News and Articles

Water security for India: The external dynamics - An IDSA Task Force Report
India to be 'water-stressed' by 2025 and 'water scarce' by 2050; what forces drive the demand and political dynamics? What are the hindrances & opportunities? Posted on 01 Dec, 2010 08:44 PM

The report by Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses is premised on the fact that India is facing a serious water resource problem and is expected to become 'water stressed' by 2025 and 'water scarce' by 2050. It raises fundamental questions about the forces driving water demand and the political dynamics of riparian relations, both in terms of hindrances and opportunities, amongst states in the subcontinent. Rivers, a crucial source of water resources, physically link upstream and downstream users and at the same time create barriers.

Ecological Sanitation locations in India
This is a map of installations and research of Ecological Sanitation projects in India. Posted on 01 Dec, 2010 04:55 PM

Ecological Sanitation is a new approaching sanitation where there is minimal water use and where human waste can be used as fertilizer. It is a truly sustainable approach.

NASA study finds earth's lakes are warming
In the first comprehensive global survey of temperature trends in major lakes, NASA researchers determined Earth's largest lakes have warmed during the past 25 years in response to climate change. Posted on 01 Dec, 2010 11:14 AM

Lake Tahoe, seen here from Emerald Bay, was one of the primary validation sites for the global lake study. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Africa water altas by the United Nations Environment Programme
This Atlas is a visual account of Africa's use of water resources, revealed through maps and satellite images as well as some graphics and compelling photos Posted on 01 Dec, 2010 10:45 AM

Article and Image Courtesy: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Africa Water Atlas

This Atlas is a visual account of Africa's endowment and use of water resources, revealed through 224 maps and 104 satellite images as well as some 500 graphics and hundreds of compelling photos. However the Atlas is more than a collection of static maps and images accompanied by informative facts and figures: its visual elements vividly illustrate a succinct narrative describing and analyzing Africa's water issues and exemplifying them through the judicious use of case studies. It gathers information about water in Africa and its role in the economy and development, health, food security, transboundary cooperation, capacity building and environmental change into one comprehensive and accessible volume.

Peer Water Exchange (PWX) receives 2010 Intel Environment Award
Persistant efforts win The Peer Water Exchange the 2010 Intel Environment Award Posted on 29 Nov, 2010 04:40 PM


The Peer Water Exchange (PWX) was awarded the 2010 Intel Environment Award today. PWX, a project of Blue Planet Network, is a combination of process, technology platform, and people designed to unlock the global capacity and creativity of individuals, philanthropies, businesses and implementers to solve the global safe drinking water and sanitation crises.

Rajesh Shah

Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management (SSWM) toolbox launched
The SSWM toolbox is a capacity development support tool which links sustainable sanitation, agriculture and water management. Posted on 26 Nov, 2010 03:57 PM

sswm.info – On November 1st, the Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management toolbox went online.

Palak Dil Lake - Mizoram
The beautiful lake of Palak Dil is unique amongst others for it is situated in the depression of a valley, it supportd life and living for many Posted on 26 Nov, 2010 03:00 PM

The Mizoram state has three types of (natural) lakes: valley lakes, tectonic/landslide lakes and artificial reservoirs, but the only lake of significance is Palak Dil, which is a natural lake in a depression in the hills. Palak Dil may possibly be a combination of valley and tectonic lakes. Locally in Mizoram, lakes are called dils. There are many such dils scattered all over the state, but they are tiny pools or marshy depressions such as Rengdil, Tamdil and Mampui Dil (Choudhury 2002). The Palak Lake is situated within the Mara Autonomous district Council, which is a region inhabited by the Mara Tribe. The Maras are distinct from the majority Mizos and in the Mara language the Palak Lake is referred to as Pala Tipa.

Palak Dil Lake

Fluorosis water contamination in rural India - A video by Earth Report
In 15 of India's 26 states, bone deformity has become increasingly common. Flourosis. Contamination of drinking water with high levels of flourosis is the cause Posted on 26 Nov, 2010 12:08 PM

Video Courtesy: EarthReport

Source:  5min Media

It has been proved that it's a direct result of drinking ground water that's contaminated with high levels of fluoride. This video suggests that rainwater is the best source of water for communities living in these regions.

Direct seeding of rice A simple solution to India s water crisis?
Cultivating rice and reducing usage of water: how technology merges with practices and finds new ways to better living. Posted on 26 Nov, 2010 11:57 AM

In partnership with the Columbia Water Center, researchers from Punjab Agricultural University have initiated a multi-year project to implement and field-test diverse water-saving technologies, practices and policies aimed at reducing agricultural water use in the state of Punjab, particularly among rice farmers. In last year’s trial, the most successful project involved the installation of inexpensive tensiometers in the fields of over 500 farmers, yielding water savings of 30-35 percent.

Concurrently with the tensiometer trials, the team also recruited a smaller number of farmers to adopt a different way of cultivating rice altogether: Direct seeding of rice.

In traditional rice cultivation, rice is sprouted in a nursery; sprouted seedlings are then transplanted into standing water. With direct seeding, rice seed is sown and sprouted directly into the field, eliminating the laborious process of planting seedlings by hand and greatly reducing the crop’s water requirements.

Conventional rice production requires standing water

Seasonal changes in Indian aerosols: Updates from Earth Observatory
New research released this fall shows that the amount, size, and source of the aerosol particles hovering in the air over India changes by season. Posted on 25 Nov, 2010 12:49 PM

In recent years, scientists have detected very high levels of aerosol pollution in the air over India. Some of it is the result of industrial and agricultural activity, and some of it is nature at work.

Seasonal Changes in Indian Aerosols

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