India as a country with abundance of natural resources is blessed with large resources in terms of water. However, the availability of fresh water varies from place to place based on its geo-physical set-up and natural resources in the country.
At present, irrational and unsustainable water withdrawal from groundwater, tanks and reservoirs is on increase.
This water is mainly being used for Agriculture and Industrial purpose causing drinking water scarcity to the human beings. Moreover, water use for drinking and domestic purposes is estimated around 7 to 9 per cent of the total fresh water in India.
As per the estimates of National Water Commission, the total water requirement of India in the year 2050 will be about 973 billion cubic meters depending on its population growth.
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Water Quality Problem
A large number of habitations (2, 16,794 habitations) are affected with water quality problems. Many factors like sources going dry increase in quality problems, systems becoming defunct due to poor maintenance demand from other competing sectors like agriculture, industry etc.
Coverage of water quality affected habitations
The results of the quality survey (2000) revealed that there are 2, 16,968 quality affected habitations. It is proposed to cover all (2, 16,968) quality-affected habitations during the 4-year period of Bharat Nirman.
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While tackling water quality problem, priority is given to arsenic, fluoride and salinity affected habitations. 90 per cent quality affected habitations in these categories are covered through surface water alternate sources and 10 per cent through treatment by low cost technologies.
In respect of iron, however, 30 per cent quality affected habitations will be covered by surface water sources and 70 per cent by treatment. In regard to nitrate-affected habitations, 100 per cent habitations are covered through surface water alternate sources.