Stepwells, deep wells accessed by descending stairways, were widely used between the 11th and 18th centuries to store rainwater and provide year-round access to groundwater. Once common across large parts of India, many fell into disuse during British colonial rule and were gradually abandoned, buried or converted into dumping sites.

The revival effort has gained momentum as India faces growing water stress. According to World Bank data, around 600 million people in the country experience water shortages, while climate-related droughts have intensified pressure on already strained resources.

One of the most prominent restoration projects is the Bansilalpet stepwell in Secunderabad, in the southern state of Telangana. The 18th-century structure, originally built during the rule of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, had deteriorated into a waste disposal site before being restored in 2022 by the nonprofit Rainwater Project.

Kalpana Ramesh, an urban designer and founder of the organization, said the initiative sought to reconnect communities with traditional water systems while improving local environmental conditions. The restored site has since become a public gathering space and tourist attraction, drawing thousands of visitors each month.

Ramesh said the project demonstrates how existing heritage infrastructure could contribute to water security without requiring entirely new construction. Her organization has restored 30 stepwells across Telangana and is currently working on six additional sites.

The restoration model is also being adopted in other regions. In Maharashtra, another state facing recurring water stress, Pune-based nonprofit Sevavardhi has revived 26 stepwells since 2023, focusing on drought-prone districts.

Its first major project was completed in Jejuri, a pilgrimage town near Pune. According to Sevavardhi Chairwoman Girija Sirshikar, the restored stepwell now supplies substantial quantities of water during the dry months, helping local communities cope with seasonal shortages.

The organization plans to restore at least 100 stepwells over the next several years, combining water conservation objectives with the preservation of historical architecture.

Experts involved in the projects say stepwells offer multiple benefits beyond water storage. Their design allows rainwater to recharge underground aquifers naturally, while their shaded, below-ground structures can provide relief from extreme heat. Historically, they also served as important social and community spaces.

The renewed interest in stepwells reflects a broader search for sustainable water-management solutions as India grapples with rising temperatures, rapid urbanization and increasing demand for freshwater resources.

Conservationists argue that restoring existing stepwells could complement modern infrastructure projects, particularly in historic cities where many of the structures remain intact beneath decades of neglect.

As water scarcity becomes an increasingly pressing challenge across India, the revival of these medieval engineering systems is drawing attention as a practical and culturally significant tool for strengthening long-term water resilience.

Bangladesh is facing a growing challenge in balancing groundwater conservation with the survival of farming communities as water shortages intensify across the country’s northwestern Barind region.

Agricultural experts, government officials and local farmers warn that declining groundwater reserves, driven by climate pressures and decades of intensive extraction, are threatening both food production and rural livelihoods in one of Bangladesh’s most important agricultural zones.

The crisis has prompted renewed debate over how the country can maintain crop production while reducing dependence on underground aquifers that have sustained farming for decades.Development specialists argue that long-term solutions must move beyond emergency restrictions and focus on building more resilient agricultural systems.

According to water and sanitation experts working in Bangladesh, sustainable adaptation requires investment in water-efficient irrigation technologies, climate-resilient crop varieties, climate-smart farming practices and community-led water management initiatives.

Such measures are increasingly viewed as essential as traditional groundwater supplies become less reliable and climate variability makes rainfall patterns more unpredictable.Experts also stress that women must play a central role in future water-management strategies.

In rural Bangladesh, women often bear primary responsibility for household water collection, agricultural labor and family care, making them particularly vulnerable to the effects of water scarcity.Water-sector specialists say gender-sensitive approaches to water-service delivery are critical to ensuring equitable access to resources, strengthening community resilience and supporting inclusive decision-making processes.

They argue that policies designed without considering women’s experiences risk overlooking some of the most significant social impacts of water shortages.At the local level, many farmers believe solutions should focus on maximizing the use of surface water rather than relying exclusively on groundwater extraction.

Residents across the Barind region are calling for expanded rainwater harvesting projects, restoration of wetlands and rehabilitation of ponds capable of storing seasonal rainfall for use during dry months. Farmers argue that large quantities of rainwater continue to be lost because existing storage systems are inadequate.

Sreemoti Shobdorani, a farmer from the region, said deeper excavation of ponds could create additional capacity to capture monsoon rainfall and provide irrigation water during extended dry periods. She expressed concern that insufficient attention has been given to preserving water resources above ground.

The proposal reflects a growing recognition among farming communities that long-term water security will require a shift away from exclusive dependence on underground reserves. Surface-water storage projects are increasingly being viewed as a practical way to supplement irrigation supplies while reducing pressure on depleted aquifers.

Government officials acknowledge the seriousness of groundwater depletion and say alternative irrigation systems are being evaluated to ensure agricultural production can continue without further accelerating water loss.Authorities face a difficult balancing act. Restricting groundwater use may help protect dwindling reserves, but it could also reduce agricultural output and threaten incomes in regions where farming remains the primary economic activity.

The stakes are significant for Bangladesh’s broader food security. Agricultural experts estimate that more than 2.5 million hectares of farmland could remain uncultivated if water shortages continue to worsen. Such a scenario could reduce national crop production by approximately 2.7 million tonnes, affecting both local markets and national food supplies.

The economic consequences could extend beyond agriculture. Reduced harvests would likely increase financial pressures on farming households already dealing with rising living costs and recurring climate-related disruptions. Experts warn that prolonged crop failures could deepen rural indebtedness, accelerate migration to urban centers and increase food insecurity among vulnerable populations.

For many communities in the Barind region, the issue is no longer a distant environmental concern but an immediate economic reality. Farmers report increasing difficulties accessing irrigation water, while local residents worry that shortages could become more severe if sustainable alternatives are not developed quickly.

The challenge confronting policymakers is therefore broader than groundwater conservation alone. It involves designing a transition that protects water resources while preserving agricultural livelihoods, maintaining food production and preventing social disruption.Climate change is expected to intensify these pressures in the coming decades through rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and more frequent extreme weather events.

As a result, experts increasingly argue that adaptation strategies must combine environmental protection with economic and social support for affected communities.The experience of the Barind region highlights a growing challenge facing many climate-vulnerable agricultural areas around the world.

As water resources come under increasing pressure, governments are being forced to reconsider how agriculture is managed, how water is allocated and how rural communities can adapt to a future in which access to water can no longer be taken for granted.

For Bangladesh, the success of those efforts may determine not only the future of groundwater reserves but also the sustainability of farming systems that support millions of people and form a cornerstone of the country’s food security.

Environmental degradation and systemic inequality are leaving billions of people without access to safe drinking water and sanitation, according to a United Nations policy brief that underscores the growing intersection between climate pressures, public health risks, and human rights obligations.

The brief, prepared by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on behalf of UN-Water, estimates that around 2.1 billion people globally lack access to safely managed drinking water, while 3.4 billion do not have access to safely managed sanitation services.

The findings are intended to guide policymakers and government authorities in designing laws and strategies that address water scarcity and environmental stress through a human rights-based framework.Under international human rights law, states are required to ensure that water and sanitation services are available, accessible, affordable, acceptable, and of adequate quality.

These obligations are central to maintaining public health, supporting livelihoods, and ensuring a basic standard of dignity.Despite these commitments, the report highlights persistent and widespread gaps in service delivery. More than 1,000 children under the age of five die each day from diseases linked to unsafe water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene.

The burden of water access also falls disproportionately on women and girls, who collectively spend an estimated 250 million hours daily collecting water, often under conditions that expose them to physical risk and limit opportunities for education and employment.

The report identifies chronic underinvestment in the water and sanitation sector as a major constraint, noting that funding levels remain insufficient relative to the scale of the challenge. This underinvestment comes despite the sector’s critical role in climate resilience, economic development, and disease prevention.

According to the brief, environmental degradation is compounding existing inequalities and disproportionately affecting marginalized populations. Groups identified as particularly vulnerable include women and girls, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, Indigenous communities, people living in poverty, and those displaced by conflict or environmental stress.

“For many, the denial of access to safe drinking water and sanitation is a result, not of scarcity alone, but of exclusion and inaccessibility woven into institutions and infrastructure,” the report states, highlighting structural barriers that limit equitable access.The document also draws attention to emerging and conflict-related threats to water security.

It notes that water infrastructure has increasingly been targeted in armed conflicts, in violation of international humanitarian law. In Gaza, the destruction of desalination facilities and damage to water systems has forced civilians to rely on contaminated supplies. In Sudan, attacks on water and electricity infrastructure have disrupted access for millions, while in Yemen, sanitation facilities supported by international organizations have been struck by airstrikes.

In addition to conflict-related risks, the brief identifies new pressures linked to technological and industrial expansion. The rapid growth of data centres, for example, is emerging as a significant but often overlooked source of water consumption. A single one-megawatt data centre can require more than 25 million litres of water annually for cooling, an amount roughly equivalent to the daily consumption needs of 300,000 people.

Amid these challenges, the report outlines examples of policy interventions that integrate human rights principles into water governance. Case studies from multiple countries illustrate how targeted reforms can improve access, affordability, and sustainability.In Bangladesh, a community-led initiative enabled residents in coastal areas to co-finance a climate-resilient water facility, with women trained to manage operations.

The program contributed to a reduction in waterborne diseases and improved school attendance among girls, and has since been replicated across hundreds of administrative wards.In Costa Rica, a water tariff reform introduced progressive pricing, charging higher rates for heavy users while offering subsidized rates for low-income households. The approach improved affordability for vulnerable populations while encouraging conservation, demonstrating how economic regulation can align with human rights objectives.

The brief emphasizes that such initiatives are most effective when supported by strong governance frameworks. It calls for greater transparency, public participation, and access to information, alongside legal mechanisms that allow individuals to seek redress when rights are violated.States are also urged to integrate water and sanitation priorities into broader policy frameworks, including climate adaptation plans, biodiversity strategies, and disaster risk reduction efforts.

The report highlights the need for financing models that are predictable, accessible, and aligned with human rights standards, as well as the importance of strengthening local governance capacities.Gender considerations are identified as a critical component of effective policy design.

The report calls for measures to address structural inequalities, including gender-responsive budgeting, increased representation of women in decision-making, and protections against gender-based violence linked to water access.The role of the private sector is also addressed, with the report referencing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Companies are expected to conduct due diligence, disclose environmental and social impacts, and provide remedies where harm occurs.

Governments, in turn, are tasked with regulating corporate activity to prevent abuses affecting water and sanitation systems.UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said that addressing water and sanitation challenges requires sustained political and financial commitment. “Investment in water is an investment in dignity, equality, public health, and sustainable development,” he said in a statement marking World Water Day 2026.

The findings highlight the scale and complexity of the global water crisis, with environmental degradation, population pressures, and governance gaps continuing to strain already fragile systems.