1.11    Water management
          We have seen that most of the water that we get as rainfall just flows away. This is a waste of precious natural resource. The rainwater can be used to recharge the groundwater. This is called as water harvesting or rainwater harvesting.  
          Find out if the buildings in your neighbourhood have water harvesting systems installed. 
         We have at many places in India an age old practice of water storage and water recharge like the bawris. Bawri was the traditional way of collecting water. With time the bawris fell into disuse and garbage started piling in these reservoirs. However,                 because of the acute water shortage, people in these areas have had to rethink. The bawris are being revived. Today the situation is that inspite of scanty rains these places are managing their water needs well.
        Water in the fields can use be used water economically. Maybe you have heard of drip irrigation. Drip irrigation is a technique of watering plants by making use of narrow tubings which deliver water directly at the base of the plant.

 

 

1.12    Uses of water
(i)    Essential constituent  for the reaction of photosynthesis which is the process supporting  life as well as making food for plants and animals.
(ii)    Medium for all biochemical processes taking place in plants and animals      
(iii)    Medium for transport of nutrients and minerals to the living cells in living beings.
(iv)    Exchange of gases through blood by the process of respiration.
(v)    Germination of seeds.
(vi)    Growth of plants
(vii)    Regulation of body temperature.  

                                                        Key words
1.    Aquifer : A water trap where groundwater is trapped between the layers of hard rock below water table.
2.    Depletion of water table : We are consuming more ground water for industrial, agricultural activities as human wastes and on the other hand, we are allowing lesser water to seep into the ground. Due to this reason, depletion of water table occurs.
3.    Drip irrigation : Drip irrigation is a technique of watering the plants by making use of narrow tubings which deliver water drop by drop directly at the base of the plant.
4.    Groundwater : The water that seeps into the  earth, gets collected between the layers of rocks and found below the water table, is called groundwater.
5.    Infiltration : The process of seeping of water into the ground is called infiltration. The groundwater gets recharged by this process.
6.    rainwater harvesting : The rainwater can be used to recharge the groundwater. This is referred as water harvesting or rainwater harvesting.
7.    Water recharged : The groundwater is recharged by the seepage of rainwater. The rainwater and water from other sources such as rivers and ponds seeps through soil and fills the empty spaces and cracks deep below the ground.
8.    Water table : The top most level of the groundwater, where all the space between soil particles is filled with water is called water table.