Energy is required for pumping and treating water that we get at home. Pumping and treating wastewater is energy intensive. Conservation of water indirectly conserves therefore, conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change will also impact freshwater supply. Global warming is resulting in shifting rainfall patterns, an increase in the number of dry days, torrential rainfall over short periods of time, and extreme weather events, all of which increase the likelihood of droughts and floods. It, in turn, will affect food supplies and human health. Water is expected to be a major source of conflict in future because demand is soaring and freshwater reserves are severely stressed. Plummeting groundwater resources in many regions and inefficient use of water is a matter of serious concern.

Despite adequate rains, we face a shortage of water for drinking, agriculture, industry and sanitation. It even leads to conflicts among neighbours – people and provinces. Wastage of water can be avoided through various ways. Rainwater harvesting can recharge our lakes and ground aquifers. Farmers can avoid excessive flooding of fields. In our houses, we have plenty of scope for reducing consumption. Pollution of water by the discharge of wastes is itself a serious problem, as cleaning it for reuse by humans requires lot of efforts and energy.