climate change and water

water, the most precious natural element on earth is threatened due to climate change impact. Although large land masses may be submerged and sea levels may rise due to melting of ice, availability of water for drinking and farming will reduce due to climate change. The reasons are many and varied. Due to receding glaciers water level in rivers will reduce. The ground water table will fall due to increased evaporation and drying up of replenishment sources. The ground water in coastal areas will get salinated due to sea water ingress in underground water due to sea level rise.
These effects are already being seen in various parts of India. In the Indian state of Kashmir the villages near Srinagar face a water shortage due to reduction in water in the glacier fed lakes. In orissa groundwater in kanhupur, Kendrapara district and in kirtania, Balasore district has become saline due to sea water ingress.
Despite these looming shortages water in cities is being lst due to leakages during supply. In Europe 15-25% of water is lost in supply. Singapore is in a better position with losses amounting to 5%. In Thailand 85% of the water used to be lost during supply. Now this has been reduced to 8%. Both these countries achieved this by pricing water higher which led to water being treated as a valuable commodity. Singapore has achieved such a level of water purity that one can drink water from any trap. Perhaps other countries need to follow these examples to tackle the water crisis.