How Did the Wells Go Dry?

Civilizations down the ages came up near rivers and lakes. Water is necessary for our very survival. Lakes are found when low-lying areas are inundating with rainwater. They are an important source of drinking water for us. When houses are built surrounding a lake, there are two consequences: firstly, the lakes dry up as there is no fresh, incoming rainwater to refill them. Secondly, in the summer season, the dry lake beds are used for habitation by migrants to the cities and others.

There after, the lake usually turns into a slum that is dirtied even more by drain water flowing in from the houses of people living into it higher areas. These days, lakes with water are being dumped with idols of all kinds, shapes and sizes and made of materials that harm the environment. This is spelling the doom for our precious lakes.

Let us learn fro our mistakes. Let us save our lakes. Find out in our area, how many idols are being immersed in t e lake water every year, what material is used to make them, how are they polluting our precious lake waters. Bring this to the notice of the people concerned and find out how customs and practices could be made more eco-friendly.

To ay, the old clay idols have been replaced by idols made of heavy metals like cadmium, glaze, nickel and arsenic, which poison our lakes. They kill fish, frogs and other aquatic like forms in the lakes. When this water is used for farming, the vegetables grown could get contaminated with these harmful chemicals. On consumption of these vegetables, the poisonous chemicals enter our bodies. Besides, the cattle may graze on the grass that grows around the lake. These heavy metals may finally enter our bodies through the milk we get from the cattle. Brining this to the notice of the people in our area is our project. Out Plan the details to successfully execute the project.

How did the wells go dry?

In ancient times, people would fetch water from lakes for their domestic needs. It was a difficult job and they would be very careful in using he water. Later, in some places, people began to dig wells. They had water in all seasons.

As time went by, more people came up. Now, they had to dig wells that water deeper to get the water. They used drawbridges over the wells. They began to draw water carelessly night and day.

Presently, there are bore wells along with other conventional wells and these are connected to powerful electric pumps, which have drastically increased the consumption of water. Consequently, the wells go dry and they are being extended deeper. Find out how the local authorities of your area are struggling to supply water to the people. We may increase the capacity of the tankers carrying water, but how can we fill them if we do not have any groundwater available? Lakes too are drying up because rainwater is not flowing into them. In some areas, cities and towns have come up along the path of the rainwater canals totally blocking the flow into the lakes.

Moreover, dirty water from the cities and towns contaminates rainwater and flows into the lakes polluting them completely. No more are the lakes reservoirs of sweet, drinking water. They are filled with dirty, stinking water.

Let us investigate this by studying a lake in our area. Find out about he changes in the water table (the water beneath the earth) in your area during the last ten years. Discuss with the water authorities how the situation will change over the next ten years. Prepare a report suggesting measures to improve the water table situation in the area.