From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Solutions: A Call for Water Conservation on World Water Day 2025

Water—the lifeline of our Blue Planet—sustains life in every form. Flowing like blood through Earth's veins, it nurtures mountains, plains, forests, and every living being, carrying essential nutrients and elements within it.

Water is not just a resource; it is life itself.

Life on Earth is composed as well as sustained by 5 elements, often called Panch Mahabhuta:

• Earth (Prithvi): Provides the solid foundation for life, giving structure and stability to all living beings.
• Water (Jal): Essential for all bodily functions, acting as a solvent and medium for transporting nutrients.
• Fire (Agni): Represents energy and metabolism, driving the processes that sustain life.
• Air (Vayu): Facilitates respiration, enabling the exchange of gases necessary for survival.
• Space (Akasha): Provides the medium in which all other elements exist, allowing for growth and expansion.

Hence, water has always been regarded sacred, especially in our nation.

Our ancestors developed sophisticated systems to manage water resources, demonstrating a deep understanding of its value. Ancient civilizations built extensive aqueduct networks to transport water over long distances. In arid regions, rainwater harvesting and underground storage systems were used for collecting and preserving scarce water. Even water purification systems involving sunlight, heat, and filtration with materials like sand and charcoal, were used.

World Water Day 2025: A Global Call to Action

Today, this recognition of water's fundamental importance is highlighted by global initiatives like World Water Day, an annual United Nations observance held on 22 March. World Water Day focuses on the importance of freshwater and advocates for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. For 2025, the World Water Day theme is 'Glacier Preservation'.

Let’s take a look into Global Fresh Water Availability.

• Total Water: Earth has 1.386 billion cubic kilometers of water.
• Salt Water: 97.5% is saline, mostly in oceans.
• Fresh Water: Only 2.5% is fresh; most is inaccessible.
• Accessible Fresh Water: Just 0.5% of Earth's water is usable fresh water.
• Surface Fresh Water: Lakes (87%), swamps (11%), rivers (2%).
• Human Use: Only 0.006% of Earth's water is safe for direct human consumption.

Approximately 2 billion people (26% of the global population) lack access to safe drinking water services, and 3.6 billion people (46%) do not have access to safely managed sanitation facilities.

The receding glaciers, drying lakes, expanding urban areas, and decreasing forest cover only exacerbate the water scarcity problem, warranting an urgent need to take global collective action—not just to save water resources but also to combat climate change and global warming so that our largest freshwater resources—our glaciers—can be protected.

Ancient Wisdom of Water Conservation by Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan

At Dera Sacha Sauda, Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan actively promotes and encourages the community to conserve, recycle, and reuse water. His teachings emphasize the significance of saving every precious drop, while also imparting practical methods such as rainwater harvesting and simple water filtration systems to facilitate water reuse. Let’s take a look at the valuable teachings of Saint Dr, MSG and implement them in our lives.

Water Saving Irrigation Systems: Drip System and Sprinkler Irrigation System

To grow more crops with less water, reduce evaporation and run off, Saint Dr. MSG advices farmers to use these irrigation systems.

Drip Irrigation systems deliver water directly to the plant roots through a network of tubes and emitters, maximizing efficiency and minimizing waste. These can conserve up to 50% more water compared to traditional methods.

Sprinkler Irrigation systems distribute water over a large area using a network of pipes and spray heads, simulating natural rainfall. They are versatile and suitable for various crops and terrains, making them a popular choice for larger agricultural operations.

Water Filtration Pit for Recycling Kitchen and Bath Water

Dig up a small pit near water exit, and layer it up with large gravels, small gravels, concrete and sand. The water that passes through it gets cleansed of soap and other pollutants to a large extent and can be used to irrigate crops or water the kitchen garden.

Growing Vegetables in Fruit Orchard

Sow vegetable seeds on the tree basin surrounding the tree pit in an orchard. While growing, they won’t need additional water; one can harvest vegetables along with fruits, making it a very lucrative and sustainable option.

Farmers should also opt for growing crops that require less water but yield better results while providing good profits.

Rain Water Harvesting

This method is especially useful for villages and large farm owners who have the space to set up sizable earthen tanks. To create a large recharge pit, dig a hole and slightly pave the sides. Cover the bottom with loamy soil to enhance water retention. Rainwater and runoff can be collected in this pit. A small electric motor can then be used to irrigate fields with this water, utilizing either a drip or sprinkler irrigation system.

Dual Flush Toilet Systems at Homes

The small button lets lesser amount of water to be dispensed while the big button lets more water to be dispensed. Hence, based on need, one can use appropriate dispense button and save a lot of water.

Similarly, use mugs instead of running tap water for brushing teeth or shaving. Place buckets under leaking faucets to collect the water until leaks can be fixed. Use only the necessary amount of water when bathing.

Ensuring judicious use of water in day-to-day life can make a lot of difference.

Conclusion:

Almost 70 million followers of Dera Sacha Sauda have pledged to use water judiciously and save every drop of it. Under the sacred guidance of Saint Dr. MSG, volunteers also help villages set up rainwater harvesting systems while farmers are encouraged to use drip irrigation systems when planting crops that consume less water.

Every drop fills the ocean; similarly, even the smallest action from each one of us counts. We can no longer afford to be careless. Let’s follow the guidelines of Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan and conserve water because our lives—and our future—depend on our collective efforts. Let’s embrace sustainable practices raise awareness about water conservation create a ripple effect that inspires others to join this vital cause.