CHAPTER 11

WATER AND ENERGY CONSERVATION

Long Answer Questions

1. What are the ways to conserve water indoors?

Ans. The best place to start Water Conservation is one’s own house. Certain
measures which can be adopted at home are:-
(a) Ensure that there are no leaks in your house, in the pipelines, taps and toilets.
(b) Use water efficient flushes and if possible, toilets with dual flushing systems.
(c) Close taps while brushing your teeth, shaving or soaping your face.
(d) Use water from washing of clothes for cleaning floors.
(e) Use appropriate amount of detergent for washing clothes.
(f) Close the shower tap while soaping your body.
(g) While washing the dishes by hand, don’t let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink
with wash water and the other with rinse water.
(h) Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that
can help you discover leaks.
(i) Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperature is cooler to
minimize evaporation
(j) Never throw the water unnecessary on roads which can be used for gardening and
cleaning. (k) Avoid unnecessary flushing the toilets. Dispose off the tissues, cigarettes
and other waste into the bin instead of toilets.
(l) Use minimum amount of water to bathe.
(m) Do not leave the tap running while washing the dishes in the kitchen.
(n) Install small shower heads to reduce the flow of water.

2. Mention the Uses of Non-Conventional Sources

of Energy.
Ans. Some of the non-conventional sources of energy are as under:
(i) Solar Energy. Solar energy is a renewable energy which is released by the sun as
electromagnetic waves and directly collected from the sun light. Solar energy can be
used in two ways: Solar heating and Solar electricity. Solar Heating is to capture
sun’s energy for heating buildings and for cooking / heating foodstuffs etc. Solar
Electricity is mainly produced by using photovoltaic solar cells which is made of semi
conducting materials that directly converts sunlight into electricity and can provide
large amounts of power for the electric grid. As the solar energy is produced when
the sun is shining during the day, so solar cells are used to charge batteries which
are used either as secondary energy source or for other applications of intermittent
 use such as night lightening or water pumping etc. Use of solar energy does not
produce air or water pollution and greenhouse gases. Solar energy is predictable
and is most efficient when utility rates are the highest.
(ii) Wind Energy. Wind is air in motion caused by natural factors like the uneven
heating of the earth’s surface by the sun, the rotation of the earth and the
irregularities of the earth’s surface. Kinetic energy in the wind can be used to run
wind turbines but the output power depends upon the wind speed. Wind turbines
operate on a simple principle. The energy in the wind turns two or three propeller-
like blades around a rotor. The rotor is connected to the main shaft, which spins a
generator to create electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind
into mechanical power and the generator converts the mechanical power into
electricity.
(iii) Biogas. It is a mixture of different gases produced by the breakdown of organic
matter in the absence of oxygen. Biogas is a renewable energy source and can be
produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, municipal waste, plant
material, sewage, green waste or food waste. It can be used for any heating
purpose, such as cooking. It can also be used in a gas engine to convert the energy
in the gas into electricity and heat.

3. Mention and explain Energy conservation

measures.
Ans. An Energy conservation measure (ECM) is any type of project conducted, or technology
implemented, to reduce the consumption of energy in a building. The types of projects
implemented can be in a variety of forms but usually are designed to reduce utility costs: water,
electricity and gas being the main three for industrial and commercial enterprises. The aim of an
ECM should be to achieve a savings, reducing the amount of energy used by a particular process,
technology or facility.
(a) Energy Saving Building Designs. Construction of industrial / domestic buildings with energy
efficient designs, to reduce the consumption of electricity on air conditioning, lighting and
proper ventilation.
(b) Use of Energy Efficient Equipment / Implements. Use of energy efficient equipment /gadgets
like ACs, Heaters, Tube lights, CFLs & LEDs, Frost Free Refrigerators, Distribution Transformers,
Induction Motors, Direct Cool Refrigerator, Geysers, Ceiling Fans, TVs / LCDs, Agricultural Pump
Sets, LPG Stoves and Washing Machines etc. contribute immensely in reducing the consumption
of electricity. Use of solar lighting / heating gadgets also contributes towards saving large
quantity of electricity.
(c) Public Lighting. This is a large consumer of electricity. Hence, energy saving / efficient
equipment like CFLs, Halogen Lamps, Distributors and Solar Lighting must be used in a big way
to conserve electricity.
(d) Usage Habits. Everyone must be passionate about preventing wasteful use of electricity.
Strict measures should be enforced to switch off all lights which are not required during day or
at night at homes, offices or public places. 214
 (e) Public Transport System. Efficient, speedy and reliable public transport system with fuel
efficient vehicles must be employed. This can reduce a large burden of the fuel energy, by
reducing the number of personal vehicles on the road.
(f) Energy Efficient Infrastructure. This includes creation of high-quality roads, rails and
transmission methods to reduce wasteful use of electric and fuel energy.
(g) Preventing Pilferage. Large quantity of electricity, coal and fuel is pilfered by people during
transmission and transporting causing huge losses. This pilferage must be reduced at all.

Short Answer Questions

4. What are the types of Rainwater Harvesting
Systems?
Ans. There are a number of ways to harvest rainwater, ranging from very simple to the
complex industrial systems. Generally, rainwater is either harvested from the ground or from a
roof. The rate at which water can be collected from either system is dependent on the plan area
of the system, its efficiency and the intensity of rainfall.
(a) Ground Catchment Systems. Channelize water from a prepared catchment area into a
storage system. Generally, this method is only considered in areas, where rainwater is very rare
and other sources of water are not available. They are more suited to small communities than
individual families. If properly designed, ground catchments can collect large quantities of
rainwater. This method is ideally suitable for villages in rural India.
(b) Roof Catchment Systems. Roof catchment systems channelize rainwater that falls onto a
roof, into a storage tank via a system of pipes. The first flush of rainwater after a dry season,
should be allowed to run to waste as, it will be impure with dust, bird droppings etc. Rain Water
from the subsequent showers can be harvested. Roofs and pipes should have sufficient incline
to avoid standing water. They must be strong enough and large enough to carry peak flows.
Storage tanks should be covered to prevent mosquito breeding and to reduce evaporation
losses, contamination and algae growth. Rainwater harvesting systems require regular
maintenance and cleaning, to keep the system hygienic and in good working order. This method
is most suited for towns and cities. 213
(c) Sub Surface Dyke. Subsurface dyke is a barrier impermeable to water, placed underground
to control the groundwater flow in an aquifer, and to increase the ground water level. It is also
known as ground water dams. Example, the subsurface dyke at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kannur
under Kerala Agricultural University with the support of ICAR, has become an effective method
for ground water conservation by means of rain water harvesting technologies. The dyke is now
the largest rainwater harvesting system in that region.

5. What are the other practices for Water

Conservation?
 Ans.
1. Water Conservation Practices for Water Utilities. Common practices used by water supply
utilities include metering, leak detection, repairing water lines, well capping, retrofitting
programs, pricing, waste-water reuse and developing public education programs and drought
management plans.
2. Agricultural Water Conservation Practices. Practices such as drip irrigation can save large
quantities of water. Careful and judicious use of water for irrigation can lead to irrigating much
more land.
3. Industrial and Commercial Water Conservation Practices. Industries could save large amounts
of water by installing water recycling systems. Cooling Water Recirculation and Wash Water
Recycling are the most widely used water recycling practices.
4. Additional Methods to initiate Water Conservation would include, public awareness
programmes, nukkad natak and community dramas and water audits. Rainwater harvesting is
one of the most successful techniques being used in India.

6. What is Rain Water Harvesting and what is its

Needs?
Ans. The term rainwater harvesting is being frequently used these days; however, the
concept of water harvesting is not new for India. Water harvesting techniques had been evolved
and developed centuries ago. Rainwater harvesting means capturing the runoff of the rainwater
in our own house, village, town or city. It basically means accumulation and storage of rainwater
for reuse, before it reaches the aquifer. Utilization includes water for garden, livestock,
irrigation, etc. In many places, the water collected is just redirected to a deep pit with
percolation. The harvested water can be used for drinking water also, if the storage is a tank
that can be accessed and cleaned when needed.
Needs of Rain Water Harvesting are-
(a) It helps to recharge sub soil and groundwater thus increasing the level of the water.
(b) It helps to create large quantity of pollution free clean water that can be stored in huge tanks
or ponds for use later on. In cities, it reduces the dependency on treated water supply to a great
extant.
(c) It ensures ready supply of water on the land surface thereby reducing dependence on the
ground water.

Very Short Answer Questions

7. What is Ground Water Recharge?
Ans. Rainwater may also be used to recharge groundwater where the runoff on the ground
is collected and allowed to be absorbed, adding to the groundwater. In India this includes
Bawdis and Johads, or Ponds which collect the run-off from small streams in a wide area. In
 India, reservoirs called tank as were used to store water; typically, they were shallow with mud
walls. Ancient tank as still exists in some places.

8. What is Rain Water Harvesting?

Ans. The term rainwater harvesting is being frequently used these days; however, the
concept of water harvesting is not new for India. Water harvesting techniques had been evolved
and developed centuries ago. Rainwater harvesting means capturing the runoff of the rainwater
in our own house, village, town or city. It basically means accumulation and storage of rainwater
for reuse, before it reaches the aquifer. Utilization includes water for garden, livestock,
irrigation, etc. In many places, the water collected is just redirected to a deep pit with
percolation. The harvested water can be used for drinking water also, if the storage is a tank
that can be accessed and cleaned when needed.

9. Why do we have to Harvest Rainwater?

Ans. (a) To arrest ground water decline and augment ground water table
(b) To beneficiate water quality in aquifers
(c) To conserve surface water runoff during monsoon
(d) To reduce soil erosion
(e) To inculcate a culture of water conservation

10. What is Wind Energy?

Ans. Wind is air in motion caused by natural factors like the uneven heating of the earth’s
surface by the sun, the rotation of the earth and the irregularities of the earth’s surface. Kinetic
energy in the wind can be used to run wind turbines but the output power depends upon the
wind speed. Wind turbines operate on a simple principle. The energy in the wind turns two or
three propeller-like blades around a rotor. The rotor is connected to the main shaft, which spins
a generator to create electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into
mechanical power and the generator converts the mechanical power into electricity

11. What is Sub Surface Dyke?

Ans. Subsurface dyke is a barrier impermeable to water, placed underground to control the
groundwater flow in an aquifer, and to increase the ground water level. It is also known as
ground water dams. Example, the subsurface dyke at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kannur under Kerala
Agricultural University with the support of ICAR, has become an effective method for ground
water conservation by means of rain water harvesting technologies. The dyke is now the largest
rainwater harvesting system in that region.