NCERT Solutions Class 5 Environmental Studies Chapter 6 Every drop counts

1. Look at the area around your school. Are there any fields, farms, pucca roads, drains etc.? Is the area sloping, rocky or flat? Think, what will happen here when it rains? Where will the rain water go – into the drains, pipes, or pits? Is some water also getting soaked into the soil?

Ans. Yes, there are fields, farms, concrete roads, drains etc. around my school. The area around my school is basically flat. When it rains, the rain water goes into the drains, pipes and pits. Some water is also absorbed by the soil.

2. How do you think the rainwater that falls on the roof will reach the underground tank? Draw the path.

Ans. The water collected on roof reaches the underground tank, through the pipe, which connects both of these.

3. Have you ever face shortage of water in your area? If yes, then what was the reason for it.

Ans. Yes. Sometimes we face shortage of water in our area. This is due to the cut in supply of water by Jal Board.

4. Talk at your grandfather or any elderly person. Find out, when they were of your age:

From where did they get water from the house? Has there been a change now?

Ans. They used to get water from wells, bavdis, ponds, rivers and hand pumps. But now we get water supplied by Jal Board or from tube wells, hand pumps etc.

5. What kind of water arrangements were made for travelers – for examples piau, mashak (leather bag) or any other? Now a-days, what do people do about water when they travel?

Ans. For travelers, there were arrangements of piau, mashak etc. Now a-days, people usually purchase packaged drinking water or carry their own water bottles.

6. Can we even imagine life without water?

Ans. No water is essential for the survival of life.

7. Do you have some special pots for water at your place?

Ans. Yes, in summer we use pot made up of clay and sand. Water remain cool in it.

8. Have you ever seen any beautiful building near the place of water? Where?

Ans. Yes, I have seen remain of as old beautiful near the stepwell at my village.

9. Is there a lake, well or stepwell near your house or school? Visit it and find more about it. How old is it? Who got it built?

Ans. Yes, there is an old well near my house which is about 100 years old. The local people built it.

10. What kind of building are around it.

Ans. There are residential buildings around it.

11. Is the water clean? Is it cleaned regularly?

Ans. No, the water is not clean, neither is it cleaned regularly.

12. Who all use the water?

Ans. Now no one uses the water.

13. Is there any festivals are celebrated at the place?

Ans. Yes, some rituals are performed during marriages etc.

14. Is there any water today or is it dry?

Ans. There is a little water. However, it dries up during summer.

15. There are two old wells in the area where Punita lives. Her grandmother says that about fifteen- twenty years ago there was water in these wells. The wells could have dried up because:

Water is being pumped up from under the ground with the help of electric motors. The lakes in which rainwater used to collect are no longer there.  The soil around trees and parks is now covered with cement. IS there some other reason for this. Explain.

Ans. The reasons mentioned above are, of course, the causes of this sorry states. However, cutting of trees, lack of maintenance etc. may also be the reason for the same.

16. Everyone has the right to live. Yet, is everybody getting enough water to live or even water to drink? Why is it that some people have to buy drinking water? Should it be like this? Water on this earth is for one and all. Some people draw out water from the ground by deep bore wells. How far is it correct? Have you ever seen this? Why do some people is pump directly in the Jal Board pipe line? What problems would other people face due to this? Do you have any such experience?

Ans. It is true that today everybody is not getting enough water. Due to the scarcity of drinking water, some people have to buy it. Thing must not be like this. Some people draw water from the ground by deep boring. It is a wrong practice. “It is not only deprives other people of water but also effects the environment. In my colony many people do this. Some people also put a pump in the Jal Board pipe due to which other people face scarcity of water. I also have had such experiences. We often suffer due to such practices by some of our neighbours.

17. From which office has this bill come?

Ans. This bill has come from Delhi Jal Board.

18. Do you get water bill at home? Find out from where it is sent?

Ans. Yes, we get a water bill at home. We live in Delhi and so get our bill from Delhi Jal Board.

19. Why do you think Dilli Sarkar (Government of Delhi) is written under Delhi Jal Board?

Ans. Dilli Sarkar (Government of Delhi) is written under Delhi Jal Board because Delhi Jal Board is a subsidiary of Government of Delhi.

20. In whose name is the bill? How much money do they have to pay for each month?

Ans. The bill bears the name of Shri Mohd. Umar and Dr. Mohd. Shoaib.

21. Do you have to pay for water? How much? Is the rate of water different in different colonies? Ask you elders.

Ans. Yes, we have to pay for water about Rs. 300 per month. The rate is the same in different colonies.

22. Have you ever read this kind of news in any newspaper? How did people solve their problem of water? Did they repair and reuse any old lake or stepwell?

Ans. Yes, a few years back there was an acute scarcity of water in my village. To solve the problem, villagers made collective offers and cleaned up and repaired the pond and all the wells of the village to make them usable again. Tons of garbage was taken out from these water bodies. The hard work of villagers bore fruit and even today they are fulfilling their water requirement from these pond and wells.

23. Bring a water bill, look at it and tell-

Ans. This bill is from 10.07.2009 to 05.09.2009.

24. How much money is to be paid for this bill?

Ans. Rs. 312.00.

25. What else can you see in the bill like, the money spent on repair, maintenance etc.?

Ans. Yes, 28 rupees have been spent on repairing, which is included in the bill.