The Real Bucket Challenge: Why Balti-Lota is the Best

Ditch showers, it’s time to go back to the good old bucket bath.

Akshay Kumar takes part in the Ice Bucket Challenge. (Photo Courtesy: Youtube screengrab)

For World Environment Day 2016 on June 5th, The Quint brings you a series of stories on the state of water in India. The past couple of years have been drier than usual. Weak monsoons had devastating consequences for farmers across the country. Follow our World Environment Day coverage for a look at our water situation.

This piece was originally published on 31 March 2016.

India is in the middle of what could be the worst water crisis it has ever faced.

Water in the country’s main reservoirs is at 29 percent of their capacity, and summer hasn’t even started yet. The shortage could have devastating consequences for the agriculture and the electricity sector.

In the coming decades, water shortages will be an issue around the world and conserving water will be more important than ever. India is already ahead of the curve with the good old Balti-Lota practice. One bucket bath can save as much as 12 times the water a shower can. Check it out:

Using one bucket uses as much as 12 times less water than a shower. (Infographic: Rahul Gupta)

Water scarcity is a major global concern. This story is part of The Quint’s #WaterBucketChallenge campaign for World Environment Day 2016. Join us in trying to save water one bucket at a time using our hashtag and make sure you tag us too!