2. India accounts for about 2.45% of world’s surface area,
4% of the world’s water resources.
Due to topographical, hydrological and other constraints,
only about 690 cubic km (32%) of the available surface
water can be utilized.
The total replenishable groundwater resources in the
country are about 432 cubic km.
Out of this only 60% can be put to beneficial uses.
Our country uses 25% of all groundwater extracted
globally.
India has a vast coastline and the coast is very indented in
some state .
WATER RESOURCES
4. Water resources for agriculture and food
production are classified as either surface or
underground water.
Agriculture is the largest consumer of water,
accounting for some 70% of total water use
worldwide. (FAO, 2017)
Indian agriculture accounts for 90% water
use. (GFFA, 2017)
Globally, about 40% of irrigation water is
supplied from groundwater and in India it is
expected to be over 50%. (GFFA, 2017)
AGRICULTURE
5. Globally, area equipped for
irrigation is currently about 301
million ha of which 38% are
equipped for irrigation with
groundwater. (Siebert et al.,
2010)
The countries with the largest
extent of areas equipped for
irrigation with groundwater, are
India, China and the USA.
(Siebert et al., 2010)
160 million ha of cultivated land in India with 39 million ha irrigated by ground water, 22 million ha by
irrigated canals and about two third of cultivation in India is still depending on monsoon. (GFFA, 2017)
6. The main sources of irrigation in the country are canals, tanks and wells including tubewells (Water
resource information system, 2013)
In Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh more than 85% of area is under irrigation.
Of the total net irrigated area 76.1% in Punjab and 51.3% in Haryana are irrigated through wells and
tube wells.
Percentage of net irrigated area by wells and Tube-wells
7. Volume of food grains produced in India, 2021
Worldwide Production, 2021
Statista 2022
8. Water Footprint of food items
FAO estimates that between 2000 - 5000
liters of water are needed to produce a
person’s daily food. (FAO, 2017)
Source – (Hoekstra,2008)
Wheat 1 kg 1334
10. It is estimated that livestock industries consume 8% of
the global water supply.
In some regions, especially developing countries,
animals are not used solely for food production but
also provide draught power, fibre and fertilizer for
crops.
India has the world’s largest livestock population,
accounting for about half its population of buffaloes
and a sixth of its goat population. (Ministry of
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, 2016)
Livestock water use is water involves not only direct
consumptive water use as drinking and cleaning water
for animals, but also indirect water embedded in feed.
(Thakur et al., 2018)
Current global livestock drinking-water requirements
are 60 billion liters per day. (Gonzales, 2009)
LIVESTOCK
11. China is registering high growth in
the global livestock and meat
industry. This is due to changes in
the dietary patterns by consumers.
Consumption of processed meat has
been steadily increasing, in line with
growth in income which drives the
meat market in the country.
China accounts for 49% of the
global pork consumption,
consuming 28% of the world’s meat
supply.
Europe and the United States with
21 and 9.7 million metric tons,
respectively.
12. The annual meat production is projected to increase
from 218.0 million metric ton in 1997-1999 to 376.0
million metric ton by 2030.
This is due to the growing demand for protein-rich food,
primarily driven by the rise in health consciousness
among consumers globally. (WHO)
Global animal production requires about 2422 Gm3 of
water per year. One third of this volume is for the beef
cattle sector; another 19% for the dairy cattle sector.
Most of the total volume of water (98%) refers to the
water footprint of the feed for the animals.
• Drinking water for the animals - 1.1%
• service water - 0.8%
• feed mixing water -0.03%
13. AQUACULTURE
Aquaculture is the fastest growing food production sector in the
world, with an average annual growth rate of 5.8% over the last
decade (FAO, 2016).
Aquaculture is farming to raise fish, shellfish, algae,
or aquatic plants.
Around one-fifth of the total value of fish production comes
from freshwater aquaculture. (Gonzales, 2009)
Globally, aquaculture occupied 18.8 million ha of land in 2010,
• of which 12.8 million ha (68%) was inland
• and 6 million ha (32%) was coastal.
It is estimated that aquaculture will occupy 44 million ha of land
in 2050 (Waite et al., 2014).
14. Global aquaculture production (excluding aquatic plants) reached 76.6 million tons in 2015, consisting
of 51.9 million tons (68%) of finfish, 16.4 million tons (21%) of mollusks, 7.4 million tons (10%) of
crustaceans, and 0.9 million tons (1%) of other aquatic animals.
Globally, inland aquaculture produced 48.8 million tons (64%) while both coastal and marine
aquaculture produced 27.8 million tons (36%) in 2015.
Freshwater aquaculture produces more than 95% of the total farmed fish, of which 70% comes from
ponds, 20% from open waters (i.e., lakes, rivers and reservoirs), and 5% from rice fields. (Ahmed, 2018)
In India, about 13% of 1.24 million ha potential brackishwater resource is under use at present.
The average footprint of freshwater fish is 3.16 L g−1 whereas the footprint of marine fish is 1.49 L g−1 .
(Yuan et al., 2017)
It has been calculated that up to 100m3 of water are needed to produce 1 kg of fish in raceway. (Claude,
2002)
15. World per capita fish consumption increased from 9.9 kg in
the 1960s to 20 kg in 2014 (FAO, 2016).
The use of feed in aquaculture has a significant water
footprint because of consuming freshwater to produce
feed ingredients.
Aquaculture requires about 1.3–2 kg of feed to produce
1kg of fish (Tacon et al., 2011).
Globally, 1.2m3 of water is required to produce 1kg of
animal feeds (Verdegem et al., 2006).
Globally, the total water footprint of commercial fish-feed
was 31– 35 km3 in 2008 (Pahlow et al., 2015).
Water footprint for aquaculture varies greatly depending
on culture species and farming systems. (Ahmed, 2018)
16. In India, industry is the second highest consumer of water.
The main sources of water for the industrial sector are
groundwater and surface water.
It is estimated that 22% of worldwide water is used
in industry. (World water development Report)
Major industrial users include
• hydroelectric dams
• thermoelectric power plants
• ore and oil refineries
• manufacturing plants
The World Bank estimates that the current industrial water
use in India is about 13% of the total freshwater withdrawal
in the country.
INDUSTRIES
17. Water withdrawal can be very high for certain industries, but consumption is generally much
lower than that of agriculture.
According to FAO (2015) about 19% of freshwater withdrawn per year worldwide are used in by
industry (e.g. manufacturing and mining)
Surface water is the major source of water for the industries (41%) followed by groundwater
(35%) and municipal water (24%). (FICCI, 2011)
Some industries that use large amounts of
water produce such commodities as food,
paper, chemicals, refined petroleum, or
primary metals. (Hutson, 2000)
Manufacturing accounts for roughly 4% of
total water withdrawls.
FICCI, 2011
20. The total water used each day (200 millions of gallons per day) for thermoelectric power plants in US. (EPA)
In the United States, approximately 89% of the energy produced in power plants is generated by thermoelectric
systems. (Torcellini et al., 2003)
THERMOELECTRIC POWER
Water for thermoelectric power is used in generating electricity.
Thermoelectric power accounts for 45% of total water withdrawls.
Source water for thermoelectric power plants include (Pan et al., 2018)
i. natural surface water,
ii. underground water,
iii.reclaimed water
iv.treated potable water
Thermoelectric plants account for over forty percent of total fresh water use
in the United States.
21. In thermoelectric power generation, water is mainly used during the cooling of the electrical generating
equipment (45%). (Pan et al., 2018)
Consumption of fresh water resources withdrawn for power generation was estimated at 3% of the total water
withdrawn . (EPA)
Roughly 10% of the global water withdrawals is for energy production (IEA, 2016b), while over 80% of global
electricity generation comes from thermoelectric power plants (IEA, 2017). (Pan et al., 2018)
In China, thermoelectric power generation accounts for about 10% of the total freshwater withdrawal (Zhang and
Anadon, 2013). (Pan et al., 2018)
Thermoelectric power plants withdraw a tremendous amount of water, which is approximately 2.5% or 3,310
million gal per day (MGD). (Torcellini et al., 2003)
In thermoelectric plants, 0.47 gal (1.8 L) of fresh water is evaporated for each kilowatt-hour of electricity
produed.
22. Estimates for average water consumption at a mine site vary considerably based on the processing method applied
(e.g., heap leaching, flotation, gravity), but a global summary for water withdrawals for gold mines found the ‘average’
gold mine used ~0.350 m3 /metric ton of ore-grade rock (Gunson, 2013).
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), 4 billion gallons of water were withdrawn for mining
operations in the U.S. in 2015, about 1 percent of total withdrawals. More than 70% of mining withdrawals came from
groundwater sources, 65% of which were saline; 77% of the surface water used was fresh water. (Maupin, 2018)
MINING
Mining accounts for roughly 1% of total water withdrawls.
Mining often requires vast quantities of water. It alone withdraws six to
eight billion m3 of water per annum.
This water is used to extract solids such as coal, gravel, iron, and sand.
The mining sector needs water not only for ore extraction, but also for
other phases of operation. (Moura et al., 2021)
23. Source : Statista 2022
Mining industry water consumption Australia FY 2015-2020
During 2020, around 1,250 gigaliters of water
were consumed by the mining industry in
Australia. (Granwal, 2021)
Brazil has large mineral deposits and over
time has become one of the largest
producers worldwide of iron ore, bauxite,
and niobium (World Mining Data, 2018).
Estimates show that overall 1.6% of the total
water withdrawn in Brazil go to mining. (ANA,
2019).
24. Municipal water is defined as the
water we use for domestic, household
purposes or public services.
Globally around 11 % of withdrawals
are used for municipal purposes.
With the largest population, China’s
domestic water demands are highest
at over 70 billion m³ per year.
The United States, despite having a
much lower population, is the second
largest user as a result of higher per
capita water demands.
India, the next largest populace is the
third largest municipal water user.
MUNICIPAL
25. For Canada overall, surface water
sources provide the vast majority of
water used in Canadian municipalities.
In 2009, 90.2 % of water in
distribution systems came from
surface water sources such as lakes
and rivers, compared to only 9.8% of
water that comes from groundwater
sources. Source- Municipal Water Use Report, 2011
It is estimated that about 50 billion litres of municipal water is required every day based on the population
figures of urban India which is about 360 million.
The urban population may exceed over 800 million by the year 2050 and the resultant municipal water
requirement will be of the magnitude of over 110 billion litres per day. (CPCB, 2011)
26. Public demand includes water for fire protection, street cleaning, and use in schools and other public
buildings. This water is used for road washing, public parks etc.
Water use or demand is expressed numerically by average daily consumption per capita (per person). In
the United States the average is approximately 380 litres (100 gallons) per capita per day for domestic
and public needs.
Water consumption in some developing countries may average as little as 15 litres (4 gallons) per capita
per day. The world average is estimated to be approximately 60 litres (16 gallons) per person per day.
27. These include drinking water, bathing, cooking, cleaning, laundry,
and gardening, other household functions.
It is estimated that 10% of worldwide water use is for domestic purposes.
Basic domestic water requirements - around 50 liters per person per day.
The daily drinking water requirement per person is 2-4 litres. (FAO)
Worldwide drink water directly from surface water sources, such as lakes and
streams.
DOMESTIC USE
28. Domestic water requirement is estimated to nearly double in the next 40 years (56 BCM in 2010 to 102
BCM in 2050). (MOWR, RD & GR 2000)
Domestic water demand accounts for 55 to 60% of the total water consumption.
The domestic consumption in India accounts for 135 lpcd (liters/capita/day).
29. Our marine transportation system includes 500,000 square nautical miles of navigationally significant
waters.
Boats and ships are used on rivers and oceans to move people and products from one place to another.
Navigation is extremely important for foreign and domestic trade.
As of 2019, the total value of the annual world shipping trade had reached more than 14 trillion US
Dollars.
Navigation activities In the United States take place at more than 400 ports and along more than 25,000
miles of waterways.
Those ports support, directly and indirectly, more than 13 million American jobs and supports our
nation’s economy, serves as a highway for transportation of goods and people, and plays a role in
national security. (NOAA)
Ships used for commercial purposes such as fishing, cargo ships, passenger ships, and special-purpose
ships.
NAVIGATION
30. 90% of the world’s goods are transported by sea. with 60%– including all your imported fruits, gadgets
and appliances – packed in large steel containers.
The largest ships sailing today capable of hauling 24,000 containers.
As of 2016, there were more than 49,000 merchant ships, totaling almost 1.8 billion dead weight tons. Of
these 28% were oil tankers, 43% were bulk carriers, and 13% were container ships.
As of 2004, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimated 4 million fishing vessels were
operating worldwide. The same study estimated that the world's 29 million fishermen caught
85,800,000 tonnes of fish and shellfish that year.
According to the Ministry of Shipping, around 95% of India's trading by volume and 70% by value is done
through maritime transport. (Indian Ports Industry Report, 2021)
The Indian ports and shipping industry play a vital role in sustaining growth in the country’s trade and
commerce. India is the sixteenth-largest maritime country in the world with a coastline of about 7,517
kms. (Indian Ports Industry Report, 2021)
31. Most cargo ships that sail between East Asia and America, Europe and Africa pass through Indian
territorial waters . (Ministry of Shipping, 2019)
Some 11 billion tons of goods are transported by ship each year. This represents an impressive 1.5 tons
per person based on the current global population.
Each year, the shipping industry transports nearly 2 billion tons of crude oil, 1 billion tons of iron ore (the
raw material needed to create steel), and 350 million tons of grain. These shipments would not be
possible by road, rail or air.
32. Environmental water may include water stored in
impoundments and released for environmental
purposes (held environmental water), but more
often is water retained in waterways.
Environmental water is water managed to improve
or maintain the health of rivers and wetlands –
including the plants and animals that depend on
them.
Environmental water usage includes
• watering of natural or artificial wetlands
• to restore more natural flow regimes
The concept of environmental water has been a key
part of water policy in Victoria since the 1990s.
ENVIRONMENT
33. Who holds the environmental water entitlements?
Environmental water entitlements are largely held by State
and Commonwealth government agencies often referred
to as ‘environmental water holders’.
Where can environmental water be delivered?
Environmental water is generally delivered to rivers and
wetlands that are connected to the systems where
environmental water entitlements are held .
For example, water held in Thomson Reservoir can be
released into the Thomson River.
34. The amount of water that most
recreational activities use is low: less
than 1% of all the water we use.
People use the nation's rivers, lakes, and
coastal waters for many different forms
of recreation.(EPA)
Most natural water recreation takes
place along the coastlines of the world.
In America alone, for example
recreational fishing creates 1.2 million
jobs nationwide.
RECREATION
Some of the most famous recreational waters include the Caspian Sea, the Great Lakes and Lake Victoria.
Coastal and marine waters support over 28 million jobs and provide a tourism destination for 89 million
Americans each year. (FA0, 2020)
37. • Torcellini, P., Long, N. and Judkoff, R., 2003. Consumptive water use for US power production (No. NREL/TP-550-33905). National Renewable Energy
Lab., Golden, CO (US).
• Pan, S.Y., Snyder, S.W., Packman, A.I., Lin, Y.J. and Chiang, P.C., 2018. Cooling water use in thermoelectric power generation and its associated
challenges for addressing water-energy nexus. Water-Energy Nexus, 1(1), pp.26-41.
• Yuan, Q., Song, G., Fullana-i-Palmer, P., Wang, Y., Semakula, H.M., Mekonnen, M.M. and Zhang, S., 2017. Water footprint of feed required by
farmed fish in China based on a Monte Carlo-supported von Bertalanffy growth model: A policy implication. Journal of Cleaner Production, 153,
pp.41-50.
• Ahmed, N., Ward, J.D., Thompson, S., Saint, C.P. and Diana, J.S., 2018. Blue-green water nexus in aquaculture for resilience to climate
change. Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture, 26(2), pp.139-154.
• Him-Gonzales, C., 2009. Water resources for agriculture and food production. In Water interactions with energy, environment, food, and
agriculture (pp. 148-159). Eolss Publishers.
• Thakur, A., Kumar, A., Vanita, B., Panchbhai, G., Kumar, N., Kumari, A. and Dogra, P., 2018. Water footprint a tool for sustainable development of
Indian dairy industry. International Journal of Livestock Research, 8(10), pp.1-18.
• Shiklomanov, I.A., 1998. World water resources: a new appraisal and assessment for the 21st century: a summary of the monograph World water
resources. Unesco.
• Doreau, M., Corson, M.S. and Wiedemann, S.G., 2012. Water use by livestock: A global perspective for a regional issue?. Animal Frontiers, 2(2),
pp.9-16.
• Gunson, A.J., 2013. Quantifying, reducing and improving mine water use (Doctoral dissertation, University of British Columbia).
• Moura, A., Lutter, S., Siefert, C.A.C., Netto, N.D., Nascimento, J.A.S. and Castro, F., 2021. Estimating water input in the mining industry in Brazil: A
methodological proposal in a data-scarce context. The Extractive Industries and Society, p.101015.
• Dr Markus Pahlow, Water Management Group, Twente Water Centre, University Of Twente, the Netherlands
• Ahmed, N., Ward, J.D., Thompson, S., Saint, C.P. and Diana, J.S., 2018. Blue-green water nexus in aquaculture for resilience to climate
change. Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture, 26(2), pp.139-154.
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