Contents - IPE Global Limited

Contents Forward PHD Chamber ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3 Forward IPE-(CKD) ……..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4 Background..................................................................................................................................................... 5 Current Water Crisis ....................................................................................................................................... 6 India’s Water Resources ................................................................................................................................. 7 Water Use Across Sectors ............................................................................................................................... 8 State of Water Resources ............................................................................................................................... 9 Creating Water Abundance........................................................................................................................... 10 I.

Awareness generation, Equity and Rights ......................................................................................... 10

II.

A few Sustainable Solutions .............................................................................................................. 11 A.

Water Banks.................................................................................................................................. 11

B.

Waste Water Management ........................................................................................................... 12

C.

Desalination .................................................................................................................................. 13

D.

Other innovations ......................................................................................................................... 13

III.

Transformation at Sectoral Levels ..................................................................................................... 14 E.

Business ........................................................................................................................................ 14

F.

Agriculture .................................................................................................................................... 17

IV.

IPE Global Initiatives ......................................................................................................................... 18

Annex I ......................................................................................................................................................... 20 Annex II ........................................................................................................................................................ 21 Bibliography: ................................................................................................................................................ 22

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FOREWORD Water is considered as fundamental human need and a critical national asset. It is the key component to socio-economic development and quality of life. India is facing a serious water resource problem and as trends suggest, it is expected to become 'water stressed' by 2025 and 'water scarce' by 2050. Water security implies affordable access to clean water for agricultural, industrial and household usage and is thus an important part of human security. Water along with food and energy forms a critical part of the 'new security agenda' and redefines the understanding of security as a basis for policy-response and long term planning. As in any agrarian society, a change in water security has a direct and immediate impact on agriculture. A majority of India’s population, almost 58%, is employed either directly or indirectly by the agriculture sector. On the other side, iIn India, polluted water sources are leading cause of waterrelated diseases. Especially in the Ganges basin, the poorest among the population often have no choice but to drink and cook with seriously polluted water, causing numerous diseases and stomach infections, like diarrhoea and dysentery. The National conference on Water Security in India is focusing on addressing these issues head on, analyszing the challenges that contemporary India faces if it is to create a water-secure world, and providing a hopeful, though guarded, road-map to a future in which India's life-giving and lifesustaining fresh water resources are safe, clean, plentiful, and available to all, secured for the people in a peaceful and ecologically sustainable manner. PHD Chamber along with IPE Global has prepared a report on Creating Water Abundance: Towards Water Security in India. We hope the report will provide you a deeper understanding on how water resources can be used optimally across the sectors. I wish the Conference all success.

Dr. Mahesh Gupta President PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry

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FOREWORD Water security has emerged as the world’s greatest challenge with implications for world peace and security. For a world that is expecting higher production in agriculture, industry and energy, there is an ever increasing pressure of demand on the water sector. Climate change will certainly increase water problems as the number of adverse calamities increase. For a diverse country like India, the experiences of water crises, especially water scarcity, are different for urban and rural areas and affect all sectors: •

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In rural India, drying of water sources has an adverse effect on agriculture, restricting livelihoods and limiting food production. Accessing drinking water becomes a challenge, increasing the suffering of rural women who have to fetch water from far off sources for drinking and household purposes. Overall development takes a back seat. The rural population also lacks access to improved sanitation, leading to water contamination, disease, poverty and even death. Population growth coupled with economic development and urbanisation has led to water stress in urban areas. Water crisis in urban areas can lead to erratic and unreliable distribution of water supply leading to siphoning, water contamination and disruption. Inadequate water supply affects the industrial sector and power sector as well.

All these lead to limited socioeconomic development and economic growth. No wonder that the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report 2016 recognised water crises as the third risk in a list of top ten risks in terms of impact. This report seeks to highlight India’s water resources, the current water crisis and the pattern of water usage. More importantly it offers a road map across sectors on ways to conserve, restore and recycle water to ‘create’ for all and for always. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address water security through Goal 6 which aims to ensure water and sanitation for all. However, key to achievement of these goals would involve firm commitment, robust governance, strong partnerships, community participation, financial resources and technological innovations. On our part, IPE Global remains committed to bring about positive change in the water and sanitation scenario in India and other parts of the world, by partnering with Governments, multilateral partners, and NGOs. Creating water abundance is possible. But, it will need the involvement of all of us. I look forward to your responses. With warm regards Yours sincerely

Ashwajit Singh Managing Director IPE Global Limited 4

Creating Water Abundance Towards Water Security in India

Background A priceless natural resource and essential for life, water is critical for socioeconomic development, ecological sustainability and economic growth. The world today faces imminent threats due to water scarcity with implications for world peace, justice and security. The World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report 2016 recognised water crises as the third risk in a list of top ten risks in terms of impact. The reasons are not hard to find: Estimates indicate that around 4 billion people or two thirds of the world’s population face severe water shortage at least for one month every year. Water scarcity can result in low productivity and crop failure, leading to food shortages, increasing prices and subsequent hunger. According to the UN, food output must grow by 60 per cent to feed a population of nine billion or more in 2050. Production of food requires considerable inputs of energy and water, raising challenges of conflicting demands. But by 2030, the world will have to confront a water supply shortage of 40 per cent. Agriculture already accounts for approximately 70 per cent of global freshwater withdrawals and is perceived as one of the main factors behind the increasing global scarcity of freshwater. Globally, irrigation water withdrawals are expected to grow by about 6 per cent by 2050. In September 2015, the UN adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets. The SDGs cover a wide range of issues that affect Sustainable Development globally with Goal 6 dedicated for ensuring access to water and sanitation for all (Refer Annex I & II).

Ban Ki-moon in his message for 2015: “This year, as the UN prepares to adopt a new post-2015 sustainable development agenda in September, World Water Day highlights the essential and interconnected role of water. We rely on water for public health and equitable progress, it is essential for food and energy security, and it underpins the functioning of industries. The onset of climate change, growing demand on finite water resources from agriculture, industry and cities, and increasing pollution in many areas are hastening a water crisis that can only be addressed by crosssectoral, holistic planning and policies – internationally, regionally and globally.”

In the context of India, challenges for achieving this Goal are immense but possible. The path is a challenging one requiring considerable financing from the private sector to fill the gap in funding. Along with political leadership, decentralisation and bottom up approaches would be crucial in designing and SOURCE 1: UNITED NATIONS WEBSITE implementing development activities. http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sgsm16598.doc.htm Collection and generation of quality data would be pivotal in executing development plans. Tracking the progress of development programmes through well-developed monitoring and evaluation mechanisms would be essential. This background paper briefly highlights the current water scenario in India and offers solutions for a water secure future. 5

Current Water Crisis The 2016 water crisis in India is being regularly reported by the media and concerned agencies. The scale gradually increased from isolated villages to towns, metros and even States. A snapshot:  

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One third of India’s districts are affected by severe drought, affecting some 33 crore people in 256 districts in 10 States. Only 24 per cent water is left in 91 key reservoirs. States reporting lesser storage during the same period compared to last year include Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Bengal, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Since January 2015, around 1,000 farmers have killed themselves due to acute drought and debt in Karnataka. The State may soon face a water crisis. Some 1,000 villages in eight districts of Gujarat are suffering from acute drinking water crisis. The crisis could continue for two months before there is any respite. Latur in Marathwada region of Maharashtra is worst hit by drought. Water wagons from Miraj in Western Maharashtra are serving the dry regions of Latur. As a preventive measure against riots, people gatherings near water sources are banned. No more than five people are allowed at wells and public storage tanks till the monsoons arrive. The Bundelkhand districts across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh continue to reel under the third drought in a row: Almost 50 per cent of its water sources have dried up. Women travel long distances to collect drinking water. Agriculture has failed, leading to mass migration, poverty and hunger. The president of the Tikamgarh municipality in Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh is forced to employ armed guards to prevent against water theft by farmers from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh tempted to ‘steal’ from the municipality’s only source of drinking water. Four major reservoirs that supply water to Hyderabad city have dried up. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh is an example of a hill town facing acute water shortages and Jaundice outbreak due to contaminated water supply. Officials estimate a daily shortfall of 14 million litres of water, affecting around 80-85 per cent of the towns’ local population. In Pune, Maharashtra the Government is relying on water tankers to meet the increasing demand for water. Thus, cities are equally affected by water shortages. Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala: The model code of conduct has kicked in after the announcement of the State elections, affecting tanker water distribution. The tri-weekly appearance of the tanker has now reduced to a sight once in 12 days. The current Chief Minister plans to approach the courts. There are reports on industrial shutdowns due to shortage of water:  Tajola, an industrial township is cutting production for two consecutive days in a week. Here 60-70 per cent units are from water intensive sectors such as fertilisers, chemicals, pharma, food and beverages and metals.  Around 13 sugar mills in Solapur and Marathwada in Maharashtra have shut down. Textile industries and dyeing factories are shutting down production during water cuts.  Power production was disrupted in Farakka, West Bengal due to water shortage. 6

This shortfall of water across the States has led to crop failure, mass forced migration, suicide, death, closing down of health care facilities and industry. For a country blessed with (a) 14 major, 55 minor and 700 small rivers and (b) an annual average rainfall of 1,170 mm and (c) a tradition of rainwater conservation, these crises could be avoided.

India’s Water Resources India has 4 per cent of the global renewable water sources with 18 per cent of the world’s population. The total amount of water available annually is 4,000 Billion Cubic Metres (BCM) with utilisable water pegged at 1, 123 BCM (see Table 1). The natural resources of water available in India include rain, glaciers, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, tanks, springs and groundwater. India receives an average of about 1,170 mm rainfall which is equivalent to an annual precipitation of about 4,000 BCM, including snowfall. However, there are spatial and temporal variations leading to floods and droughts. India is blessed with 14 major, 55 minor and 700 TABLE 1: WATER RELATED DATA ON INDIA small rivers. The 14 major basins have a total Annual Rainfall (2005) 1,208mm catchment area of 252.8 million hectare (Mha). Major River Basins 12 Out of all, the Ganga- Brahmaputra- Meghna Medium River Basics 46 system has the largest catchment area of about Average Annual Precipitation 4,000 BCM 3,000 BCM 110 Mha. Indus (32.1 Mha), Godavari (31.3 Mha), Average Precipitation during Krishna (25.9 Mha) and Mahanadi (14. 2 Mha) Monsoon (June-September) 1,986.5 BCM are other rivers with catchment areas of over 10 Natural Runoff Estimated Utilisable Surface Water 690 BCM Mha. However, the amount of utilisable water is Resources highly uneven. For instance, the Brahmaputra Total Utilisable Groundwater 433 BCM basin contributes 629 BCM of surface water with Resources Total Annual Utilisable Water 1,123 BCM 24 BCM of utilisable water. Resources

The rivers are a lifeline of the Indian economy Per capita Water Availability 1,720.29 Cum providing irrigation, potable water, cheap SOURCE 2: REFLECTIONS ON MANAGING WATER: transportation, electricity and livelihoods. Most EARTH’S GREATEST NATURAL RESOURCE , 2015 cities have developed on the banks of the major rivers. There are three chief watersheds from which all the major rivers originate: The Himalaya and Karakoram ranges, Vindhya and Satpura ranges in Chotanagpur plateau in Central India, and Sahyadri or Western Ghats in western India. India has 140 major lakes supporting human settlements in the country. The lakes have been contaminated by domestic sewage, agricultural run-off, discharge of industrial effluents, overfishing and expansion of cities. Apart from that the health of urban waterbodies is also degrading due to growth of aquatic weeds that result from disposal of industrial wastes and immersion of idols. Groundwater is a major source of water for India. More than 90 per cent of rural and more than 50 per cent of urban water supply is from groundwater. There are 21 million groundwater extraction structures with estimated 221 BCM of withdrawal. The problem is not restricted to the availability of groundwater, but the quality of groundwater. Many of the groundwater sources are contaminated

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with fluoride and arsenic. Also, many of them have extremely high salinity levels. India also has some citable waterfalls and springs.

Water Use Across Sectors Water is an indispensable resource for agriculture, industries, domestic usage and energy generation. It is the agriculture sector that uses maximum share of freshwater allocation followed by industries and domestic sectors. Owing to the long coastline in India and inland waterbodies, water also facilitates efficient transportation. Some of the major ports such as Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Vishakapatnam, and Kochi are situated along the coastline of India.. India is an agrarian economy with a contribution of 14 per FIGURE 1: PERCENTAGE OF FRESH WATER USE cent to the country’s GDP by the agriculture sector. ACROSS SECTORS Irrigation assists the growth and production of crops. It helps to increase crop yield by 2.7 times when compared to rain-fed farming. Consequently, around 85 per cent of the freshwater is used for agriculture (See Figure 1). With an increase in demand for food crops it is predicted that the demand for irrigation and water would significantly intensify. Initially rainwater collected in ponds was used for irrigation which later changed to irrigation through canals. Although the main source for irrigation is surface water, groundwater is also increasingly being used for irrigation. SOURCE 3: R EFLECTIONS ON MANAGING WATER : Sixty per cent of irrigation water comes from groundwater EARTH’S GREATEST N ATURAL RESOURCE, 2015 sources. Water is extensively used by industries in their production process. The industrial sector contributes to 14.6 per cent of India’s GDP and accounts for 14 per cent of employment. With an expanding industrial sector, a steep rise in the demand for water is evitable. Water is even more pertinent for water- intensive industries such as thermal power, engineering, pulp and paper, textile, steel and sugar. There have been estimations by the National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development, Ministry of Water resources, about the rise in water demands of industries to 80 km3 by 2025 and 143 km3 by 2050 from the 41.4 km3level in 2010. Further, out of 500 BCM freshwater withdrawals in 2000, 10 BCM was consumed as process water and 30 BCM was consumed as cooling water by the Indian industry showing 8 per cent of freshwater use. Water shortages have compelled industries to curtail their production levels, deepen their bore wells for groundwater extraction or close down. Water shortages are especially acute during non-monsoon seasons. The third major use of water is for urban and rural water supply. There is a huge population pressure on the urban cities with the section population residing in 5,161 towns reaching to 377.1 million accounting for 31.6 per cent of the total population according to Census 2011. Increase in the urban population, depletion of nearby water sources, water pollution, inefficient use of water, inefficient management of water supply systems and multiple institutional arrangements have led to a crisis for potable water. On one hand demand for water has shown sharp increase and on the other, water supply has not grown at the same rate. Initially Indian cities were situated near water sources to 8

cater to their demands, but soon these sources became inefficient and water had to be sourced from distant sources. The Government is also committed to providing water to rural and urban areas, which is reflected in the Union Government’s programmes. The National Rural Drinking Water Programme and Accelerated Urban Water Supply Programme aims to provide universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA), launched on October 2, 2014, is a single largest initiative of the Government of India that aims to ensure access to sanitation facilities (including toilets, solid and liquid waste disposal systems and village cleanliness) and safe and adequate drinking water supply to every person by 2019.

State of Water Resources The world is struggling to provide access to clean quality drinking water to its people. More than 650 million of the world’s poor people do not have access to ‘improved1’ sources of drinking water with the consequence of wasted income, ill health and lost productivity. Poor people are unable to purchase water with their meagre income often left with the only choice of collecting water from unsafe sources. Lack of safe drinking water governs the lives of people in poor countries with disparities across regions and terrains. The condition of water resources in India is alarming (Refer Figure 2). There is a heavy dependency on groundwater: 60 per cent of irrigation water comes from ground water and 80 per cent of drinking water needs are met from groundwater as well. Contamination of surface water and groundwater resources with biological, toxic, organic and inorganic pollutants is threatening human life and economic development. As high as 70 per cent of surface water sources and a growing percentage of groundwater reserves are contaminated rendering many of these sources unfit for human consumption and other activities such as irrigation and industrial production. In spite of considerable progress India has the largest number of people without access to drinking water: Some 75.78 million. Increasing access to drinking water is not enough. FIGURE 2: W ATER D EMAND PROJECTIONS (IN B ILLION CUBIC It is essential to ensure access to clean and quality METRES OR BCM) water as contamination has serious health impacts. Bacterial contamination is main cause for illnesses and deaths as millions of people are affected by water borne diseases. Every year 300, 000 children under the age of five in India die due to diarrhoea. Practices like open defecation affects the quality of water with figures of open defecation as high as 70 per cent. Further, the heavy reliance on groundwater sources for SOURCE 4: R EFLECTIONS ON MANAGING WATER : EARTH ’ S drinking purpose has led to over exploitation, GREATEST NATURAL RESOURCE, 2015 leading to arsenic contamination in 6,548 habitations of 8 States and excessive fluoride in 26,131 habitations of 19 States. As 80 per cent of 1

Improved sources of water include Public taps, Protected wells, Rainwater, Water piped into household 9

our drinking water needs are groundwater reliant, depletion of groundwater table and contamination is a cause for alarm. The per capita availability of water declined from 2,209 cum in 1991 to 1,820 cum in 2001 and 1,545 cum in 2011. Estimates indicate that per capita availability will further decline to 1,341 in 2025, making it a water stressed nation and by 2030 India will be staring at a 50 per cent gap between demand and supply.

Creating Water Abundance Is it the end of water ‘abundance’? Crises come with challenges and opportunities, and the future appears bleak unless there is a realisation that water is a precious resource and there needs to be persistent efforts to conserve, restore and recycle it. Both developed and developing countries have to participate in water management to reduce incidences of ‘water crises’ across the world. It is essential that all key stakeholders engage equally to manage water effectively for the present and future use. Effective water management would require a combination of people, institutions, laws, finances, innovation, science and technology and skill and will. This section would outline a few useful ways to conserve and recycle water for a sustainable future. At one level there is a requisite for awareness generation and technological innovations and on the other industrial and agricultural practices should become more water efficient.

I.

Awareness generation, Equity and Rights

The Jal Jan Jodo Abhiyan is a pan-India network dedicated to linking people to water, enabling access and water conservation, through a four pronged strategy that includes (a) Organising and mobilising communities (b) Awareness generation about traditional water harvesting structures (c) Developing water leaders and (d) Advocating for water rights of nature and its inhabitants. The 2015 Stockholm Water Award winner Rajendra Singh is the driving force behind this network.

The first step at water management would involve creating comprehensive, consistent and constant campaigns that would engrain the fact that water is a scarce resource. Awareness generation among communities is the prerequisite for water conservation activities. These could involve strategic messaging, holding water festivals, literary events around the water, setting up water museums and holding competitions. It will also mean people taking charge of water management.

The component of equity is another concern in the area of water management. Access to water and specifically quality water varies across groups based on poverty, caste, ethnicity, age, gender, geography and location. For instance, in the context of India, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes particularly lack access to drinking water. Also, evidence indicates that water meant for irrigation is increasingly being diverted to meet drinking water needs of urban residents. Similarly, water allocated for agriculture is being diverted for use in industries. Raising awareness, financial allocations, specific programmes, monitoring and evaluation of access and prioritising of water resource allocations are some of the ways to address equity issues.

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The issue of access to water and equity can be addressed even better if water is considered as a basic human right. The United Nations General Assembly has recognised the human right to water and sanitation on 28th July 2010. The Resolution calls upon States and International organisations to assist countries particularly developing countries by providing financial resources, building capacities and transferring technologies such that there is access to safe, clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all. India is a signatory to the Resolution but to realise this as a legal right in the country, it needs to be supported by an institutional framework for delivery, a programme, adequate finances, a monitoring system and a penalising mechanism along with a list of responsibilities. II. A few Sustainable Solutions The movement towards water abundance will require action on many fronts as indicated below. These range from creating assets such as water banks, reducing demand, stretching the water drop by its multiple use and the use of innovation and technology.

Community efforts In drought hit areas communities have contributed towards creating solutions to save, manage and restore water. A few examples are given below: 

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A. Water Banks 

Rainwater harvesting and artificial groundwater recharge serves dual purposes: Absorbing excess water and releasing it when required.

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In drought hit Bundlekhand, Parmarth, a civil society organisation is supporting resilience amongst the drought affected families through development of more than 100 drought risk reduction plans, water conservation, drinking water availability, and establishing community and institutional linkages. Under Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater Systems (APFAMGS) project implemented in 7 drought prone districts of AP, farmers are managing their groundwater systems and have adopted suitable agricultural options. In 2002, drought hit Raj Samadhiyala village in Gujarat State, managed to take up three crops a year using the rainwater harvested through the construction of farm ponds, percolation tanks, check dams and sub-surface structures. Hiware Bazaar village, Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra State, adopted an integrated model of water management where in villagers contributed by providing labour. It has introduced annual water budgeting exercise since 2004. Drought prone Laporiya village in Rajasthan State dug 50 new wells, three large natural tanks, and a unique dyke system called the ‘chauka’ to capture rainwater improving water availability for drinking and harvest.

India is blessed with an annual average  rainfall of 1,100 mm, most of which falls in around 100 hours. This primary source of water must be captured either for direct use, or for recharge of groundwater aquifers and surface waterbodies. If rain is not managed well, it leads to flooding during the monsoon and water scarcity in the following months. The option is to capture the rain and create a ‘rainwater’ bank for current and future use.

To put rainwater back into the natural water cycle means to collect, clean, hold and release, in accordance with the natural surroundings. Different models of rainwater harvesting can be adopted to suit the ecological and geographical diversity. These models already exist and can be tested, replicated and modified if required to suit contemporary needs. Since the open land mass is declining, especially in urban areas, artificial recharge at scale can greatly help in alleviating water scarcity, reduce flooding and improve water quality.

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Artificial groundwater recharge Artificial groundwater recharge is the infiltration of surface water into shallow aquifers to (a) increase the quantity of water in the subsurface, and (b) improve its quality by natural attenuation processes. It can be practiced in river valleys and sedimentary plains by infiltrating river or lake water into shallow sand and gravel layers. Water can be infiltrated into aquifers through basins, pipes, ditches and wells. Artificial infiltration of surface water into aquifers offers qualitative and quantitative advantages: - Natural processes reduce the contamination of infiltrated river water. -Infiltration also allows for better water management as the level of water between the river and groundwater aquifer can be manipulated during periods of low and high river water discharge. Over time, a balance is struck between the river and the aquifer, allowing for water availability throughout the year. This enables a continuous water supply over the entire year. Generally, artificially recharged groundwater is better protected against pollution than surface water, and the delimitation of water protection zones makes it safer. If done at scale, the volume of water that can be saved is enormous. While there are environmental, financial and social issues with constructing artificial storage spaces such as dams, recharging groundwater aquifers is a ‘natural’ choice. Artificial recharge thus offers tremendous potential.

B. Waste Water Management Of the 38,000 million litre per day of sewage generated, treatment capacity is available for only 12,000 million litres per day. This glaring figure reflects that only 20 per cent of domestic waste is actually treated.

Protecting Drinking Water in Germany For drinking water security, the German waterworks adopt a comprehensive approach: All the regions from the recharge area to the client are protected. This includes (a) Protection of the recharge area by land use regulation and precautionary management; (b) Safe water treatment; (c) Strict maintenance of the water distribution network; (d) Continuous control; and, (e) Intensive training of staff. Groundwater protection zones together with effective regulations and control play an important role. Water in reservoirs and lakes is protected by Surface Water Protection Zones. Within the surrounding area the land-use is controlled. Special treatment is undertaken if acidification occurs due to acid rain, or eutrophication caused by the inflow of sewage. Collaboration between waterworks and the farmers cultivating land in the recharge area is key for implementing water-protecting ecological farming and reduce the application of agrochemicals. The waterworks compensates probable financial losses. Thus, while efforts ensure that pollution is minimal, the natural filtration processes clean up whatever impurities that exist. The water is not even chlorinated before use. In a case like India, in the village, a local water source can be identified, augmented and protected. Legal protection can enable the process.

Water contaminated by sewage or industrial effluents can however be reused for industrial and non-industrial purposes. After being treated to a minimum quality it can be safely reused for non-potable industrial and agriculture use. Waste water can be used for various purposes such as agricultural irrigation, heavy industry, process water in industrial production, urban and landscape irrigation and wetland creation. Two factors influence the decision of industries to switch to sewage treated water: Competitive pricing and quality of water required. For instance, power plants require huge volumes of water but 12

not a high level of purity. On the other, chemical and fertiliser industries not only require large volumes but also high quality water.

C. Desalination Desalination has the potential to reduce water scarcity by removing the dissolved minerals from water sources like seawater, brackish water or treated water. Out of 10,000 desalination plants, some 60 per cent are located in the Middle East. India too has a huge potential for desalination because of its long coastline. Desalinated water can be used to meet urban water needs particularly those of the coastal cities. Moreover, refineries, petrochemical complexes and power plants that are located near the coastal areas also require huge volumes of water. Users are willing to pay higher price as long as they are assured of the quality of water and proper mitigation of the environment issues of the process.

The Waterman of India: Rajendra Singh Rajendra Singh, 2015 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate, is well known for his innovative water restoration efforts in rural India. Born in 1959, he has dedicated his life to managing droughts and empowering communities in the arid Indian State of Rajasthan. In close cooperation with the community, he and his organisation have restored several rivers, bringing water and life back to thousands of villages. He has revived traditional Indian ways of collecting and storing rainwater for managing water shortages. Under his leadership, 8,600 johads and other structures to collect water has been built. Water has returned to 1,000 villages along with revival of forests, rivers and wildlife.

While various desalination technologies are available, the choice would depend on the cost. The process has its limitations: (a) It is an energy intensive process and solar energy sources can be explored (b) It is associated with environmental hazards such as disposal of brine (c) Apprehensions about environmental degradation at coastal areas due to setting up of desalination plants (d) Lack of skilled personal, all of which need to be factored in while scaling up.

D. Other innovations The water sector in India is in dire need of disruptive innovation to reduce demand and augment supply. Globally there are several examples: a) Michael Prichard’s portable Lifesaver filter, can convert unfit water to drinkable water by using nanotechnology. One of its products, the Jerrycan can process 20,000 Litres of water that lasts for a family of four for up to five years. It is connected to the guttering system of the house to convert rain into drinking water. b) Ludwick Marishane’s DryBath, as the name suggests enables its users to take a bath without using water. It creates a biodegradable film that cleans and moisturises the skin and has the same effect as an antibacterial cleanser. It is useful to people without access to water and sanitation particularly in the developing countries.

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c) Sonar Luthra’s Water Canary is a water testing device that shows instant results of real time water quality of collected samples. The raw data is instantly updated in their servers such that readings can be mapped in real time. By getting the data immediately, front line workers can contain contaminated water sources to prevent spreading of water- related diseases. d) Biplaub Paul’s bhungrooTM helps farmers in Gujrat to store freshwater for 100 days underground for the purpose of agriculture. It is also useful for disaster reduction and food security in flood, drought or water logged soils. III. Transformation at Sectoral Levels E. Business

Role of industry

Industries contribute substantially to the Indian GDP and their demand for water will increase with the expansion of the industrial sector. Out of all the industries, it is the thermal power plants that account for 88 per cent of water used by industries. Water use by industries have led to misuse and pollution creating a situation of water scarcity and poor water quality. To begin with, there has to be a change in the way industries perceive water as a resource – from the traditional view of water as a cheap resource available in plenty to one that has competitive users and affects basic human right. Water dependent industries are competing for water with local farmers, households and other users.

The current challenge requires participation from all people and sectors of society. Given the competencies of the industry, there are specific roles that the industry can play, some of which are given below: 

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Reducing own water footprint through a) Reducing water requirement in production processes and technologies b) Wastewater utilisation c) Using more efficient cooling systems d) Reducing leakages Meeting their own water requirements through rainwater conservation Working with communities for water conservation for collective action. Going beyond individual efforts by partnering with NGOs Including water in a priority area in CSR Investment in augmenting water sources Supporting innovation

On the positive note, the risk of water being a scare resource often motivates companies to reduce their water usage and pollution and implement innovative water technology in the production process. Companies are eager to reduce their water footprint2, get certified for their water responsive behavior and products and work with water shed approach. Further with the changes in the Companies Act 2013, it encourages companies to invest in policies and activities related to natural resource conservation. Some of the options before the industry are given below. a) Increasing Water Efficiency Increasing water efficiency is pivotal in reducing water demand in the industrial sector. If a systematic approach is followed the rate of water consumption can be reduced by 25-50 per cent in industrial units. Some industries exhibit the possibility of saving water by 30-50 per cent. Some of the methods that can reduce water footprint include change in technology from water cooling to air 2

The water footprint of a product is the volume of fresh water appropriated to produce the product, taking into account volumes of water consumed and polluted in the different steps of the supply chain. 14

cooling, replacing of water intensive equipment and fixtures, waste water recycling and reuse into industrial process, rainwater harvesting and use (see Figure 3). b) Life Cycle Analysis Life cycle analysis could be used to assess the environmental impact associated with the various stages of product’s life right from cradle to grave (from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance and disposal). For obtaining Cradle to cradle (C2C) certification there is a need to meet a special criteria for water. Water Stewardship as a part of the Cradle to Cradle certification requires actions that not only improve water footprint in industrial processes and supply chain but also in the ecosystem where the industry is operating. There are five levels – Basic, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum with industries meeting better water standards at each level. The basic level involves establishing regulatory compliance with their effluent permit and development of a plan for managing local and business specific water issues. Water Audit is conducted at the Bronze level. At the Silver and Gold level they can either optimise their product related process chemicals in effluents or work with the supply chain to identify and manage water related issues. c) Supply Chain Water Management Further, companies are meticulously designing effective water management strategies for their supply chain. For instance H&M in partnership with WWF has established pillars of water management which include: developing training materials that would inform the design and sourcing team about water related impacts of producing fashion and raw materials; identifying possibilities of saving water at company owned facilities; working with stakeholders such as local and regional Governments; NGOs and other companies for better water management of river basins in China and Bangladesh; and, educating customers on the significance of water management. d) Water Offset Another concept of water management prevalent in industries involves adoption of water offsets. For situations where water consumption cannot be reduced through efficiency improvements, water reuse or recycling, ‘water offsets’ investments to watersheds are adopted. Adoption of water offset would typically involve planting trees or investing in efficiency measures at far off land.

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FIGURE 3: STEP WISE APPROACH TO ADOPT WATER USE EFFICIENCY

SOURCE 5: REFLECTIONS ON MANAGING WATER: EARTH'S GREATEST NATURAL RESOURCE , 2015

Israel’s Tryst with Water Technology and Industry Long before other countries took notice, Israel realised the need to be at the forefront of water management and that has led to the country doing huge business in water technology. Over the past six years, $ 2 billion worth of water products were exported. The country recycles more than 80 per cent of its effluents. It is a world leader in desalination of seawater. By 2014, more than a third of Israel’s tap water came from the Mediterranean Sea and a few saline wells. Israel’s total water consumption remains nearly at 1964 levels, even though its population has quadrupled to 8 million people, according to the economic ministry. Every drop of water is used twice. Israel’s public and private sectors are investing heavily in developing and promoting the water industry. There are 280 water technology companies in Israel. The water industry was launched in the mid-1960s when the first drip irrigation was developed. The company now sells drip irrigation and greenhouses to 150 countries.

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F. Agriculture The agriculture sector has to tackle multiple water related issues: Low efficiency in water use; declining water availability; increasing food demand due to population increase, changing food habits and the commitment of the Right to Food; and, competitive demands over water. It is also predicted that water demand for irrigation will rise over time. Around 85 per cent of freshwater is used by the agriculture sector, having the highest share of freshwater usage. Water use efficiency is poor with 38 – 40 per cent for canal irrigation and 60 per cent for groundwater irrigation schemes. There are several ways by which the water use efficiency in agriculture can be increased along with undertaking measures for increasing water productivity by increasing the crop by drop. Some of the options include: a)

Aligning crops and cropping patterns to water availability Crops and cropping patterns should be aligned to water availability and increasing seasonal evapo- transpiration. Irrigation methods such as irrigation scheduling, tillage, mulching and fertilisation can increase the transpiration component of evapo-transpiration which results in higher utilisation of water by crops enhancing their productivity.

b)

Adopting Micro Irrigation (MI) Drip and sprinkler irrigation helps reduce water consumption in agriculture and can result in savings of between 40-80 per cent of water.

c)

Land and water management practices: These include integrated practices such as soil-water conservation, adequate land preparation for crop establishment, rainwater harvesting, efficient recycling of agricultural wastewater, conservation tillage to increase water infiltration, reduce run off and improve soil moisture storage, and adequate soil fertility to remove nutrient content.

d)

Laser levelling This technique can be used to remove unevenness of the soil surface having significant impact on the germination, stand and yield of crops. It can save around 20-30 per cent of water and enhance outputs by at minimum 10 per cent.

e)

System of Rice Intensification SRI is well known for reducing water requirement by 29 per cent and the growth duration by 8-12 days resulting in increased water productivity and per day productivity of rice cultivators. This technology is also useful for sugarcane cultivation.

f)

Use of legislation The Punjab Preservation of Sub Soil Water Act, 2009 prohibits sowing paddy nursery before May 10 and uprooting paddy before June 10. Preliminary evidences show a decline in the rate of groundwater depletion. This option can be explored for other States.

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IV. IPE Global Initiatives Poor quality water, open defecation and poor sanitation exposes millions of people to a plethora of diseases affecting their health and productivity. Poor sanitation and open defecation can contaminate sources of water further increasing the chances of water borne diseases. Some of the significant programmes implemented by the organisation include: a) The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) intervention undertaken by the Technical and Management Support Team (TMST) in Odisha, as part of a large programme to improve nutrition levels in 15 nutrition high burden districts of the State. The one year programme has shown some remarkable results with 98,155 Individual Household Latrines [IHHLs] built and 667 villages declared open defecation free. The effort reached out to a population of 6,00,035 residing in 1,167 villages. The trained grassroot force created will take forward the work on sanitation. b) The Support Programme for Urban Reforms (SPUR) initiative in Bihar encourages construction of toilets through the Samuhik Vikas Samitees (SVS), federation of slum level residents, who are at the forefront of community based construction of toilets. Apart from holding the funds for toilet construction, the SVS are trained on the basic of toilet construction, checking the quality of raw materials, ensuring that the design is being followed and most importantly, the location of the toilet does not impact the local environment. The toilets funded under SPUR have a fixed cost of Rs 20, 000 per unit but the community has to also contribute Rs 1,500 in form of cash or labour for the toilets. It is estimated that 45000 toilets are required in 1,402 slums. Toilet construction began in April 2015 and till January 2016, 1,024 toilets in 41 slums were constructed. Cities covered include Patna, Purnea, Gaya, Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur. c) The Bihar Technical Assistance Support Team (BTAST), which has a multi- dimensional approach to address WASH. The focus is on providing drinking water supply facilities in socio-economically backward habitations by installing water and sanitation facilities in school and conducting blanket water testing in 22 districts with poor water quality. Another, critical initiative has been community based operation and maintenance of hand pumps in the State, which trains women Self Help Group (SHG) members as hand pump mechanics ensuring well-functioning hand pumps. Participatory approaches involving SHGs were used to conduct trainings for making villages open defection free. Some 77,300 plus SHGs spread over 74 blocks in 22 districts, with a reach to 9.27 lakh families in rural Bihar have been involved. A toilet construction handbook and a mason training video has been developed for training of SHG members, NGO functionaries, PRI members and other field functionaries ensuring construction of technically sound IHHLs across the State.

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d) Social Assessments which were conducted in Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh as a precursor for the implementation of the World Bank assisted Rural Water Supply and Sanitation programme for these states. In partnership with the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, the programme aims to improve piped water coverage and sanitation services in 16,000 habitations of 33 districts across the four states. e) A scoping study under the Knowledge Partnership Programme to understand the waterenergy-food interlinkages and to understand the implications of these resource scarcities on India’ food security. This nexus approach is critical to meet the growing food security requirements to address hunger and undernutrition. Another effort supported knowledge exchange and uptake from India to Bangladesh to reduce water footprints in Bangladesh’s textile and garment export industry. Appropriate policies and guidelines are in the process of being formulated.

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Annex I SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL NO 6 Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Sub goals 6.1

By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all

6.2 By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations 6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimising release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally 6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity 6.5 By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate 6.6 By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes 6.a By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies 6.b Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management

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Annex II Linkage between Goal No 6 and other SDGs

Poverty, agriculture, hunger and nutrition

Health, education, resilient infrastructure

Energy

Gender equity

Combat climate change Bibliography and its impacts

Economic growth

Water

Partnerships

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe

Sustainable production and consumption patterns

Sustainable use of ecosystems Peace and justice

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Sustainable use of marine resources

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