2.4.3.5. IRRIGATION

Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful. Uses of water include agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities. Virtually all of these human uses require fresh water.

Water resources refer to all sources that we can use for our needs. This includes water we use for farming (agriculture), factories (industrial purposes), homes (for drinking, washing, etc.), and even for fun activities (recreational use) or to protect the environment. Freshwater is vital for survival and is predominantly used in these activities.

Think of water as a precious resource, much like money. Just as we budget our money for various expenses like groceries, entertainment, and savings, we must manage our water wisely for agriculture, industry, and our daily life.

97% of the water on Earth is saltwater. Only three percent is freshwater; slightly over two-thirds of this is frozen in glaciers and polar ice. The remaining unfrozen freshwater is found mainly as groundwater, with only a small fraction present above ground or in the air.

Most of the water on our planet is saltwater found in oceans, which we cannot drink. Freshwater is what we want, but it makes up only a tiny part of total water. A lot of this freshwater is locked away as ice in glaciers. What we can actually see and use is mostly groundwater, with just a little bit available on the surface, like in rivers and lakes.

Imagine a giant ice cube filled with salt water. Most of the water in the cube is salty and can’t be used for drinking or irrigation. To find freshwater, you'd have to dig through a tiny bit of that giant cube until you hit the few drops of freshwater scattered inside.

About 9.86% of the total freshwater resources is in the form of groundwater, and it is about 35-50 times that of surface water supplied.

Groundwater is the water stored underground in aquifers, and it's crucial for drinking and irrigation. It makes up a significant portion of our freshwater, far more than we find in rivers and lakes. It's hidden and needs to be accessed through wells or springs, making it an important resource for many communities.

Groundwater is like a hidden treasure underground. Just as treasure hunters dig deep to find gold, we drill wells to reach this precious water that is beneath the surface, waiting to be used.

Water is used in various sectors including:

1. Domestic Use: Water used in houses for drinking, bathing, washing clothes, cooking, sanitary needs, etc.
2. Industrial Use: Water is required for various industries such as cement, mining, etc.
3. Public Use: This includes water used for public utilities such as watering parks, flushing streets, etc.
4. Fire Use: Water is used for fire prevention and cooling.
5. Irrigation: To grow crops, which is the main source for food.
6. Other Uses: Hydroelectric power generation requires water.

Water has numerous uses across different areas of life. It's essential at home for cooking and cleaning, in industries to manufacture goods, in parks and public spaces to keep them green, and in emergencies to put out fires. Additionally, it's crucial for agriculture as farmers depend on water to irrigate their crops and ensure food production.

Consider water as a versatile tool like a Swiss Army knife. Just like this knife has many tools for various tasks, water plays numerous roles in our lives - from keeping our homes clean to helping plants grow and powering industry.

Overuse of groundwater has several effects:

1. Lowering of the water table.
2. Ground subsidence.
3. Drought.

Using too much groundwater can lead to several problems. When we take water out faster than it can be replaced, the water table (the level at which ground is saturated) drops, making it harder to find water. This overuse can also cause the ground to sink (ground subsidence) and can lead to drought conditions where areas receive little to no rain.

Imagine filling a glass with water from a pitcher. If you use more water than the pitcher can refill, eventually, the glass will empty. This reflects what happens with groundwater: if we take water out too quickly, the supplies diminish, leading to a drought where there is not enough water available.

A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply, whether surface or underground. Drought can be classified into four main types:

1. Meteorological drought: related to rainfall amounts.
2. Hydrological drought: determined by water levels in reservoirs.
3. Agricultural drought: related to the availability of water for crops.
4. Socioeconomic drought: related to the demand and supply of economic goods.

Droughts can last for long periods, causing serious issues for people and the environment. There are different types of droughts, depending on what aspect of water supply is lacking. Meteorological drought focuses on rainfall, hydrological drought looks at water levels in reservoirs, agricultural drought deals with crop water needs, and socioeconomic drought connects water shortages to economic goods.

Think of a drought as a prolonged summer without rain. Just as plants wilt without water over time, agricultural land suffers greatly when there's not enough rainfall or stored water, making it difficult to grow enough food for all.

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