"Water Water everywhere nor any drop to drink"is the famous quote from the poem The Rime of Ancient Mariner. In today's world we might soon be surrounded by the same situation. We, Humans have always taken our natural resources for Granted. In a country like India over exploitation of natural resources is a very common phenomenon. Uncontrolled population growth, coupled with unplanned urbanisation has led to over exploitation of underground water.
Highlights:-
As much as 60% of irrigated agriculture is dependent on Underground water.
As much as 85% of our drinking water supplies are dependent on Underground Water
As much as 230 Cubic Kilometres of underground water is used by India every year.
Per Capita Availability of water has been steadily declining From 1816 Cubic Meters in 2001 to 1545 Cubic Meters in 2011.Source
We are definitely over using our underground water resources. That ground water could be replenished after the rainy season but as a result of unplanned urbanisation, the points of Ground Water Recharge are decreasing significantly every year.
The growth of Urban Population has meant that the number of Concrete Structures including roads, apartments, malls etc are growing at an alarming rate. Such concrete-infrastructure's, block the natural seepage of water into the ground.Thus It is quite clear that we consume more than what mother nature can replenish.
In smaller towns the situation is worse as almost 80% of the new population in these towns is completely dependent on ground water. Builders and Developers build housing societies and apartments without having any provision of water supply. Later on they add Deep Boring facilities so that entire society uses underground water. This blatant rape of water resources will definitely have its consequences in the coming years or generations.
Sooner or Later we will be hit by water scarcity and some people are hoping its sooner.
You might have heard about Dr Michael Burry who successfully predicted the 2008-09 market crash and also made millions by predicting the crash, is now a days investing in water rich Farm Lands as he says that in future that piece of land will be more valuable than any other asset you hold. Source