Water scarcity doomed to worsen as summer nears

ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco | FEBRUARY 29, 2024, 07:25 PM IST

It is learnt that residents in Chicolna-Bogmalo get just an hour of water supply. Residents of Headland Sada have barrels placed outside their homes to collect water from water-tankers. In Majorda, Calata, Goans reportedly buy water to drink while some families get five liters of potable water per day at dawn which trickles through the taps. Like several other places in the state the water crisis has also hit Chapora, Assagao and Anjuna residents who have been staging protests over irregular supply of water. With the summer season ahead, things could only get worse. Access to clean and safe water is a fundamental human right, yet it remains elusive for many citizens. Rainwater harvesting and recycled wastewater allow to reduce scarcity and ease pressures on groundwater and other natural water bodies. Groundwater recharge, that allows water moving from surface water to groundwater, is a well-known process to prevent water scarcity. Water scarcity can lead to economic decline as farming activities are affected. In addition, inadequate sanitation can lead to deadly diarrhoeal diseases, including cholera and typhoid fever, and other water-borne illnesses. We need to act now before it is too late.



 


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