bio Reactor Technology is the latest tool for water re-generation and is mandatory in developing societies, country clubs, luxury hotels as the water used in wash rooms, lavatories, swimming pools etc is reused fully to exploitation of fresh water for such activities. MBR process can produce effluents of high quality to be reclaimed back for urban irrigation and reusage.
It is imperative for every individual to follow small tips/tricks mentioned below to conserve water for themselves and fuure generations :
* Always turn taps off tightly so they do not drip.
* Promptly repair any leaks in and around your taps. (One leak can waste several thousand litres of water per day)
* Use an aerator and/or a water flow-reducer attachment on your tap to reduce your water usage.
* Educate your maid when: When hand-washing dishes, never run water continuously. Wash dishes in a partially filled sink and then rinse them using the spray attachment on your tap.
* If you have an electric dishwasher, use it only to wash full loads, and use the shortest cycle possible. Many dishwashers have a conserve/water miser cycle.
* When washing or shaving, partially fill the sink and use that water rather than running the tap continously. (This saves about 60 percent of the water normally used). Use short bursts of water to clean razors.
If we do not start using water judiciously from today, there is every possiblity that it will become scarce in the years to come. Water may not be available on some parts of the land in the coming decades. Every individual should be educated regarding the threats of water scarcity in future because only Govt Departments and NGOs alone cannot take on this challenge.
Communities and social organizations should act promptly and inculcate amongst individuals, a sense of realization for conserving water. There should be conscious efforts by every individual to reduce wastage of water to zero level so that we have sufficient water for ourselves and for future generations.
(The author is Executive Engineer, PHE)
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