Question

Pick the correct option. The maintenance of lakes and ponds is essential for-
(A) Recycling of water
(B) Increasing water table
(C) Increasing soil fertility
(D) Increasing surface water runoff

Answer 1

Hint: Apart from the role that water table plays in the biodiversity, fundamentally natural, freshwater ponds and lakes have many uses, including providing water for the purpose of agriculture, livestock and communities, aiding in habitat restoration, serving as breeding grounds for local and migrating species.

Complete answer:
The maintenance of lakes and ponds is essential for increasing the water cycle. Water table is defined as the upper layer of the zone of saturation. This zone of saturation is where the pores of the ground are saturated with water. The water table can also be defined as the surface where the water pressure head is equal to the atmospheric pressure.

Some of the uses of water table are as follows:
(1) Water table is extremely helpful in measuring aquifers which are the saturated areas beneath the water table. These aquifers have their main application in extracting the water for plants and human beings.
(2) The water present in the water table can also be used for bathing and cleaning purposes.
(3) It is also used to water plants and trees as in this way most of the water goes back to the ground and can be used repeatedly.

Therefore the correct answer is option ‘A’.

Note: It is important to note that we understand that the depletion of the water table is a major concern for us as it is a necessary requirement for the next generation also. But somehow if it continues to deplete as it is depleting now, then life would not be possible on earth. The level of the water table in the villages is still well above when it is compared to the level of the water table present in the cities.