Natural Resources-an issue of Water

By: Daood Aqeel

 Renewable and Non-Renewable resources
Renewable resources can be:

● Continuous so that they can be used over and over again for example water, sunlight,wind power,tidal power and
geothermal power
● Sustainable e.g vegetation, fish, wildlife, soils. There value may be reduced over time for example when trees are cut
down or when soil is exhausted etc

Non Renewable resources occur in limited quantity and if their use continues hey may run out for example: fossil fuels and
minerals.
Hydrological Cycle
STEPS:

1. Water fall to the earth in the form of Snow, Hail or rain ( precipitation)
2. Some of this water drains directly into the lakes, some is either utilized by
plants or soaked into the ground.
3. Water returns to the Atmosphere as water vapour through evaporation from
the water bodies or from Transpiration from the surfaces of leaves
4. Rising into the atmosphere the water vapour cools down and forms water
droplets called condensation
5. This cycle is repeated…...
Rivers of Balochistan:
● Zhob, Khandar or Kalachi drain into river indus
● Rivers such as Loralai, Chakar, Bolan and Mula are absorbed into the Kachhi
Sibi Plain
● Hab, Porali,Hingol and Mashkel drain into Arabian Sea.
Uses of Water:
For Pharmaceutical Industry: Injections, Syrups

For HEP

For Thermal Power stations: to produce steam which makes the turbines move

Iron and Steel Industry: to cool down the furnace

Mineral Water Industries: Further Processed for drinking

Textile Industry: for washing,bleaching,dyeing and for painting

Chemical Industry: to make acids and solutions

For Preparing Juices: Squashes, syrups etc

Why do we need irrigation:
● As most of the areas in Pakistan experience semi arid conditions.
● As Pakistan does not receive much rainfall especially in the South.
● Spells of High temperatures increase the rate of Evapotranspiration
● Monsoon winds most of the rainfall which is quite limited and variable in
timings
● Rainfall mostly occurs in heavy showers which is very little use to the farmers
● At the end of the Rainy season there are long frequent dry spells
Effectiveness of Conventional form of Rainfall:
● Irrigate limited area/ small area
● Only small amount of water can be obtained
● Require manual labour
● Difficult to maintain/build
● Inundation canals only flow during rainy periods or when water from melting
snow or ice enters the rivers
Difference between a Small dam and a Large Dam:
Small Dam:

● Store water for irrigation

● Irrigate locally
● Supply water for Industrial or domestic uses only
● Silting problem is easy to resolve
● Requires relatively low investment
● Construction time is less
● Very few people evacuated
● Small dams have very little impact on the rivers
Large Dams:
● Store water for irrigation
● Irrigates a vast area
● Supply water for industrial and domestic use
● Mainly for HEP
● Maintenance cost is high
● Large scale evacuation
● Huge impact on Rivers and Aquatic life
 Siltation:
CAUSES:

● Deforestation causing soil erosion, therefore resulting in Siltation]

EFFECTS:

● Blockage of canals, reducing the capacity of Rivers and Weakens the foundation of
Dams, may also result in the shortage of Water for HEP production

CONTROL:

● Large Scale afforestation and the cementation on the embankments of canals to

make cleaning easier
● Installing Silt traps and regulating the flow of water (operating the reservoirs at lower
levels during floods and allowing free flow), raising the height of dam.
Solving the problem of Salinity and Waterlogging
● Lining of canals to control the seepage of water
● Canal closure on temporary basis so that water passes through only when
needed for irrigation
● Installing tube wells and Planting Eucalyptus trees to control the water table.
● Surface drain to divert surface water to nearby river or lake.
How to Adapt to Climate Change:
● Conservation of Water resources and the equal distribution of water
throughout provinces]
● The growth of Mangrove trees in the coastal areas to reduce the effects of
coastal flooding
● Development of Cottage and small scale Industries to reduce the dependence
on Agriculture
● Introduction of drought resistant species to reduce dependence on Rain
● Strict Implementation of an Environmental Protection plan
Sustainable Development:
● Maximisation of Agriculture through the equal distribution of Water throughout
provinces.
● Sites for Small dams to store surplus water during monsoon season
● Lining of canals with cement in order to Reduce water loss
● Not to use Rivers or lakes as dumping sites
● Prevention of GroundWater supply.
● Desalination of seawater
● Spreading Awareness through media to influence the people’s attitudes
towards needing to conserve water.