Water Conservation Techniques MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Water Conservation Techniques - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Option 1: Water channels.

Key Points

• In traditional hill farming in Uttarakhand, 'Guls' are man-made water channels used for irrigation.
• These channels are designed to transport water from natural sources like rivers and springs to agricultural fields.
• 'Guls' play a crucial role in ensuring the availability of water for crops, especially in the hilly terrain where direct access to water is limited.
• The construction and maintenance of 'Guls' are often carried out by the local community, reflecting the importance of collective effort in sustainable farming practices.
• They are typically made using local materials like stones and soil, and their design varies depending on the topography and water source.

Additional Information

• Traditional Irrigation Systems:
  • Other traditional irrigation systems in India include tank irrigation and well irrigation.
  • These systems are designed to harness local water resources effectively.
• Agriculture in Uttarakhand:
  • The state is known for its terraced farming due to the hilly terrain.
  • Main crops include rice, wheat, barley, and various pulses.
• Community Involvement:
  • Local communities often work together to construct and maintain irrigation channels.
  • This practice underscores the importance of community cooperation in rural areas.
• Sustainable Farming Practices:
  • Using 'Guls' is part of a broader approach to sustainable agriculture in hilly regions.
  • These practices help in conserving water and maintaining soil health.

The correct answer is Irrigation. Key Points

• Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting and storing rainwater for future use.
• The most suitable application of rainwater harvesting is irrigation, which has the following advantages:
• Reduces water bills:
  • Irrigation accounts for a significant portion of water usage in households and industries.
  • By using rainwater for irrigation, one can reduce their water bills and save money.
• Conserves water:
  • ​Rainwater harvesting helps in conserving water as it reduces the demand for freshwater, which is a scarce resource in many regions.
• Environmentally friendly:
  • Rainwater harvesting is an environmentally friendly practice as it reduces the strain on freshwater sources and helps in replenishing groundwater.
• Improves soil quality:
  • Rainwater is free from chemicals and additives, which makes it an ideal source of water for plants.
  • It also helps in improving soil quality and fertility.

Additional Information

• Using rainwater for cooking is not a suitable application of rainwater harvesting as the water may not be suitable for drinking without proper treatment.
• Using rainwater for pets is not a suitable application of rainwater harvesting as the water may contain harmful bacteria and parasites that can cause health problems.
• Using rainwater for industrial purposes may not be feasible as the water quality requirements for industrial processes are often stringent, and rainwater may not meet those standards.

The correct answer is Aquifer.

• A saturated geological unit that can yield water to the wells at a sufficient rate to support a well is called an aquifer.

Key Points

• An aquifer is a body of porous rock or sediment saturated with groundwater. Groundwater enters an aquifer as precipitation seeps through the soil. It can move through the aquifer and resurface through springs and wells.
• There are two general types of aquifers: confined and unconfined.
  • Confined aquifers have a layer of impenetrable rock or clay above them, while unconfined aquifers lie below a permeable layer of soil.
• Many different types of sediments and rocks can form aquifers, including gravel, sandstone, conglomerates, and fractured limestone.
• A common misconception about aquifers is that they are underground rivers or lakes. While groundwater can seep into or out of aquifers due to their porous nature, it cannot move fast enough to flow like a river.

Important Points 

• Karst:
  • ​Karst is a type of landscape where the dissolving of the bedrock has created sinkholes, sinking streams, caves, springs, and other characteristic features.
  • Karst is associated with soluble rock types such as limestone, marble, and gypsum.

• Estuary:
  • ​An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea.

• Reservoir:
  • ​A reservoir is most commonly an enlarged natural or artificial lake created using a dam to store freshwater.

The correct answer is Irrigation.

• The most appropriate use of rainwater harvesting is irrigation.

Key Points

• Rainwater harvesting:
  • Rainwater harvesting is the simple process or method used to conserve rainwater by collecting, storing and conveying of rainwater that runs off from rooftops, roads and open grounds for later use.
  • Rainwater harvesting systems consists of the following components:
    • Catchment to collect and store the captured Rainwater.
    • Conveyance system to transport the harvested water from the catchment to the recharge zone.
    • Filtering system for filtering the collected Rainwater and remove pollutants.

    • Tanks to store the filtered water which is ready to use.

Additional Information

•  Irrigation is the process of applying water to the crops artificially to make efficient use of water and to fulfil their water requirements.
• The sources of water for irrigation are wells, ponds, lakes, canals, tube-wells, and even dams. 
• Types of irrigation:
  • Sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, surface irrigation, localised irrigation, Centre pivot irrigation, sub-irrigation and manual irrigation.

Key Points

• Rainwater harvesting is a method of collecting and storing rainwater in tanks for different purposes and for future needs as well.
• Surface runoff harvesting and rooftop rainwater harvesting are the methods of rainwater harvesting.
• Collecting and storing rainwater before it is lost as surface runoff promotes both water and energy conservation and Improves the quality and quantity of groundwater.

Advantages of Rain Water Harvesting:

• Provides self-sufficiency to your water supply
• Reduces the cost for pumping of groundwater
• Provides high-quality water, soft and low in minerals
• Improves the quality of groundwater through dilution when recharged to groundwater
• Reduces soil erosion in urban areas
• The rooftop rainwater harvesting is less expensive
• Rainwater harvesting systems are simple which can be adopted by individuals
• Rooftop rainwater harvesting systems are easy to construct, operate and maintain
• In hilly terrains, rainwater harvesting is preferred

Need for Rooftop Rain Water Harvesting:

• To meet the ever-increasing demand for water
• To reduce the runoff which chokes storm drains
• To avoid flooding of roads
• To augment the groundwater storage and control decline of water levels
• To reduce groundwater pollution
• To improve the quality of groundwater
• To reduce the soil erosion
• To supplement the domestic water requirement during summer, drought etc.

The correct answer is Irrigation.

• The most appropriate use of rainwater harvesting is irrigation.

Key Points

• Rainwater harvesting:
  • Rainwater harvesting is the simple process or method used to conserve rainwater by collecting, storing and conveying of rainwater that runs off from rooftops, roads and open grounds for later use.
  • Rainwater harvesting systems consists of the following components:
    • Catchment to collect and store the captured Rainwater.
    • Conveyance system to transport the harvested water from the catchment to the recharge zone.
    • Filtering system for filtering the collected Rainwater and remove pollutants.

    • Tanks to store the filtered water which is ready to use.

Additional Information

•  Irrigation is the process of applying water to the crops artificially to make efficient use of water and to fulfil their water requirements.
• The sources of water for irrigation are wells, ponds, lakes, canals, tube-wells, and even dams. 
• Types of irrigation:
  • Sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, surface irrigation, localised irrigation, Centre pivot irrigation, sub-irrigation and manual irrigation.

The correct answer is Tamil Nadu.

• Tamil Nadu is the first state in India which has made rooftop rainwater harvesting structure compulsory to all the houses across the state.
• Rooftop rainwater harvesting structure is the part of the technique through which rainwater is captured from the roof catchments and stored in reservoirs.
• The act of collecting, diverting and storing water from rain events for later reuse is called rainwater harvesting.

Important Points

• Tamil Nadu was the first state in India which launched the rooftop rainwater harvesting and made it compulsory for every building to avoid groundwater depletion.
• The rooftop rainwater harvesting model of the Tamil Nadu government gave an excellent result within five years and led to a 50% rise in water level in five years in Chennai.

Additional Information

• The RainSaucer, Groasis Waterboxx and various others are the newly developed approaches for the purpose of the rainwater harvesting.
• Frankfurt Airport has the biggest rainwater harvesting system in Germany.

Key Points

• Rainwater harvesting is a method of collecting and storing rainwater in tanks for different purposes and for future needs as well.
• Surface runoff harvesting and rooftop rainwater harvesting are the methods of rainwater harvesting.
• Collecting and storing rainwater before it is lost as surface runoff promotes both water and energy conservation and Improves the quality and quantity of groundwater.

Advantages of Rain Water Harvesting:

• Provides self-sufficiency to your water supply
• Reduces the cost for pumping of groundwater
• Provides high-quality water, soft and low in minerals
• Improves the quality of groundwater through dilution when recharged to groundwater
• Reduces soil erosion in urban areas
• The rooftop rainwater harvesting is less expensive
• Rainwater harvesting systems are simple which can be adopted by individuals
• Rooftop rainwater harvesting systems are easy to construct, operate and maintain
• In hilly terrains, rainwater harvesting is preferred

Need for Rooftop Rain Water Harvesting:

• To meet the ever-increasing demand for water
• To reduce the runoff which chokes storm drains
• To avoid flooding of roads
• To augment the groundwater storage and control decline of water levels
• To reduce groundwater pollution
• To improve the quality of groundwater
• To reduce the soil erosion
• To supplement the domestic water requirement during summer, drought etc.

The correct answer is Gujarat.

• Rani ki Vav:
  • It is a very famous stepwell in Gujarat.
  • It situated in the town of Patan, Gujarat.
  • It is located on the bank of the Saraswati river.
  • It was rediscovered and restored in the 1980s by the Archaeological Survey of India.
  • It is one of the UNESCO's World Heritage Sites since 2014.
  • Its architecture is very defining as it was made in the form of an inverted temple.
  • It is divided into seven levels of stairs, which have sculptural panels.
  • It was constructed during the rule of the Chalukyas dynasty.

Key Points

•  It has a Maru-Gurjara architectural style. 
• The fourth level stair is the deepest.  

The correct answer is To recharge groundwater.

Key Points

Water Harvesting:  

• Water harvesting is a practice to conserve water by collecting rainwater in an organized way.
• The rainwater is not allowed to flow and get wasted but collected in tanks.
• The main purpose however is not the collection but the enhancement of groundwater level.  
• The collected water through tubes is made to recharge groundwater.
• The maintenance of groundwater is a long-term sustainable structure for water conservation.
• So, water harvesting is used to increase the groundwater level by an organized collection of groundwater.
• So, water harvesting is a method that Increases the groundwater level.
• Water harvesting is an old practice in India and is now considered a more efficient way of water management than dams.  
• People are adopting this method and it is also being encouraged by the administration and government. 

​Thus, the main purpose of rainwater harvesting is to recharge the groundwater.

The correct answer is an aquifer.

• A saturated geological unit that can yield water to the wells at a sufficient rate to support a well is called an aquifer.

Key Points

• An aquifer is a body of porous rock or sediment saturated with groundwater. Groundwater enters an aquifer as precipitation seeps through the soil. It can move through the aquifer and resurface through springs and wells.
• There are two general types of aquifers: confined and unconfined.
  • Confined aquifers have a layer of impenetrable rock or clay above them, while unconfined aquifers lie below a permeable layer of soil.
• Many different types of sediments and rocks can form aquifers, including gravel, sandstone, conglomerates, and fractured limestone.
• A common misconception about aquifers is that they are underground rivers or lakes. While groundwater can seep into or out of aquifers due to their porous nature, it cannot move fast enough to flow like a river.

Important Points

• Karst:
  • ​Karst is a type of landscape where the dissolving of the bedrock has created sinkholes, sinking streams, caves, springs, and other characteristic features.
  • Karst is associated with soluble rock types such as limestone, marble, and gypsum.
• Estuary:
  • ​An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea.
• Reservoir:
  • ​A reservoir is most commonly an enlarged natural or artificial lake created using a dam to store freshwater.

The correct answer is Water conservation.

Key Points

• Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS) is situated in the semi-arid region of Rajasthan.
• TBS starts its work by mobilizing communities around the issue of water and supporting them in reviving and revitalizing the traditional systems of water management through the construction of ‘Johads’ for rainwater harvesting.
• The community contributes to their labour.
•  TBS arrange some funding and provide support to the villagers in studying the topography and soil type, assessing the water needs of the village, preparing a labour-sharing plan based on the benefits accruing to individual households.

Additional Information

• Over 10,000 Rain-Water Harvesting (RWH) structures have been restored.
• Due to high fodder availability, villagers have also benefited from selling milk products through an informal cooperative arrangement.
• The organisation plays a facilitating role in helping communities to articulate their priorities for natural resource development, and to find solutions

Concept:

• Water covers two-thirds of the earth's surface, most of it is salty and not suitable for drinking.
• Only 2.7 percent of the available water on earth is fresh water and only 1 percent of the available freshwater can be accessed for use from rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
• India accounts for about 4% of the world’s water resources.
• 22 march is celebrated as World Water Day.
• Water conservation is the careful use and preservation of the water supply.
• It is important because fresh clean water is a limited resource.

Explanation:

Naadis:

• They are found near Jodhpur in Rajasthan.
• These are village ponds that store rainwater collected from adjoining natural catchment areas.

Toba:

• It is another traditional technique used in water harvesting in arid areas.
• Toba is the local name given to ground depression with natural catchment areas.

Johad:

• They are one of the oldest systems used to conserve and recharge groundwater.
• They are small earthen check dams that capture and store rainwater.

Nali:

• It is a passage through which water passes.
• It usually is referred to as the water passage for dirty drain water.

Thus, nali is not the traditional method of water conservation in Rajasthan.

The correct answer is Of traditional water conservation techniques.

Key Points

• In Rajasthan, the soldering and khadin type is of traditional water conservation techniques.

Additional Information 

• Khadin:
  • A khadin, also called a dhora, is an ingenious construction designed to harvest surface runoff water for agriculture.
  • Its main feature is a very long (100-300 m) earthen embankment built across the lower hill slopes lying below gravelly uplands. Sluices and spillways allow excess water to drain off.
  • The khadin system is based on the principle of harvesting rainwater on farmland and subsequent use of this water-saturated land for crop production.
  • First designed by the Paliwal Brahmins of Jaisalmer, western Rajasthan in the 15th century.
  • Since 15th century, people of extremely dry Western Rajasthan around Jaisalmer region follows a traditional runoff farming, a typical land-use system widely prevalent in highly arid areas of Thar desert which is commonly known as khadin cultivation in which rainwater harvested in the lower reaches during Kharif is used for rabi crops cultivation.
  • It helps in recharge of groundwater apart from enabling growing Kharif and rabi crops depending upon the amount of rainfall and consequent runoff.
  • However, the crop productivity of khadin cultivation remains low due to edapho-climatic constraints including nutrients deficiency, salt encrustation, sodicity and waterlogging.

The correct answer is Drip irrigation.

• Drip irrigation practice leads to maximum water conservation.
  • It delivers water and nutrients directly to the plant’s roots zone.

Key Points

• Drip irrigation:
  • Each dripper emits drops containing water and fertilizers, resulting in the uniform application of water and nutrients directly to each plant's root zone, across an entire field.
  • Water and nutrients are delivered across the field in pipes called ‘dripper lines’.
• Sprinkler irrigation:
  • Sprinkler irrigation is a method of applying irrigation water.
  • Water is distributed through a system of pipes usually by pumping.
  • It is then sprayed into the air through sprinklers so that it breaks up into small water drops that fall to the ground.

 Additional Information

• A water wheel is a machine for converting the energy of flowing or falling water into useful forms of power.