Water Audit for Water Management Chapter Notes | Environmental Management for Grade 9 PDF Download

Introduction

Water is essential for life, but in many parts of India, it is not available equally. Some regions face droughts, while others face floods. A water audit is a process of studying how water is used, how it is wasted, and how it can be conserved. This chapter teaches how to collect, analyse, and use data to understand water usage and plan for the future.

What is a Water Audit?

• A water audit is the study of water usage and wastage in a place like a home, school, or community.
• It includes collecting data, analysing it, and suggesting ways to reduce wastage.
• It helps predict future water needs and manage water better.

Importance of Data

• Data is information collected in the form of facts, figures, photographs, or videos.
• Past data helps predict future events like rainfall, droughts, or heatwaves.
• Accurate data helps in making correct decisions for water management.
• Data must be correct, reliable, and collected from trusted sources.

Water in India: A Big Challenge

• India has only 4% of the world’s freshwater but 18% of the world’s population.
• Water availability is not equal across the country – some areas face drought, while others face floods.
• Droughts are often caused by deforestation, poor farming practices, and overuse of groundwater.
• Water is wasted due to leaking taps, running taps, and careless usage.
• Government programmes like Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Shakti Abhiyan work to improve water supply and conservation.

What Will I Be Able To Do?

• Measure and calculate water availability, usage, and wastage.
• Collect and analyse data about water usage and consumption trends.
• Identify wastage points and suggest solutions.
• Apply methods to reduce wastage and conserve water.

What Will I Need?

• Notebook and pen
• Measuring jar or 1-litre bottle
• Plumbing tools (wrench, spanner, pipes)
• Bucket and mug
• Stopwatch or mobile timer
• Survey forms for collecting data
• Calculator or mobile calculator
• Computer with internet for research and spreadsheets

How Do I Keep Myself and Others Safe?

• Handle plumbing tools carefully and follow safety instructions.
• Take permission before entering someone’s home for survey.
• Be careful around slippery surfaces and avoid working in extreme heat.
• Use internet safely, do not share personal information, and only use reliable sources for data.

Primary and Secondary Data

• Primary Data: Collected directly by surveys, interviews, experiments, or observations.
• Secondary Data: Obtained from reliable sources like government websites, reports, and census records.
• Both are important for water audits.

Measuring Water Usage

• Water is measured in millilitres (mL), litres (L), or cubic metres (m³).
• 1 cubic metre = 1000 litres.
• Capacity of utensils, tanks, or buckets can be used to measure water usage.
• Water flow rate of taps and showers is measured in litres per minute.
• Formula: Water Used = Flow Rate × Time tap is ON.

Water Storage Capacity in the Society

• Water tanks in localities store water which can be measured by their dimensions and converted into litres.
• Municipal officers can provide information about daily water supply to the society.

Sources of Water

• Natural and manmade sources include rivers, wells, borewells, tanks, canals, and pipelines.
• Rainwater is stored in dams and distributed through canals and pipelines.
• It is important to know the source of water and the population dependent on it.

Estimating Household Water Consumption

• Water usage can be calculated by observing daily activities like washing, bathing, drinking, cooking, and cleaning.
• Machines like washing machines (approx. 70 L per cycle) and RO filters (3 L wasted per 1 L treated) use large amounts of water.
• Data from families should be collected in litres and recorded in tables or spreadsheets.
• Average water consumption per person can be calculated and compared with prescribed usage by Jal Jeevan Mission (55 L/day in rural areas, 135 L/day in urban areas).

Rainwater Availability

• Secondary data from government sources can be used to calculate rainfall and water availability in a region.
• Formula: Total Water Availability = Area (m²) × Rainfall (m).
• Generally, 70% of rainwater is used for agriculture, 20% for industry, and 10% for domestic use.

Identify Wastage Points and Wastewater

• Common wastage points are leaking taps, overflowing tanks, and faulty pipelines.
• Simple repairs, like tightening taps and replacing washers, can save water.
• Flow caps and aerators can reduce the flow of water from taps.

Groundwater Recharge

• Groundwater is an important water source but is being overused.
• Ways to recharge groundwater include:
• Making contour bunds to hold water in fields.
• Building check dams to slow down runoff.
• Creating percolation tanks and borewell recharge structures.

Reusing Water

• Greywater (from sinks, baths, kitchens, washing machines) can be reused for irrigation, cleaning, and flushing toilets.
• Methods of reusing water include:
• Using wastewater from washing vegetables for watering plants.
• Installing reed bed greywater systems for natural filtration.

Estimating Future Water Requirement

• Water demand increases with population growth and development.
• Example Scenarios:
• If 100 new homes are built, water demand increases by average family consumption × 100.
• If a college hostel has 1000 students, demand increases by average per person consumption × 1000.

What Else Can I Do?

• Write computer programmes to calculate water consumption.
• Write letters to government officials suggesting ways to save water.
• Conduct audits for food, electricity, or waste in addition to water.
• Study solar water tanks and how they can be used in homes and industries.