CHAPTER 2
CONCEPT OF WATER CONSERVATION
EXERCISE
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN WORK
Answer the following question in brief:
(1)What is water conservation?
Ans.
Water conservation is the use of manmade measures to block, store and
intake the rain water in an area by constructing various structures and
allowing it to be used for drinking consumption, industry and agriculture
until the next monsoon.
(2) Explain the division (distribution) of rainwater .
Ans.
i) The occurrence of seasons and winter one after the other in a year
leads to the cycle of seasons. In India, the requirement of water for
life is mostly fulfilled by the rainy seasons.
ii) Distribution of rainwater is not uniform in India.
iii) Most of the water that falls during the rainy season naturally seeps
into the soil . Some of it is stored as surface water.
(3) Why do you think water conservation is needed?
Ans.
i) Due to changing climate conditions, the rainfall period and total
amount of rainfall have become erratic.
ii) After constructing buildings, a thick layer of cement and sand is
spread in the surrounding space. As a result, the area and the rate of
infiltration of water into the soil is greatly reduced.
iii) Considering all these factors ,there is a need for water management
and water conservation.
(4) Explain any two ill effects of population growth.
Ans.
i) Due to population growth, the total water consumption is
increasing.
ii) Due to the increase in population there is depletion of water
resources.
(5) Which factors are to be taken into account while
promoting rural rainwater harvesting?
Ans.
The factors like population of requirement of the village, water
water sources, and their capacity, water requirement for
agriculture, number of cattle in the village, type and soil type,
number of players in soil, death of the rock, the slope of the land,
etc. are to be considered while promoting rural rainwater
harvesting.
(6) Why do you think urban rainwater harvesting is needed?
Ans.
i) In the open grounds, nearly 50% of the rainwater settles in the soil.
In the place covered by concrete in urban areas, hardly 10% of the
rainwater is absorbed and most of the rainwater is carried away.
ii) If every building in an urban area promotes rainwater harvesting
(i.e public participation), the well and borewells in urban areas will be
recharged and urban areas will become self-sufficient in terms of
water.
7) Explain the usefulness, of water conservation.
Ans.
i) Sustainability: Water retention will occur if the rate of abstraction of
water from the catchment area is less than the recharge rate. Thus, the
reduction in (per capita) water consumption will lead to sustainable
water supply.
ii) Habitat conservation: Reducing the use of fresh water will keep
freshwater reservoirs intact.
8) What are the functions of Maharashtra Water
Conservation Department?
Ans.
The three main functions of Maharashtra conservation
Department are :- To determine, regulate and enforce
the distribution of entitlements for the various
categories.
(9) Why are there limitations in rainwater harvesting in urban
areas? How can water conservation be done through public
participation?
Ans.
i) In the open grounds, nearly 50% of the rainwater settles in the soil.
In the places covered by concrete in urban areas, hardly 10% of the
rain water is absorbed and most of the rain- water is carried away.
ii) If every building in urban areas promotes rainwater harvesting, the
wells and borewells in urban areas will be recharged and
conservation will be done.