Water Scarcity and Its Main Causes
Scarcity of water is defined as a situation where there is insufficient water to satisfy normal requirements.
Though water is a renewable resource, we humans are using it at a faster rate than it is being replenished. There are various factors contributing to the depletion of the water table.
Increasing Population:
Growing population has resulted in a growing demand for houses, offices, shops, roads, etc. As a result, open areas like parks and playgrounds are used for construction. This reduces the seepage of water into the ground. Moreover, construction work requires more water for which underground water is used. As the rate of consumption of underground water is more than seepage, it results in a depletion of the water table.
Increasing Industries:
The rapidly growing population has also resulted in an increase in the number of industries. Water is used in almost every stage of production of things that we use. This has put a heavy load, especially on the freshwater ecosystem.
Agricultural activities: India is an agricultural country and farmers have to depend on rain for irrigating their fields. However, erratic monsoons result in excess use of groundwater thereby decreasing the underground water.
Deforestation: Trees have the ability to hold water. With deforestation, the number of plants decrease, hence the water keeps flowing towards the sea and the groundwater is not recharged.
In India, some causes of water scarcity are:
Uncontrolled use of borewell technology for extracting groundwater: Farmers have over exploited groundwater resources in our country due to uncertain monsoons and an unreliable state water supply.
Pollution of freshwater resources: This is due to the discharge of untreated sewage from homes, toxic chemicals from industries, and of pesticides and insecticides used by farmers into water bodies.
No effective measures for water conservation: Very little has been done for groundwater recharge and for care of freshwater ecosystems.
Effects of Water Scarcity on Plants
Water is very important for plant growth; its deficiency weakens the plant.
When plants do not get sufficient water, they do not grow to their expected height, have reduced photosynthetic activity, and produce much less harvest than expected. Without enough water, plants will also be susceptible to diseases, which can eventually lead to the death of the plant.
This may result in no food, no oxygen, no rain, and eventually end all forms of life on the Earth.