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When Arun Krishnamurthy was a teenager, he witnessed a pond near his home filling up with garbage. The damages to the pond inspired him to become a conservationist.

In 2007, Kirshnamurthy founded the Environmentali Foundation of India (EFI)-a group that restores freshwater lakes and ponds across India. The team works to remove garbage and restores the natural habitats of birds, frogs and native plants, giving wildlife a chance to return. Over the last 13 years, EFI has carried out restoration work on 112 lakes and ponds.

EFI's primary goal is to restore lakes and ponds, but the organization's work also benefits India's water supply, because restoring water body helps groundwater recharge. In fact, groundwater is critical to India, accounting for 80% of its water supply. However, exploitation-for domestic and agricultural use reducing reserves at a worrying rate.

The government needs to take action, but Krishnamurthy believes individuals also have a significant role to play. That's why he wants to raise awareness of water's importance in people's daily lives. He points to the fact that groundwater in India is used for free, and a lot of it is wasted.

Currently, EFI is facing a challenge when it comes to waste disposal. Up to 95% of the solid waste it collects from the ponds ends up in landfill. Krishnamurthy says EFI is investigating options for reusing and recycling more of the garbage.

But despite different challenges, he feels hopeful not only for India but for the world. He urges people everywhere to pay attention to the dumping of waste and needs of wildlife. "With the right intentions", says Krishnamurthy, "everyone can make an impact on our planet."