IWRM
From WaterWiki
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Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) | |
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Integrated water resources management is a systematic process for the sustainable development, allocation and monitoring of water resource use in the context of social, economic and environmental objectives. At its simplest, integrated water resources management is a logical and intuitively appealing concept. Its basis is that the many different uses of finite water resources are interdependent. That is evident to us all. High irrigation demands and polluted drainage flows from agriculture mean less freshwater for drinking or industrial use; contaminated municipal and industrial wastewater pollutes rivers and threatens ecosystems; if water has to be left in a river to protect fisheries and ecosystems, less can be diverted to grow crops. There are plenty more examples of the basic theme that unregulated use of scarce water resources is wasteful and inherently unsustainable. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a cross-sectoral policy approach, designed to replace the traditional, fragmented sectoral approach to water resources and management that has led to poor services and unsustainable resource use. IWRM is based on the understanding that water resources are an integral component of the ecosystem, a natural resource, and a social and economic good. | |
and the provision of water (supply);
sustainable development of water resources;
(i.e., in communities and villages as opposed to in capitals); and
they play in the provision, management and safeguarding of water | |
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IWRM is a challenge as it depends upon effective, transparent governing institutions. Rigid functional divisions within governments as well as international development agencies work against the types of cross-cutting, holistic approaches to development planning and resource management that IWRM requires. Building capacity for integrated programming, when ministries organized along sectoral lines and poverty reduction and environmental protection/management plans are drawn up separately, continues to be difficult. IWRM should be viewed as a process rather a one-shot approach -one that is long-term and forward-moving but iterative rather than linear in nature. As a process of change which seeks to shift water development and management systems from their currently unsustainable forms, IWRM has no fixed beginnings or endings. There is no one correct administrative model. The art of IWRM lies in selecting, adjusting and applying the right mix of these tools for a given situation. Agreeing on milestones and time-frames for completing the strategy is critical for success. Implementation may take place on a step-by-step basis, in terms of geographical scope and the sequence and timing of reforms. Scope, timing, and content of measures can be adjusted according to experience. This offers room for change, improvement and process adjustment, provided that the proper bases for sound decision making have been established. In developing a strategy and framework for change, it is important to recognize that the process of change is unlikely to be rapid. | |
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GWP Toolbox (Dirtect Link) by Global Water Partnership UNDP's own Definition & Approach http://wvlc.uwaterloo.ca/biology447/LectureSeries/UNNewYork_files/v3_document.htm Performance and Capacity of River Basin Organizations
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This publication is an attempt to fill in the gap in IWRM literature which does not adequately cover the link between the structure of Global Water Governance and the role of Global Networks in the process of Knowledge Management and its application.
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- AUTHORS’ GROUP for the following chapters
- Coordination and consultatio: Haoliang Xu, Natalya Panchenko, Aleksandr Nikolaenko
- Authors: Vadim Sokolov, Vadim Ni
- Technical support: Viktoria Baigazina
Origin of the the integrated water resources management approach
In the course of civilization, people have come to understand that water is the principal element of nature that has to be managed thoroughly based on the integration of various waters, users and impacts that determine sustainability, efficiency and safety of access to water. It is those living in the new millennium that get to witness a growing water deficit in nearly all parts of the Earth. Today, annual per capita fresh water resources available for use come to 750 m3. By 2050 this figure will decrease to 450 m3 per second even without account of climate change. This means that over 80% of the world’s countries will cross the UN water deficit line [1].
The contemporary framework of integrated water resources management was put forward at the renowned Dublin conference in 1992 as four principles that became the basis for future global water reform [2].
Principle 1. Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential to sustain life, development and the environment
Fresh water is a finite resource. This is supported by the quantitative review of global water cycle, which suggests a fixed annual volume of water. Fresh water is a natural resource that needs to be maintained by ensuring effective management of water resources. Water is needed for different purposes, functions and services, therefore, water management should be integrated and take account of both demand for and threat to this resource. This principle assigns a river basin or a catchment area to be a water management unit, which is the so-called hydrographical approach to water management.
Principle 2. Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach, involving users, planners and policy-makers at all levels
Water is a resource that affects all. True participation is ensured only when all stakeholders are involved in the decision making. A participatory approach involving all stakeholders is the best strategy to achieve long-term accord and consensus. Participation means taking responsibility for and acknowledging impact of this sector on other water users and water ecosystems as well as committing to increasingly effective use and sustainable development of water resources. It should be noted that participation does not necessarily result in consensus, therefore, arbitrage and other conflict resolution mechanisms should be ensured. Governments should work to ensure participation of all stakeholders, in particular, vulnerable groups of the population. It should be admitted that today poor groups of the population will benefit least from a mere participatory environment without enhanced participation mechanisms. Decentralizing decision making to the lowest level is the only strategy to enhance participation.
Principle 3. Women play a central part in the provision, management and safeguarding of water
It is generally accepted that women play a key role in the collection and safeguarding of water for domestic purposes and, in many instances, agricultural use. At the same time, women play a less powerful role than men in the management, problem analysis and decision making related to water. IWRM demands the role of women to be acknowledged. In order to ensure full and effective participation of women at all levels of decision making, account should be taken of approaches that public agencies use to assign social, economic and cultural functions to men and women. There is an important link between gender equality and sustainable water management. Participation of men and women playing a decision making role at all levels of water management can expedite the achievement of sustainability, while integrated and sustainable water resources management greatly contributes to gender equality by improving access of both women and men to water and water-related services, thus serving their daily needs.
Principle 4. Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and should be recognized as an economic and social good
Within this principle, it is vital to recognize first the basic right of all human beings to have access to clean water and sanitation at an affordable price. Managing water as an economic good is an important way of achieving efficient and equitable use, and of encouraging conservation and protection of water resources. As soon as water is collected from a source, it has a price as an economic and social good. Past failure to effectively manage water resources is associated with failure to recognize the economic value of water.
Water cost and charge are two different things that should be clearly differentiated. As a regulating or economic mean, water cost in alternative uses is important to efficiently distribute water as a scarce resource. Water charge is used as an economic tool to support vulnerable groups and influence their water saving and efficient use behaviors by providing incentives to manage demand, cost recovery and readiness of individual users to pay for extra water management services. Recognizing water as an economic good is a key decision-making tool to distribute water among different sectors of the economy and different users within sectors. It is particularly important when water supply cannot be increased.
Goals of integrated water resources management
While declaring the goal of the IWRM principles as a milestone to achieve sustainable co-existence of human beings and the environment, it should be born in mind that such integration should be ensured through three dimensions, which are area, social hierarchy and time. All beneficiaries, rather than water organizations alone, should work together to achieve the integration of these elements and dimensions. Here, political and scientific circles such as natural, social, political and technical sciences should take a lead in the matter.
IWRM is a new approach to water management that promotes activity and collaboration between communities, society and water users and, at the same time, ensures involvement of the government and local leaders to achieve the Millennium Goals set forth at the UN Summit in 2000. Specifically, these are:
- By achieving equitable, sustainable and guaranteed access to water, IWRM leads to reduced loss of produce resulting from disrupted water supply and, consequently, helps increase incomes and reduce poverty (for example, in Malaysia poverty has reduced from 60% to 0 over the last 30 years).
- By developing related sectors, internal and external investment and release of water, IWRM creates an environment for additional production, which promotes employment and income. For example, national incomes of Kazaly and Aral regions of Kzylorda oblast nearly doubled over 2002-2006 due to sustainable use of the Syrdarya delta!!!
- By creating sustainable drinking water supply and improving quality of water in rivers and other sources, IWRM contributes to better health of the population.
- By recognizing the principal role of water for ecosystems and ensuring release of water for natural purposes, IWRM helps environmental management and recovery.
- Finally, IWRM enables integrated use of water energy to increase water energy production, which contributes to sustainable energy supply during peak periods.
- By involving many people, IWRM promotes water education and awareness.
Read more: FAQ:What is integrated water resources management?
References
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Further resources and links
Code of Conduct on the Payments for Ecosystems Services in IWRM IWRM from a policy transfer perspective
