Experts call for water conservation

Tribune news service

Amritsar, March 22

“Why do we need Reverse Osmosis (ROs) at our home when the total dissolved solids of groundwater in most parts of the district is found suitable for drinking?” questioned Dr Inderpreet Kaur, director, All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society.

An environmentalist, who strongly supports water conservation, said awareness and responsible consumption were the only way to tackle the impending water crisis in the state. “There is a talk about the critical level of groundwater in Punjab, but still people are waiting for someone else to find the solution to this self-created problem,” she added.

Speaking on water conservation on World Water Day, Dr Inderpreet said small steps would leave a big impact. “On the Pingalwara campus, we use 25 to 30 litres of RO water, otherwise it go waste, for a cleaning and washing purpose. At Manawala, we have also dug up three water conservation wells for rainwater harvesting.”

Come summer, city’s water woes will once again take the centre stage. Every year, efforts of the administration to conservation water go in vain due to wastage of water, courtesy faulty taps and broken supply pipes.

“The problem is that laws against water wastage are not implemented properly as the administrative authorities also fail to check the violations. There is a need for a change in the mindset. The value of water as a resource needs to be understood,” said Sandeep Sharma, a resident of Rambagh.

“Earlier, people used to drink water stored in earthen pots, which were natural filters and kept water cool. These days, RO’s have replaced pots, causing only 25 per cent of water fit to be consumed and 75 per cent water comes out as waste,” he said.

Dr Inderpreet said, “Earthen pot add minerals to the water stored in them and filter them as well. Their use could save a lot of drinking water. Also, going back to natural methods like mulching could save 50 per cent water used in irrigation and balance the groundwater level.”

Recently at an environment seminar, Kahan Singh Pannu, chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board, mentioned that the use of RO’s and chemical farming were significant factors which lead to drinking water crisis in the state.