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Most of the depletion of aquifers is due to the heavy use by agriculture and in towns, by industry. Adapting technology due to the depleted aquifer is a coping mechanism. Making sure that the water is better managed is a much more sustainable measure. This involves discussions with Integrated Water Management and or a District wide approach where we lobby that WASH is an absolute priority for water allocation, and that the poor need to have a rightful share into this as well.

This is quite a large discussion and Wateraid cannot yet engage everywhere into this. Water Security plans are being developed in India in a number or areas and Bangladesh is looking to start an Integrated Water Management Project. Such experiences will enable us to advocate properly to plan long term water abstraction for WASH.

Deeper water tables typically affect the water supply for the poor, as they are not available to either drill deeper wells, or pay for higher fees (due to more intense pumping). Cheap energy for pumping for irrigation, such as custom in India has clear consequences for water provision for households.