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<ul><li>The world’s water towers are in trouble and the Indus river has been ranked as the most important in the world, according to a new study published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1822-y">Nature.</a></li><li>The Indus and Ganges-Brahmaputra river basins serve over 700 million people who will be at risk within a decade — or less — as the world’s highest glaciers melt away.</li><li>India’s depleting water towers won’t only impact people living within the country but also in neighbouring nations — setting the stage for a battle over water rights, according to the paper’s lead author, Walter Immerzeel.</li></ul>The world’s freshwater supply is in trouble — and that’s especially true for India. The Indus and Ganges-Brahmaputra water towers are among the most important in the world. But, they won’t be long before they disappear entirely, according to a new study published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1822-y">Nature</a>. "We conclude that the most important water towers are also among the most vulnerable, and that climatic and socio-economic changes will affect them profoundly," says the study. The world’s most vulnerable water towers Researchers found that the <keyword id="8429365" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="indus-water-tower">Indus water tower</keyword> — that covers much of the Himalayan mountains — is the most important one in the world. Its Not only will its depletion impact people not only in India, but also in neighbouring regions like including Afghanistan, Nepal and Pakistan. Over 200 million people will be left vulnerable without it. The Ganges-Brahmaputra basin may outlast Indus but will put many people at risk — nearly 487 million covering India, Nepal, China, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. The last remaining glaciers powering these water towers are set to disappear <a href="https://news.osu.edu/last-remaining-glaciers-in-the-pacific-will-soon-melt-away/">within the next decade</a>, or even sooner, according to the study. What are water towers? Water towers are nature’s storage tanks. Snow and ice build-up to fill the tank. Slowly, over time, they melt to provide fresh water — like a tap that’s dripping. If someone were to open that tap all the way, it would result in catastrophic flash floods and landslides. Without water towers to regulate the inflow and outflow of water, people, as well as the corresponding ecosystems, will be at risk. What do climate and politics have to do with it? Climate change means that global temperatures are rising. The higher the mountain, the faster it will melt under the pressure. And, the Himalayas are home to some of the highest peaks in the world — including Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain. It’s possible that, with warmer temperatures, the amount of precipitation will increase. But it won’t nearly be enough to offset the loss of water from the glaciers’ melting. Simultaneously, as populations continue to grow, the demand for water is going to increase taxing the already limited supply of water that exists. Since the impact won’t be limited to a single country but multiple stakeholders, a battle over water rights is likely to emerge Walter Immerzeel, the lead author of the paper, told <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/12/water-towers-high-mountains-are-in-trouble-perpetual/">National Geographic.</a> According to him, the limited government effective and political tension will leave water towers vulnerable. The study was authored by 32 scientists around the world, collecting data from every corner of the globe to determine the importance of 78 water towers around the world — and the Indus water tower topped the list. It’s the first time that the impact of melting glaciers has been quantified. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/you-can-experience-the-end-result-of-climate-change-today-with-virtual-reality/articleshow/72217525.cms" style="">You can experience the end result of climate change today with virtual reality</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/livestock-emits-as-much-carbon-as-transport-vehicles-how-do-we-control-this/articleshow/65069999.cms" style="">Cow farts and livestock dangerous for climate change: Bill Gates</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/climate-change-impact-on-india-latest-united-nations-report/articleshow/72437164.cms" style="">Climate change cost India over 2000 lives and $37 billion in just a year</a>

India's Indus water tower is the most important in the world — but it's also the most vulnerable

<ul><li>The water scarcity in towns dependent on the Hindu Kush Himalayas could double by 2050.</li><li>Indian tourist hot-spots like Mussoorie, Devprayag, Singtam, Kalimpong and Darjeeling are among the most vulnerable.</li><li>Rapid urbanisation along with worsening climate change will stress the regions water resources further.</li></ul>The Hindu Kush Himalayas is one of the most important reserves of fresh water in the world catering to the needs of millions of people. Spanning across four countries — India, Afghanistan, Nepal and Pakistan — freshwater is already in short supply with things expected to get even worse in the near future. A new study published in <a href="https://iwaponline.com/wp/article/22/S1/1/72146/Editorial-Mapping-challenges-for-adaptive-water">Water Policy</a> predicts that the demand-supply gap may double by 2050. The papers, "indicate that the demand for water is outstripping supply in almost all the towns and the future looks bleak if the ‘business as usual’ scenario persists." The study focuses on 12 towns, including five — Mussoorie, Devprayag, Singtam, Kalimpong and Darjeeling — in India. They are the most vulnerable to the Himalayas running dry due to rapid urbanisation, climate risks, failing governance and the lack of water rights. 
	
 
 <div type="image" title="hkh" msid="74435833" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Case study sites in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>







 "We have found that the poor and marginalised are the most affected when water supply dwindles," says the study. Another study, published in December 2019, predicted that the Indus water tower — that covers much of the Himalayan mountains — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/indias-indus-water-tower-is-the-most-important-in-the-world-but-its-also-the-most-vulnerable/articleshow/72451341.cms">could be in trouble within a decade</a> or even sooner. More humans need more water One of the main reasons that the Hindu Kush Himalayas are set for a tough ride ahead is because of rapid rural to urban migration. Urbanisation has pulled people from rural areas in the region into nearby urban centres. Although only 3% of the total Hindu Kush Himalayan population lives in larger cities and 8% in smaller towns, projections show that more than 50% of the population will be living in cities by 2050. 
	
 
 <div type="image" title="d6e44af11b1e29f05905b79145575ed7" msid="74435883" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Mussoorie after snowfall&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>







 According to the study, unplanned and rapid urbanisation changes the way land is used, the amount of land cover and takes away from recharge areas of springs. This means that in addition to heightened demand for water, urbanisation also leads to the deterioration of larger water network — which is already being bogged down upon by climate change. The pressing concerns of climate change While the future movement of people will add to the stress on water, reserves already depleting faster than usual as the effects of climate change take hold — temperatures are increasing, glaciers are losing water faster than can be recuperated by rainfall, and excess rain is causing landslides which disrupt the water network. Even with the excess water supply, there still isn’t enough to go around. 
 
 <div type="image" title="darjeeling" msid="74435932" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Snowfall in Darjeeling&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>




 Without proper governance and management techniques in place, the residents of the region have to bear through periods of water scarcity. This is because most of the towns, being hill stations, are also popular tourist destinations which don’t have the capacity to cater for the boom in population during peak season. 
	
 
 <div type="image" title="fda3bd5441b70a0e00e3a3fa0157a2e5" msid="74435870" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Spike in tourists during the summer season in Mussoorie led to water scarcity in the town in 2019&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>







 Mussoorie, for example, needs around <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/peak-summer-tourist-influx-adding-to-mussoorie-water-woes/articleshow/69509678.cms">14.5 million litres of water per day</a> but only has around 7.67 million litres available. Last year, the situation got even worse when water tanker operators went on strike to protest the timing restrictions on when they would transport water into the city. The study predicts that Mussorie, and other towns dependent on the Hindu Kush Himalayas, will face "water insecurity if timely action is not taken." It suggests adaptive water management that takes sustainable water sourcing into account and gives more attention to the equitable distribution of water. (With inputs from IANS) See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/indias-indus-water-tower-is-the-most-important-in-the-world-but-its-also-the-most-vulnerable/articleshow/72451341.cms">India's Indus water tower is the most important in the world — but it's also the most vulnerable</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/theres-too-much-uranium-in-indias-water-and-nobodys-watching-it/articleshow/64544651.cms">There’s too much uranium in India’s water, and nobody’s watching it</a>

Mussoorie, Devprayag and Darjeeling will be among the first Indian towns to bear the brunt of the Himalayan water flow drying up

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India's Indus water tower is the most important in the world — but it's also the most vulnerable

Prabhjote Gill

Mussoorie, Devprayag and Darjeeling will be among the first Indian towns to bear the brunt of the Himalayan water flow drying up

Prabhjote Gill

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