CBSE Class 10 Social Science Geography Revision Notes Chapter 3

CBSE Class 10 Geography Chapter 3 Notes – Water Resources 

CBSE Class 10 Geography Chapter 3 is all about water resources. It starts by discussing the availability of freshwater on earth and the scarcity of water, as well as the reasons leading to this situation. The pros and cons of constructing dams on rivers are discussed in the chapter. 

Extramarks provides Class 10 Geography Chapter 3 Notes to help students understand the important topics discussed in the chapter. The notes are prepared by subject matter experts and are accessible on the website.

CBSE Class 10 Social Science Geography Revision Notes for the Year 2022-23

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Access Class 10 Social Science (Geography) Chapter 3 – Water Resources Notes

The third chapter of Geography Class 1 discusses the sources of water, scarcity, and other topics associated with it. The chapter also covers the construction of dams over rivers. In addition to this, the conservation of water is also discussed here. You will be able to prepare for your board examinations more efficiently through these CBSE revision notes. 

Summary of Class 10 Geography Chapter 3 Notes

The chapter on water resources in Geography Class 10 covers all the major topics associated with water and its sources. It also covers the dearth issues of water and the measures to conserve it. However, the main areas covered in this chapter are as stated below. 

Water Sources

Students need to understand that water is the basic necessity of life. Water covers roughly three-fourths of the Earth, but only 2.5 percent of the total volume is available as freshwater for humans. The remaining 96.5 percent is oceanic salt water.

More than 70 per cent of the freshwater sources are found in the glaciers of Antarctica and all other high-altitude mountainous regions.  However, only 30% of freshwater is stored as groundwater globally. These water resources are renewable and renewed within a short time. It is the hydrological cycle that makes water a renewable resource. 

Fresh Water Sources

Freshwater is the naturally occurring liquid from the glaciers of Antarctica and other high-altitude poles. This water has a lower concentration of dissolved salt than sea salt water. Moreover, freshwater habitats cover less than 1% of the world’s surface area. You can generally find freshwater in glaciers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, streams, rivers, wetlands, and even groundwater. 

Despite this, freshwater houses 10% of known animals and around 40% of known fish worldwide.  Freshwater plays a vital role in the biome. It helps in supporting ecosystems and human civilisations. We use freshwater for food production, manufacturing, sanitation, power generation and other works.

However, freshwater is becoming threatened at an increasing rate. Therefore, access to freshwater sources is a defining issue for the upcoming generations. Triggered by the rising population, there is a water shortage and a drying up of lakes, streams, and rivers. Hence, you should use it judiciously and save it for future generations. 

Water Scarcity and The Reasons Behind It

In simple terms, water scarcity means a shortage of water. It can happen due to natural reasons such as drought and when an area receives low rainfall. However, there are several other reasons which can lead to scarcity of water. These are:

• Water scarcity can occur because of overexploitation of natural water resources available to us. Excessive or unnecessary water use in almost all parts of the world is one of the prime causes of the absence of water. 
• In many dry areas, there might be a need for extra water for irrigation purposes. More and more water is required to grow multiple crops and HYV seeds. In addition to this, there is a need for more food resources because of the progression of urbanisation and industrialisation. 
• The distribution of water is not equal on this planet. In some parts of the world, there is sufficient water to meet the needs of the people, while in other parts, people suffer from scarcity. This unequal distribution creates a lot of hindrances in the daily activities of individuals. 
• The quality of water is deteriorating with each passing day. This is because of the domestic and industrial waste in the water sources. There can also be a chance of water pollution as chemical fertilisers and pesticides get washed off from rainfall directly into the water bodies. 
• Human activities like the immersion of idols and other rituals in water lead to water pollution, and eventually, these water sources have become useless. Consistent pumping of the groundwater also leads to the fall of water levels. Water scarcity is also tremendously affecting the ecological cycle. It is high time you conserve water and manage all the water sources. 

Measures Taken for Water Conservation

Conservation of water primarily refers to saving, protecting, and controlling the usage of the water supply and its sources. Through conservation, you can ensure that you will be able to use the water sources for a more extended period and simultaneously save some for future generations. Conservation has become essential in all areas as these natural resources deplete daily. This is because of the increasing population and unnecessary use of water. 

Here are some ways to save water efficiently. 

• Stop overusing underground water and allow it to recharge through rainwater harvesting, watershed development programs, and many more. 
• Keep the tap closed when you are not using it. 
• During the rainy season, collect some rainwater for washing or gardening purposes. 
• Use different irrigation techniques like drip irrigation and sprinkles to save water while irrigating. 
• Check for water leaks in the water distribution pipes. 
• Rainwater harvesting is one of the best techniques for conserving water. You can also use different methods for preserving water as per your choice. 

Farmers can also contribute to the conservation of water sources by using drip irrigation in their fields.  Farmers can adopt this type of irrigation system to save water. In this irrigation system, the water is directly supplied to the roots of the plants. Eventually, this prevents wastage of water and exhaustion from evaporation. 

Multi-Purpose River Projects and Integrated Water Resources Management

From the early days,  water was conserved by structuring dams. You will still find dams constructed over most of the rivers in India.

Definition of a Dam

A dam is a barrier that is built across the flowing water. It obstructs and directs the flow of water and eventually creates a water reservoir, lake, or impoundment. The word ”dam”  refers to the water reservoir and not the entire structure. Generally, dams are built to control floods, but most of them have triggered floods only. 

One of the significant movements for saving river water was the Narmada Bachao Andolan. An NGO mobilised this movement. The protestors of this movement were farmers, tribal people, environmentalists, and human rights activists. The protest was against the Sardar Sarovar Dam, built across the Narmada river in Gujarat. Moreover, the movement’s primary focus was on environmental issues and rehabilitation. 

Rain Water Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is the simple technology of storing rainwater to use in the future. In this, you collect the rainwater, that runs off the rooftops, roads, and parks for later use. There are undoubtedly different ways of doing rainwater harvesting. These methods are:

1. In the floodplains of West Bengal, you will find inundation channels built for irrigation purposes. 
2. In the hilly areas, people build diversion channels for rainwater harvesting. The best example of this is Kuls or Guls in the Western Himalayas. 
3. Rooftop rainwater harvesting is one of the most standardised methods for collecting, storing, and using water. This method is most common in the arid regions of Rajasthan. You must have heard about ‘Tankas’. They are a part of rooftop rainwater harvesting. It happens in areas like Barmer, Bikaner, and many other places.