According to Niti Aayog’s 2018 projections, roughly 600 million Indians will face high or extreme water stress by 2030

Byline: Ramnath Vaidyanathan, Head – Environmental Sustainability, Godrej Industries Group

Imagine waking up in the morning, still groggy, and heading to the bathroom. Without a second thought, you turn the tap at the wash basin, expecting the familiar flow of water. But there’s no water. The taps are dry. In that moment, a simple routine becomes a stark reminder of what we take for granted.

This scenario isn’t as far-fetched as it seems. For millions of Indians, it’s fast becoming a daily reality, not just in our villages but also in some of our cities. The fact is — the water crisis is here, it’s indiscriminate, and it’s warning us to take action before it’s too late.

The Crisis At Our Doorstep
According to Niti Aayog’s 2018 projections, roughly 600 million Indians will face high or extreme water stress by 2030. That’s nearly two out of every five people living in the country. What’s more, almost 70 percent of India’s surface water is already contaminated, resulting in 200,000 deaths each year due to lack of access to clean water.

But the human toll is only part of the story. The water crisis is also exacting a financial cost, one that has already triggered warnings from global ratings agencies. Water scarcity impacts everything from agricultural productivity to industrial output. If left unchecked, it has the potential to derail India’s lofty growth ambitions, fuel inflation, shrink incomes, and even spark widespread social unrest.

If all of this sounds alarming, it’s because it is.

India’s annual per capita water availability now stands at 1,486 cubic meters, already below the Ministry of Water Resources’ threshold for water stress, which is set at 1,700 cubic meters. Worse, the water resources ministry projects this figure will drop to 1,367 cubic meters by 2031. Climate change, worsening every year, is only set to exacerbate what is already the most severe water crisis in the country’s history.

The alarm bells are not just ringing—they’re a clarion call, sounding the need for urgent action. And it falls on all of us to respond. What the country needs is a collaborative approach involving the entire spectrum of stakeholders—from government bodies and corporates to communities and individuals—if we are to solve it.

Understanding The Roots Of The Problem
India accounts for 18 percent of the world’s population but only four percent of its water resources. With a majority of its surface water contaminated, the country is disproportionately dependent on groundwater to meet its water needs. Over 60 percent of irrigated agriculture and 85 percent of drinking water supplies come from groundwater.

Reducing our consumption of groundwater resources while simultaneously replenishing them will mitigate this crisis.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — And Replenish
Take United Arab Emirates as an example — the country has among the highest water consumption rates in the world and yet, being a desert nation, is among the most water scarce. However, only 0.4 percent of its population lacks access to safe drinking water. The country has turned to its wealth of seawater to meet its water needs, with desalinated water meeting 42 percent of its total potable water requirement.

Desalination of seawater is a viable alternative for India which has a 7,500-km long coastline. There is an environmental cost. Desalination plants are energy intensive. The process itself also increases salt levels in the sea and generates harmful brine waste. But, in India’s case the environmental toll can be mitigated, especially with the country building up its renewable energy capacity and desalination serving as only one among a slew of solutions rather than the dominant solution.

Another solution is reducing our groundwater usage through the reuse and recycling of water. For instance, the government plans to more than triple wastewater recycling by the end of this decade, aiming to increase it to 70 percent from the current 21 percent, as noted in policy documents. This will help reduce the extraction of fresh water from underground aquifers and surface bodies to a targeted 50 percent by 2030, down from the current 66 percent—the highest in the world.

Agriculture, which consumes a significant share of groundwater resources, must also adapt. Using newer, more efficient techniques like drip irrigation and precision farming will help minimise water use without hampering farmland productivity.

Corporates & Communities: Key Players in Water Stewardship
Corporates have an equally important role to play. Businesses need to move beyond regulatory requirements and strive to achieve water positivity. This means not only recycling water but also reducing water usage and improving water efficiency across the board. But replenishment is as critical as reduction. India’s groundwater is largely replenished by the monsoon rains, but with growing urbanisation, much of this rainwater is lost.

Concrete landscapes prevent water from seeping into the ground to recharge aquifers, allowing it to flow into drains and eventually the sea. Corporates can partner with non-profits and local communities on water stewardship initiatives. Programmes such as building check dams, restoring ponds, and reviving traditional water-harvesting structures can go a long way in helping replenish the water table.

Driving Awareness
Driving awareness is another critical aspect. The role of local communities in implementing water management programs cannot be overstated. But for them to take part effectively, they need to be educated about best practices.

Take the 1000 Springs initiative in Odisha, for instance. Led by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, youth from indigenous tribal communities were trained as hydrologists to identify and rejuvenate natural springs. To date, the initiative has revived or identified 554 springs across 11 districts, providing clean drinking water to 116 habitations. It’s proof that with the right knowledge and action, change is possible.

The Buck Stops With Us
At the end of the day, the buck stops with us—each of us. Regulating our personal water consumption is the most effective way to turn the tide in this crisis. Thanks to technology, from sensors to water meters, it’s easier than ever to monitor our individual usage. But doing so requires a shift in mindset.

In Cape Town, residents were urged to drastically reduce water usage during their own water crisis, with some being limited to just 50 litres per day. The city banned activities like washing cars and filling swimming pools and hit high-volume consumers with hefty fines. They also rolled out public awareness campaigns on water conservation and promoted the use of recycled water.

The gravity of the situation cannot be overstated. Every drop wasted today could be a drop someone desperately needs tomorrow. The actions we take now, as individuals, as communities, as corporations, and as a nation, will determine the future of water in India. If we continue on our current path, the taps we mindlessly turn on each morning may one day run dry. But if we act now—by reducing our consumption, replenishing our resources, and rethinking how we value water—we have a chance to mitigate this crisis