Skip to main content

Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources

Q.1. Explain the effects of overutilization of water resources with reference to floods and droughts.

Ans. Introduction: Water is the most important resource for the existence of life on Earth. 70% of our planet is covered with water but only 1% of this water is of drinking standards. Today, water management has become the most important issue. States like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been fighting over water problems. 

Causes for Overexploitation/Water Pollution:
(i) Growing Population: With the number of people increasing each day, the daily requirement of water has increased, thus causing over utilization of water resources.

(ii) Use of excessive fertilizers: Use of excessive fertilizers and pesticides makes the ground water toxic and unsuitable for drinking.

(iii) Pollutants from industries: Industries try to reduce their costs by inducing toxic substances into water bodies without treating them.

Effects of overutilization: 
(i) Global climate change: Due to overutilization of water, the water cycle patterns have changed causing a change in the temperature, wind speeds and overall environment. Global warming is increasing at an alarming rate with snow-capped mountains and glaciers melting rapidly with increasing temperatures. 

(ii) Flood: Due to intensified use of flood plains which act as a natural flood stoppage mechanism and deforestation in Himalayas, flash floods have become more come destructing hundreds of villages together. Floods cause the loss of valuable silt, loss of wildlife and property.

(iii) Drought: Droughts are prolonged periods of scarcity of water. Droughts are generally caused due to no rainfall. A change in climatic conditions intensifies the chances of a drought occurring. Droughts also cause the loss of human life, wildlife and plants. Droughts can be prevented with the help of proper water management systems. Over use of ground water causes a problem at times when rainfall in low.

(iv) Other effects: A few other effects of overutilization of water are pollution, water-logging and salinization, migration of people, loss of wealth etc.

Comments