Research Papers

Plastic pollution of freshwater ecosystems in India is increasing - particularly that of rivers informs this paper titled 'Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems of India: Current trends and future perspectives' published in ACS OMEGA.

Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) technology continues to be highly recommended as a potential solution to deal with water scarcity in developed as well as developing countries such as India and includes various methods such as Rooftop rainwater harvesting (RRWH), surface runoff collection, flood runoff harvesting, and in-situ RWH.

One of the building blocks of ocean life can adapt to cope with the effects of climate change, according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA).  

Rivers, as waterways

India is dealing with a growing water stress crisis brought on by things like climate change, population growth, pollution, and changes in land use. Currently, there are about 1400 cubic meters of water available per person, but by 2050, that number is predicted to fall to 1200 cubic meters. Already, a large portion of India is deemed to be water-stressed.

A recent report by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), warns of the introduction of more than 37,000 invasive alien species due to human activities to marine, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems globally.

The Ganges and Narmada rivers, in particular, have been severely degraded as a result of India's reliance on dams for irrigation and hydropower. Despite decades of significant environmental movements opposed to dams, they largely failed because they couldn't stop the work already in progress.

Domestic wastewater, in particular greywater, significantly contributes to the composition of all wastewater. It is becoming more widely accepted that greywater, as opposed to blackwater, is a valuable resource rather than just waste.

Mula Mutha, a river under seige

Irrigated agriculture consumes the largest share of freshwater resources, including both surface water and groundwater. As high as 40 percent of irrigation is dependent on groundwater, accounting for 70 percent of the total groundwater extractions world over and this share is predicted to increase with climate change.