Every Drop Counts

The water cycle has 4 stages: 1) Evaporation: Sun heats water in oceans, rivers — water turns to vapour and rises. 2) Condensation: Water vapour cools high up, forms clouds (tiny water droplets). 3) Precipitation: Water falls as rain, snow, or hail. 4) Collection: Water collects in rivers, lakes, groundwater. Then evaporation starts again — a continuous cycle!

India has 18% of world's population but only 4% of world's freshwater. Many states face drought in summer: Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu. Over 60 million people in India lack safe drinking water. Underground water (groundwater) is being used faster than it is replenished — this is a serious problem.

Rainwater harvesting means collecting and storing rainwater for later use. Methods: Rooftop collection (direct rain into tank), Check dams (small dams to hold rainwater), Percolation pits (allow water to seep underground). Tamil Nadu made rooftop harvesting mandatory in 2001 — solved Chennai's water problem! It is a sustainable solution to water scarcity.