# Every Drop Counts

## Overview
This chapter teaches us about the value of water and traditional ways of collecting and conserving it in different parts of India. Through stories, examples, and questions, children learn how people used to manage water using lakes, stepwells, and tanks, and how these systems are still relevant today. It also highlights the challenges of water shortage and inequality in modern times.

## Key Topics Covered

### 1. Ancient Water Systems: Ghadsisar Lake
- Ghadsisar was a lake built 650 years ago by King Ghadsi in Jaisalmer.
- It was designed to collect and distribute rainwater among nine connected lakes.
- People used the lake not only for water but also for festivals, music, and schooling.
- Over time, buildings replaced the lakes, and the rainwater now goes to waste.

### 2. Insights from Al-Biruni
- Al-Biruni, a scholar from present-day Uzbekistan, wrote about the advanced water management systems in India over 1000 years ago.
- He described how people constructed ponds with rocks, iron rods, and wide steps to avoid crowding.

### 3. Community Effort in Water Conservation
- In Rajasthan, where it rains very little, communities built lakes, johads (small reservoirs), wells, and stepwells to conserve water.
- Every household had systems to collect rainwater.
- Rainwater also soaked into the ground and made soil fertile, helping to fill underground wells.

### 4. Stepwells: Ancient Water Architecture
- Stepwells are deep structures with stairs leading down to water.
- Travellers and locals used them to access water easily.
- They also served as resting and social spots on long journeys.

### 5. Customs and Festivals Related to Water
- People still worship water sources like springs, ponds, and taps during special customs.
- Brides in Uttarakhand bow to the village spring or pond after marriage.
- Water sources are part of religious and cultural celebrations in many regions.

### 6. Changing Water Sources and Usage
- Old wells are drying up due to:
- Excessive groundwater extraction using electric motors.
- Disappearance of lakes and open soil due to urbanization and cementing.
- Modern homes use borewells, water tankers, canals, and pipelines.
- Some areas face unequal access to water due to caste discrimination or economic differences.

### 7. Real-Life Example: Darki Mai and Water Revival
- In Alwar, Rajasthan, a woman named Darki Mai and her village faced a severe water shortage.
- With help from an organisation called Tarun Bharat Sangh, they built a new lake.
- This solved water problems, increased milk production, and improved the villagers’ income.
- The story highlights how collective efforts can bring change.

### 8. Unequal Access and Modern Challenges
- Some families get clean tap water all day, while others must buy drinking water or queue at tankers.
- In some cases, people install illegal pumps in pipelines, affecting others' supply.
- Questions are raised about fairness and how water—essential for all—is not equally accessible.

### 9. Role of the Community and Water Bills
- Groups today are reviving old stepwells and lakes and building new water storage systems.
- Water bills show the amount used and paid, encouraging people to think about consumption.
- Children are encouraged to bring a bill and observe where the water comes from and how much is paid.

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## New Terms and Simple Definitions

| Term | Definition |
|------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Stepwell | A well with steps going down to reach the water |
| Johad | A small man-made reservoir to store rainwater |
| Borewell | A deep narrow well made using machines to pump out underground water |
| Chabutara | A raised platform made around a water body |
| Piau | A place made to offer drinking water to travellers |
| Mashak | A traditional leather water-carrying bag |
| Rainwater Harvesting | Collecting and storing rainwater for future use |
| Tarun Bharat Sangh| A group that helps villages conserve water and rebuild lakes |
| Naula | A small natural water spring or water storage system in Uttarakhand |
| Canal | A man-made water channel used to bring water from rivers to fields |

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## Practice Questions

### Easy (3)
1. **What was Ghadsisar?**
→ It was a lake built by King Ghadsi to store rainwater.

2. **Who was Al-Biruni?**
→ He was a traveller from Uzbekistan who wrote about India's water systems.

3. **What is a stepwell?**
→ A deep well with stairs to reach water.

### Medium (2)
4. **Why did wells dry up in some areas?**
→ Because rainwater no longer collects in lakes and the ground is covered with cement.

5. **Name two customs related to water.**
→ Brides bowing to a pond in villages, and people worshipping taps in cities.

### Difficult (3)
6. **How did people in Rajasthan manage with little rainfall in earlier times?**
→ By building lakes, johads, and stepwells and collecting water in tanks at home.

7. **What challenges do people face today in accessing water?**
→ Some have no access due to caste discrimination or economic inequality. Others use illegal pumps.

8. **How did Tarun Bharat Sangh help Darki Mai's village?**
→ By helping build a lake which solved the water and food problems.

### Very Difficult (2)
9. **What do Al-Biruni’s writings tell us about the engineering of old water systems?**
→ They show how people used rocks, iron rods, and special designs to build long-lasting and efficient ponds.

10. **Should water be free for all? Why or why not?**
→ Yes, because it is a basic need for everyone. If only some people have access, it creates inequality.

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