The demand for fresh water is increasing, but its level is decreasing in many countries. What are the causes of this problem? How the government and individuals can solve it?

Water is vital for every living being on the earth. But the gap between demand and supply of potable water is increasing in many places. The main reason for this issue is overpopulation and the plantation of water-intensive crops. The government policies to control the increasing population and crop rotation methods can increase accessibility to freshwater.

An unprecedented level of the high population has spiked the water demand. Now, the human population is more than ever before. Every person needs an adequate amount of water to carry out daily activities: brushing, bathing, washing clothes, more importantly, making food. The more the population, the more will be the requirement of water. This problem aggravates when people do not use water wisely.

The cause of the reduction of surface and underground freshwater is the cultivation of crops that need more water to grow. Crops such as sugarcane and paddy are grown in some countries because farmers can earn more by selling them. These crops are in high demand, so selling them is also not difficult. But many farmers are unaware that these crops guzzle a lot more water than other crops. For many decades, they have been planting these crops. Consequently, water has reached its lowest level. Despite this situation, the cultivation of these crops is pervasive.

However, all these problems are easy to control. The government’s family planning policies can stop the rapid growth of the population and, in turn, less water demand. The government should incentivise parents having only one child. They should be provided with preferential treatment in government services and jobs, similar to a country. In this country, fathers and mothers of a single child get discounts on electricity, water and gas bills. They also get jobs more comfortably than parents of two or more children. At the individual level, the judicious use of water can also save more of it. But farmers need to change the traditional cropping pattern to save water. Instead of planting paddy or sugarcane, they should cultivate pulses, millet, lentils, and mustard that need less water. Avoiding the use of chemical fertilizers can also decrease the water demand as synthetic fertilizers need more water to develop crops fast.

In conclusion, the demand and supply gap of freshwater is widening due to more population, plantation of water-intensive crops and non-judicious use of water. But the government’s one-child policy can stop the population explosion, and resultantly, reduce water demand. Individuals can avoid reckless use of water and contribute to water saving. Stopping the cultivation of water-guzzling crops can be done by farmers. All these measures can increase the availability of freshwater.