| SLC-S29/W3-“Thinking and Ideas!| Seeing Problems Differently!

I agree most people complain about problems but they don't see their responsibility behind those problems. I also agree very few go out and see the reason and the worst, most of us do not see them deeply.

I am here to discuss drinking water problem in my country for this week's contest W3--“Thinking and Ideas!| Seeing Problems Differently! by @ninapenda and and invite @solaymann @muzack1 and @cruzamilcar63 how you see a burning problem in your area and how you wish to resolve it.

I come to your questions

Identify one everyday problem in your country and explain some steps in solving them

Irregular water supply disrupts daily life for millions of Indians, especially in urban areas where shortages force reliance on tankers or polluted sources, risking health issues. Many households face abrupt water cuts, contaminated supply, or low pressure, particularly in the mornings. This stems from overburdened infrastructure, poor maintenance, rapid urbanization, and groundwater depletion. In cities, population growth exacerbates scarcity, leading to diseases from unsafe water.

I agree that our governments are trying their best with programs like "Jal Jeevan Mission" (Project Water Mission for Life) providing taps but often lack sustained supply or quality checks. Audits show uneven testing and maintenance which fails the purpose to some extent. Corruption and poor supervision delay repairs, while private tanker owners thake full advantage on shortages, discouraging fixes.

I have seen wastewater reused by treating and recycling sewage for non-potable uses like gardening, washing, or even for use in toilet flushes in other countries, so I would go for it. We need to raise awareness and educate communities via campaigns on conservation; that should reduce wastage by at least 25-30%.

Why do you think this problem still exists despite many people noticing it?

Irregular water supply persists in India despite widespread awareness due to deep-rooted systemic issues. I guess the core reasons are aging infrastructure fails under rapid urbanization, and pipes from decades ago leak, wasting water before it reaches homes. Groundwater depletion accelerates as agriculture consumes 80% of resources, by use of pumping sets taking water out of earth outpacing recharge.

I feel that lack of civic sense in certain areas and add behavioral factors, which makes households waste water through habits like continuous taps, and low tariffs or in some cases no tarries at all reduce conservation incentives.

Maybe you are not aware, but we have a central government and 30-plus state with different party governments with no proper coordination, so the action across diverse regions makes a difference.

We spend multi-billion yearly, yet scale mismatches population growth and climate impacts like erratic monsoons or drought situations. True resolution demands political will, tech integration, and community enforcement beyond notices.

In your opinion, what is the most misunderstood part of this problem?

The most misunderstood part of India's irregular water supply problem is that it's primarily a scarcity issue, when it's really a profound inefficiency and mismanagement crisis which forces us to use water purifiers.

Many assume there's simply not enough water due to overpopulation or drought, overlooking massive losses from leaky pipes that waste up to half that goes down the drain before reaching taps and poor distribution. People blame rainfall variability, yet states with ample monsoons still face shortages because groundwater is over-extracted for agriculture without recharge.

Let's accept that we have certain hidden realities, including the infrastructure built decades ago that can't handle urban booms, but maintenance lags due to fragmented governance between the center, states, and local bodies. Awareness campaigns highlight conservation, yet low tariffs and habits like leaving taps running persist, wasting treated supply.

If you could change one mindset related to this issue, what would it be?

I'd rather go for the core problem and change the mindset that water is an unlimited, cheap public good rather than a finite resource needing active stewardship. Actually, why does this mindset persist?

because most of us think of the irregular supply as a government failure alone, expecting endless tankers or taps without personal accountability. This causes waste by leaving taps running, ignoring leaks, and relying on quick fixes over conservation.

I suggest looking at water as a shared, precious asset and should make households work and adopt rainwater harvesting, fix drips, and segregate usage. Communities could pressure utilities for audits, while farmers shift to drip irrigation.

This would cut the country's household wastage by a large amount, easing infrastructure strain and building resilience against shortages. It empowers individuals, turning complaints into collective action for lasting supply. I would keep my emphasis on promoting rainwater harvesting by installing rooftop systems in homes and buildings to recharge groundwater that goes to rivers, even if governments offer subsidies for this.

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