Observational records, demographic study and climate projections provide abundant evidence that freshwater resources are vulnerable and have the potential to be strongly impacted by climate change, with wide-ranging consequences for human societies and ecosystems. At this juncture, when there are well-researched speculations of ensuing water stress in India, water education, for the students and people, becomes critical. So, the National Council of Science Museums and the Delhi Jal Board are collaborating to create a water Education Facility at the premises of the National Science Centre, Delhi.

Every known form of life on earth, from the largest mammals to the smallest microbes, relies on water because water is an extraordinarily versatile molecule. It is the perfect liquid medium in which to dissolve nutrients for ingestion or wastes for excretion, to transport important chemicals or even be used as one. Water has two particular physical properties that are unique among natural molecules: it remains liquid over an extremely broad range of temperatures, and it decreases in density when converted to solid phase (frozen). While this may seem a relatively minor point, its consequences (that ice floats) are critical to the evolution of life. If ice were denser than water and the earth cooled slightly, ice formed on the oceans would sink and push the already cold water from the bottom to the surface, where it too would freeze and sink, repeating the cycle until all water on the planet was frozen.

The valley of the Indus River is considered to be the birthplace of Indian civilization. By 4000 BC primitive farmers were raising vegetables, grains, and animals along the riverbank. By 2700 BC two major cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, had great public water baths and granaries. These cities had the finest sewage and wastewater systems of the ancient world. They even had underground cesspools like modern cities of the world had only after 1600 AD. Dholavira is known for its sophisticated water reservoirs that conserved water from rains and rivulets.

Global Freshwater reserves are rapidly depleting and this is expected to significantly impact many densely populated areas of the world. Low to middle income developing regions as well as highly developed countries will face water stress in the future, unless existing water reserves are managed effectively.

Although low and middle income developing countries currently have low per capita water consumption, rapid growth in population and inefficient use of water across sectors is expected to lead to a water shortage in the future. By 2025, India, China and select countries in Europe and Africa will face water scarcity if adequate and sustainable water management initiatives are not implemented.

India faces a turbulent water future. Unless water management practices are changed and changed soon India will face a severe water crisis within the next two decades and will have neither the cash to build new infrastructure nor the water needed by its growing economy and rising population.

Today, 70 percent of India?s irrigation needs and 80 percent of its domestic water supplies come from groundwater. Although this ubiquitous practice has been remarkably successful in helping people to cope in the past, it has led to rapidly declining water tables and critically depleted aquifers, and is no longer sustainable.

Sewage and waste water from rapidly growing cities and effluents from industries have turned many rivers, including major ones, into fetid sewers. Massive investments are needed in sewers and wastewater treatment plants to protect people?s health and improve the environment. Climate change projections show that India?s water problems are only likely to worsen. With more rain expected to fall in fewer days and the rapid melting of glaciers especially in the western Himalayas India will need to gear up to tackle the increasing incidence of both droughts and floods.

Rivers are the lifelines of civilization. They have nurtured huge populations at the same time absorbing and cleansing the wastes generated by human beings and their activities. Notwithstanding this fact, Human beings especially in urban areas have treated rivers with scant respect. Urban population (Delhiites) tends to ignore the pathetic condition of its rivers. Probably this is because in rural and village areas, human beings obtain drinking water directly from rivers, but in urban areas, there is an interface like the DJB which operates between the river and its users. This perception needs to be corrected.Every citizen of Delhi needs to pledge to do his/her bit to keep the Yamuna clean, save water, preserve groundwater and to harvest rainwater. This is the message that we propose to drive home in the upcoming Water Museum and Media Centre at the National Science Centre.