Rohini Nilekani, Chairperson, Arghyam
Water day has come again. Did we do anything differently about our use and abuse of water since the last World Water day? At the gross level, it appears not. Because, in the context of India, this past year was one of interspersed drought, inflation in food prices, increasing evidence of groundwater depletion and water quality, rising agitation about river pollution, etc. At least 100 million of our citizens had no assurance of the safety of the water they drank every single day.
 
Yet, I believe, now, in 2010, that issues of water have finally come to the centre stage they deserve in all conversations. Whether it is in the question of our relentless pursuit of economic growth, or in the temporary wisdom of the green revolution or in the understanding that there are critical tradeoffs to be made between our water security and our international relations – there is no escaping the overarching influence of water in our politics and in our social life.
 
I believe that ordinary people have begun to renewably understand the criticality of water for their wellbeing and for the security of the children’s future. It was always so in the past, before technological innovations as humble as the pump or the tap, enabled generations to distance them from the problem at the source.
 
In urban India, how many of us actually know and care that the water we take for granted, that we get so upset about if it does not leak into our taps at 7 a.m or whatever -  actually comes from a source very far away, possibly depriving  many others along the way, until it reaches out little homes?
 
I think many conversations are happening that are looking at how we design our cities to be more water sustainable. We know that the Western model of flushing a few grams of nutritious human waste with several litres of water, and sending it down to harm the environment makes little long term sense.
 
We know we have a new opportunity to rewrite the urban story, through the lens of water.
 
Water is embedded in everything we do. Ever since the idea of ‘virtual water’ has gained ground, we have to understand the use of water not just by how many cupfuls or bucketfuls we actually see and use, but through its use in the clothes we wear – and I am told that denim jeans need the most water in their production cycles – and the items we use (and often throw) every day.
 
So this puts a whole different perspective on water. It means that ALL of us, whether we like it or not, are trustees of the finite water on this planet, and of that share of it as falls on our own country. It means that each one us will behave with the knowledge that when we use water, we also willy- nilly pollute it and make it that much more expensive to return to its natural state.
 
This knowledge itself is full of potential for the younger generations to harness. What kinds of products, services and systems will next generation entrepreneurs, social scientists, and mavericks bring to the table to address this fundamental issue of safe, sustainable water for all? We look forward to the churn, the innovation that lies ahead.
[Published in Daily News & Analysis, March 22, 2010]

Other articles:
An offering of clean water for healthy living, One World South Asia: Water pollution is a silent crisis affecting millions of people worldwide, says Rohini Nilekani, Chairperson and founder of Arghyam. What is needed at this hour of crisis is to revive local water wisdom to counter droughts, understand the critical role of water as the base of the economy, and find ways to achieve ecological sanitation in India, she adds. Full article

Green Toilet: An article in Hindi by Rohini Nilekani