Big moves to keep water alive

South-to-North Water Transfer Project, China

Large funds, local insight, ancient wisdom, current innovation and political will are needed 

to prevent water from exiting Mother Earth. Water is life.

Humankind’s history is dotted with short and prolonged periods of water shortage leading to droughts and famines. Millions lost their lives and flourishing civilisations vanished as entire populations migrated to lands with water.

Sand dams are common in Kenya

Ever since the dawn of human civilisation people have been devising multiple ways to fetch water and ensure its availability for their habitats. However, the advent of agriculture long ago and the relatively recent Industrial Revolution have put water supply under undue pressure with pervasive pollution contaminating whatever remains of this precious commodity. This has driven many countries to launch big projects for conservation, renewal and efficient management of water.    

Drip irrigation pioneered by Israel

Israel: Israel is often cited as a model for water management in arid regions. The country has implemented a range of water conservation and reuse measures, such as using treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation, implementing drip irrigation systems, desalinating saltwater and brackish water, and promoting water-saving technologies in households. These efforts have enabled Israel to achieve water self-sufficiency, despite its arid climate. For example, Israel’s water reuse program has helped to increase water availability by 10-15%, and the country’s drip irrigation systems have led to a 20-30% increase in crop yields.

Singapore: Singapore has implemented a range of water management strategies to address water scarcity, including desalination, water recycling, and rainwater harvesting. The country has also implemented a water pricing system that incentivizes conservation and discourages waste. These efforts have enabled Singapore to achieve water self-sufficiency, despite being heavily dependent on imported water in the past. For example, Singapore’s NEWater programme, which recycles wastewater into high-quality drinking water, has helped to increase water supply by 40%.

Ramba Morales desalination plant, Spain 

Spain: Spain has implemented a range of water management strategies to address water scarcity, including desalination, water reuse, and water pricing reforms. These efforts have helped to improve water efficiency and reduce water consumption in households and industry. For example, Spain’s water reuse program has helped to increase water supply by 6%, and the country’s water pricing reforms have led to a 16% reduction in household water consumption.

Australia: Australia has implemented a range of water management strategies to address water scarcity, including water trading, water pricing reforms, and investments in water infrastructure. These efforts have helped to improve water efficiency and reduce water consumption in agriculture and other sectors. For example, Australia’s water trading system, which allows farmers to buy and sell water rights, has helped to improve water allocation and reduce water use in agriculture.

India

Tanka water management in Rajasthan, India

Rajasthan: In the arid state of Rajasthan, the government has implemented a range of water management strategies to address water scarcity, including rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and water conservation measures. For example, the state government has constructed more than 3 million rainwater harvesting structures, which have helped to increase groundwater levels and improve water availability in the region.

Tamil Nadu: In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, the government has focused on better water management, including desalination, rainwater harvesting, and wastewater treatment. For example, the state’s desalination plant in Chennai has helped to provide drinking water to the city’s residents, despite the region’s frequent droughts and water shortages.

Gujarat: Among the measures adopted for better water management in agriculture, the pro-business western state has promoted drip irrigation, crop diversification, and water-efficient farming practices. These efforts have helped to improve crop yields, reduce water consumption, and increase farmers’ incomes.

Nepal

Melamchi Water Supply Project, Nepal

Melamchi Water Supply Project: This is a major infrastructure project that provides drinking water to the Kathmandu Valley, which has been facing severe water shortages. Started in 1998 and completed in 2021, the project involved construction of a 26.5-km tunnel to transport water from the Melamchi river to the Kathmandu Valley, the site of the country’s capital and other important towns. The project diverts 170,000,000 litres of water daily to over one million residents in the region.

Kanchanjangha Tea Estate: This tea estate in eastern Nepal has implemented a range of water management strategies to address water scarcity, including rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and water conservation measures. These efforts have helped to improve water availability in the region and increase tea production.

China: The South-to-North Water Transfer Project, launched in 2002, is a major infrastructure project that aims to transfer water from the Yangtze River in southern China to the water-scarce northern regions of the country. When complete, the project is expected to cost well over a hundred billion dollars. By 2014, 79 billion dollars had been spent. The project involves constructing a series of canals and pipelines to transport water over long distances. The project is expected to provide drinking water to more than 100 million people and support agriculture and industry in the northern regions of China.