MEASURING WATER INTAKE

From the desk of Mrs. Baby Abraham . . . . . .

                      MEASURING WATER INTAKE 

1.   Here   we are taking the volume or quantity of water we take from the earth !!!!!!

Instead if we had taken the  volume or the quantity of water , we get by each rain , we could have assessed the true nature of the Nature , and how nature help us and how we help ourselves . Out of her BOUNDY  the Nature give us abundance of sunlight and abundance of water  which if we really make use for the various schemes and projects. What would have ben the profit. Instead we and our government should not waste our resources , time and man power asking each house and each individual and each institutions , how much water they are using. In fact we know what are the correct measures to be followed . BUT STILL WE KEEP   on calculating how many liters each person use for bathing , for cooking , foe washing dishes , for washing clothes. This is the scarcity mentality. Even in this digital, nuclear and space age , we are taking account of water in “ liters “ !!!!! Beyond the liter measurement , we have no bigger measurement to accommodate !

2.      Kerala government made 6300 wells for the people and out of which 587 were without water .

-  They filled up all those wells without water  !!!!!

-   On one side we are encouraging rain water  harvesting .

-  Some construct deep wells in the compound of their companies and institution and direct all the rain water into those “ sumps “ or under ground built in chambers .

-  These wells without water could have been ideal “ water storage “ systems. Any way they spend so much money. They could have easily kept them for storing water since Kerala get rainy season twice  a year !!! .

-  Instead they spend more money to fill them up all the  587 wells ! -  Once you spend some money and effort and time for major projects, never allow it to go waste by spending even more money.

-  Since we do it ourselves , we cannot blame others.

-  If some other person had filled it up without your consent, then you would have said,  why did you do that ?
We  spend so much , we could have as well used it for some other purpose.  Since rain water harvesting has become inevitable ,

since replenishing the rivers and lakes have become inevitable ,

let not any effort in this direction go waste .

It is our effort,

It is our money,

It is our man power and wages , it is our land which benefit out of it .

3.         If one had started the excavation with the intention of building a storage tank for water  for grain or for foundation of a sky scraper, then how glad they would have been that it is not water logged area but dry land which is most suited for sky scrapers .

- The desire in our heart is so stiff and not adjustable and accommodative , that we just cannot think of a better way of using what is at our disposal , at that particular location, at that particular time ! We are all stiff minded. No matter how much we spend, how much effort we put in , if we want a well the place should obey us and produce water when we drill the area.

-  We will not use it for any  proper  purpose , even if it is most suited and all the work is done for that purpose .!!

-  We spend more money and bury it !!!

-  Kerala buried  587   constructed water storage system !

4.   Nature’s habit is  that it rains at its own timing and depending upon the maintenance of the   rivers, lakes, ponds, wells , water is collected   and  stored up for our use. The well never use water for itself. Whether there is WATER OR NOT, the rivers  and lakes and ponds and wells present themselves . It is our responsibility to look after them if we want to benefit from them . Just like getting more milk from cows, just like getting more nutritious and healthy , pesticide free vegetables from green houses   , aquaponics  , you give some special care and you reap much more than we expect ! Not  to  mention about our own children and spouse and family . The society and the country also benefit by the mutual care . Nothing can prosper if we take the “ one way “ regulation in “ life’s journey . “ because

 we all demand the same ,

 we all require the same ,

we all provide the same,

we look forward for the same ,

we aspire for the same .

-       V guard group has constructed so many “ wells “ around their compound to store rain water.

-                Sarovaram hotels constructed 4-5 lakh liter water storage near the hill side to collect the water that surge from the torrential rain every time it rains !

-       Mumbai Emerald club constructed their water storage system which is sufficient for their swimming pool and all other needs .

-       WHEN POPULATION INCREASE in certain clusters, the water need in that particular locality increase more and since all the used water is drained into the sea, which already has enormous amount and has   no need for our contribution . 

-        The parched earth remain parched year after year because we give only to the sea , more water to the  sea !!!

-       The sea never even notice or acknowledge that we are enriching the mighty seas  !

-       -  Give to those who are in need . They will use it and benefit and the society benefit   and the country benefit .

-       -  Kerala is using soft ware to bring water in the wells they constructed . Let us wait and see how they are bringing it out .

-       -  How much did they collected in the floods. All these wells were constructed before the floods.

-        Two weeks after the floods , most of the rivers were dry.

-       therefore the government can concentrate on the rivers , which in turn will bring up the level of ground water. –

What are the new innovative ways :
1. Water can be retained in the river.

2. Lakes and ponds once full can hold it for three four months at least.

By that time the next rainy season sets in , in Kerala.

3.   Can construction of wells near the river banks help to keep water table high even if the rivers are dry ??? Since the depth of wells are very deep , the rain water can stay there for longer periods nourishing the surrounding areas .

4.  The walls should be well above the ground level , 5-- 6 feet above ground

level ,  not river level so that no accidents  occur.

Other wise  people will blame the government and the constriction companies.

5.   Make sure  all the wells near the river banks are covered  , to prevent accidents and to keep the leaves falling in to them and to prevent people dumping unwanted things into them.

6.  Since Kerala is blessed with hills and valleys.

each  valley area between the hills have streams flowing and emptying themselves into the paddy fields …………, which in turn run  in to small rivers and then into the major rivers  .

 If only several compartments or partitions could be constructed   to store up the torrential flowing of rain water, there would not have been any shortage of water scarcity in those hilly areas.  But who will do it ?

How we struggled to have proper roads and well maintained bridges and fly overs !!!  On that road within  about  hundred  to  six hundred  feet there are several such streams ! All of them empty into the paddy fields ! If well managed , that area will never feel  any scarcity .

Since the major rivers of Kerala are another hundred yards away and connecting small rivers are many at different locations , there is no dearth of availability of water for irrigation.

Paddy fields there are not dependent on  fresh water from the hills which run through the small streams. The rivers there are 20 – 30 feet deep . They are all fresh water rivers .

No salinity is there in those rivers .

7. If we make use of all THE EXISTING STREAMS AND SMALL RIVERS

with partition walls to keep the water without running away.

   with less cost , we can retain the fresh water  in these small streams  to replenish the surrounding wells .

All areas and all hills small and big will have their own thousands of small storage tanks .  We should not " greedily" make higher partition walls. We must allow excess water to run down the slope . Otherwise. the slopes will collapse !!!

The  sections of stream below will have enough  water to store . subsequently . If only one  large storage tank  built unwisely  it will collapse , the construction cost exceed far above than what cost for several small ones . The smaller ones dispersed all over the area are sufficient to bring up the water level in the wells . The two seasonal rain will keep on replenishing the water in them .

That is  a wise move , cost effective and without much maintenance . Each locality can look after their " small dam " easily . We can call it the " democratic dam " .

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