Why is water so important? It is vital for all living organisms and major ecosystems, human health, food production, and economic development. Despite its importance, water is one of our most poorly managed resources.In Principles of Water Management for People and the Environment[1], Michael Acreman, of the United Kingdom Institute of Hydrology, notes that the lives of people and the environment are profoundly interlinked, especially in terms of water resources. He also presents ten principles of water management:
1. Value water (not just economically, but including other ecosystem and societal values)
2. Use water sustainably (use must be less than rate of replenishment)
3. Develop sustainable institutions to manage water (From international to local scales, noting that all stakeholders must contribute to ensure equitable allocation of water)
4. Collect and disseminate information (effective management requires sound information)
5. Maintain a social and cultural perspective (decision making must also take into account ethical, aesthetic and religious values)
6. Ensure equitable access to water (water resource development actions can benefit the few served directly, and penalize the many who are not served, or denied access due to water diversion)
7. Use appropriate technology (traditional approaches may be more suitable to the environments in which they were developed than some “modern” technologies transferred from other countries)
8. Try to solve causes not symptoms (but accept practical solutions)
9. Take an ecosystem approach (holistic approach must include integrated regional planning and conservation of critical habitats)
10. Work as multidisciplinary teams (a truly integrated holistic approach requires a wide range of expertise)
The author concludes that water management should “focus on the global ecosystem” (including people) “and not as a conflict against nature to supply water for people.”
Do you agree with the author’s conclusion? Why?
Please rank the ten principles in terms of what you feel are the most important and add any principles you feel are missing.
[1] In Water and Population Dynamics: Case Studies and Policy Implications, Alex de Sherbinin and Victoria Dompkha, eds., American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Washington, D.C., 1998.
9 comments:
In response to Jareya, without water how would be the all living! 4th World Water Forum (4th WWF) theme " Local Actions for a Global Challenge". WB says 25% of the world's population does not have direct access to drinking water. WHO says every year more than 2.2 Mil people around the world die from diseases associated with the lack of access to safe drinking water and inadequate sanitation. People in urban area one person one day uses almost 150 liters(4th WWF). Thus, in my opinion, how we should be equal use between urban and rural areas, most of the developing countries, people live in urban areas using water for living environment, but in rural areas most for agriculture purposes. The only thing is that people should access enough and safe water for healthy. So, we should think about proper management of water resources which Michel mentioned in your discussed topic. If you look at the Ministerial Declaration of 4th WWF, World Leaders are seriously taken into account for water resource management to get everyone equally. Regarding your debate, I agree with the author conclusion, water management should focus on the global ecosystem because include all living things need. Regarding your ranking, I would like to change as follows. Furthermore, I would like to add " to conduct training programme for the people awareness of sustainable water use, mentioned in the use of appropriate technology".
1. value water
2. use water sustainability
3. ensure equitable access to water
4. develop sustainable institutions to manage water
5. collect and disseminate information
6. use appropriate technology
7. try to solve causes not symptoms
8. take an ecosystem approach
9. maintain a social and cultural perspectives
10. work as multidisciplinary team
In response to Jereya,
Akompab says, According to the World bank report 2004, Water management can be conceptaulized as a " comb" in which the "teeth" are the user sectors, and the " handle" is the resource itself, defined by its location, quantity and quality.
I agree with certanty that management of water should focus on global ecosystem.This is because the planets ecosystems are linked and maitained by water which drives important processes such as growth, provide habitat for a host of species , serving as a breeding ground or temporary home for species.[Michael Acreman,1998] You will also agree with me that water is just so important as a universal solvent,providing pathways for sediments nutrients and pollutants.It also shapes landscapes through erosion,transportation and deposition.These are all the reasons to reconsider the ecosystem when water management is concerned as a constituent.According to the [Washington press, 1999], to a degree that is successful,water management that focuses on ecosystems structure and function will also improve the sustainability of water resources. I would also say that water management involves humans because the unprecidented rise in human population demand water for a host of activities such as domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes.Just like the saying goes 'WATER IS LIFE", what will life look like without water?.
in terms of importance , i suggest the ranking will progress as follows;Water must be valued, used sustainably, administered by suitable institutions;viewed through a social and cultural pespective;equally assessible to all, developed through the use of technology, cared for by treating the cause of the problems, managed through an ecosystem approach; dealt with multideciplinary teams which collect and deseminate a wide range of information to produce sound decision making.
I will like to add what is known as the "Dublin principle" for water management.
1-The Ecological principle which argues that independent management of water by different users is not appropriate.
2-The Instititional principle which argues that water resource management is best done when all stakeholders participate.
3-The Instrumental principle which argues that water is a scarce resource and that greater use needs to be made of incentives and economic principles in providing allocation and enhancing quality.
Water management just like the management of natural resources requires a holistic approach which also brings together stakeholders, how is the hydrological cycle related to water management? do you see a link between these two issues?
In response to Jariya,I also agree with auther.It is clear that Water is one of the essential basic resouce for human being and the enviorenment from thier origine,as the world population rises,human demands for water for domestic,
industrial and agriculture processes are also increasing rapidly.It needs to ensure that direct supply of water to the human race is given top priority.The amount of water that people use varies but tend to rise with living standerds.In general 100 liters per person per day is considered a minimum threshhold for personal use.(Falkenmark and Widstrand 1992).However when agricultural and industrial uses are included countries with less than 1700 cubic meters(m3) per person per year are considered to experience water stress.Forinstance
two third of African population will be facing an extreme water crisis(Falkenmark 1989).
The new water law of South Africa whose Ninth principle state that"The quantity,quality,and reliability of water reqiuerd to maintain the ecological function on which human depend shall be reserved so that the human use of water does not individualy or cumilatively compromise the long term sustainability of aquatic and associated ecosystem.
the doublin statement(ICWE 1992)which preceded the UNCED conference
in Rio states that "Since water sustains all life,effective management of water resouses demands a holistic approach,linking
social and economical development with protection of natural
ecosystem"There is a need to develop a broad-based approach to water management with greater emphasis on integrated regional
planning and comservation of critical habitats.
In terms of importance, my suggestion is as follows,
In terms of importance my suggestion is as follows,
Water must be valued,Administerd by suitable institutons,dealt with a multidisiplenary team,collect and disiminate a wide range of infomation,used sustainably,
equally accesible to all,viewed through the social and cultural perspective,used appropriate technologies,cared for by teating the cause of the problems,manage through the ecosystem approach,
I would like to suggest that"Eficient water use systems in all sectors"and community based management in water system,
Specialy in agricultural area.Because in my point of view Water scarecity in short periods mostly due to waste of water by inefficient way of using.
In response to Jareya, I agree with author and this ten principles are very important for water management. Water is fundamental thing and so significant in our World. Most of the nations are facing water stress. Much of the rain that falls on their catchments areas either evaporates, or becomes run-off surface water, with a small percentage that replenishing scarce ground water.
Water is needed in all aspects of life. The general objective is to make certain that adequate supplies of water of good quality are maintained for the entire population of this planet, while preserving the hydrological, biological and chemical functions of ecosystems, adapting human activities within the capacity limits of nature and combating vectors of water-related diseases. Innovative technologies, including the improvement of indigenous technologies, are needed to fully utilize limited water resources and to safeguard those resources against pollution. (Agenda 21 - Chapter 18 )
I would like to add the gender approach. A gender-sensitive approach is one crucial part of that change. Poverty eradication is crucial to the future of the world, and a key element of sustainable development.
By understanding the different roles of women and men in water management, recognition is given to the roles of especially of poor women and men. On this basis it is necessary to change the power balance so that women and men, at all levels of society can participate equally in the management of water.
In response to Ms Jareya, I do agree with the author.
As we know, water is very important for human being in particular and for living thing in general. Water is the prerequisite of life and our civilization-without water no life. It plays a central role for the climate and for the co-evolution on Earth.
The total water-covered surface of the Earth is above 75% in which 98% of the water on Earth is salty and unsuitable for drinking or irrigation. 1.8% is frozen in glaciers and snow. There is only 0.77% occurs as liquid freshwater, and it distributes in the lakes, reservoirs, rivers, etc (Marcinek& Rosenkranz 1996). About 75% of the human water use is consumed by agriculture compared with the industrial of 9% and the domestic water uses of 6% and 10% of water use for cooling processes in power plants Global change: Enough water for all?, Jose L.Lozan, et al 2007).
Unfortunately, in many areas in the world, human beings are facing with water stress. The ratio between human water withdrawals and water availability is above 0.4 that ratio is nowadays often found in semi-arid tropical and subtropical regions of the Earth (Global change: Enough water for all?, Jose L.Lozan, et al 2007).Water needs might be a drastic increase within the next 20-25 years. Some countries in Africa, South America, and the demand for water may even double. Additionally, water quality is one problem for human health today. Microbiologically contaminated water causes various diseases like cholera, typhus, hepatic, etc. Lack of water reduces the hygiene, it bring about water-borne diseases like trachoma, relapsing fever, etc. That is, 80 % of all diseases in a causal relation to water shortage or use of polluted water (The Water problem of our Earth: From climater and the water cycle to the human right for water, L.Lozan, et al 2007). Every year, about 5 million people die of diseases related to the inadequate supply of freshwater (WWAP 2003).
According to UNEP, today, more than 1.2 billion people have no access to clean drinking water and about 2.4 billion no access to functioning sanitation devices. The goal of the UN is the 50% reduction of these numbers until 2015. Equitable and sustainable water resource management is a difficult issue and is a big challenge today. The main problems are the human right for enough water for all.
In my understanding, I do agree with the author that equitable and sustainable water resource management is extremely important. I think to reach this purpose-equitable and suitable water resource management –we have to perform some goals as those followed:
-All most of nations in the world have to get a commitment on this issue that present and future decisions need to consider the climate change problem. CO2 emission will be reduced until 2050 by 40-60%.
-New technology development to desalinize ocean water by using solar energy.
-Policies have to be developed and implemented for a sustainable use of water resources.
-Freshwater resource must be cleaned, and kept cleaned.
-More corporations among nations should be developed to share common water resource (international river system).
-The UN must contribute much more their role in term of water management through global water convention.
In my opinion, I arrange ten principles of the author which is supported by Ms Jareya. That is followed:
1.Use water sustainably
2.Develop sustainable institutions to manage.
3.Collect and disseminate information
4.Maintain a social and cultural perspective
5.Ensure equitable access to water
6.Value water
7.Use appropriate technology
8.Work as multidisciplinary teams
9.Try to solve causes not symptoms
10. Take an ecosystem approach
In respond to Jareya,
I do not understand clearly about the tenth principle that you supported:
"10.Work as multidisciplinary teams (a truly integrated holistic approach requires a wide range of expertise".
Can you explain more about it?
To response Jareya, I agree with the author that people and environment are profoundly interlinked especially water for two reasons
To begin with, less than 1% of all the water in the world is readily available freshwater and no one is making any more of it; at any given time, close to half the population in the developing world are suffering from one or more diseases associated with inadequate provision of water and sanitation services: diarrhea, ascaris, dracunculiasis (guinea worm); hookworm, schistosomiasis (bilharzias, or snail fever) and trachoma; over 2 billion people are infected by schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthes, of whom 300 million suffer serious illness; there is a 77% reduction in schistosomiasis from well-designed water and sanitation interventions; and arsenic in drinking water affects 50 million people in Asia that drink water from deep wells; it has been estimated that people suffering from water-borne diseases occupy half the world’s hospital beds [The Great Water Quality Data Drive, UNEP’s GEMS/Water Programme Launches Global Call to Action For Water Quality Monitoring and Data from All Types Of Water Resources].
Secondly, we use amounts of water to supply us with food, shelter, and our other needs and wants. Moreover, water plays in a key role in sculpting the earth’s surface, moderating climate, and diluting pollutants [Environment Science, tenth edition, G. Tyler Miller, Jr.2005]
1. Value water (not just economically, but including other ecosystem and societal values)
2. Use water sustainable (use must be less than rate of replenishment)
3. Maintain a social and cultural perspective (decision making must also take into account ethical, aesthetic and religious values)
4. Use appropriate technology (traditional approaches may be more suitable to the environments in which they were developed than some “modern” technologies transferred from other countries)
5. Ensure equitable access to water (water resource development actions can benefit the few served directly, and penalize the many who are not served, or denied access due to water diversion)
6. Use appropriate technology (traditional approaches may be more suitable to the environments in which they were developed than some “modern” technologies transferred from other countries)
7. Take an ecosystem approach (holistic approach must include integrated regional planning and conservation of critical habitats)
8. Work as multidisciplinary teams (a truly integrated holistic approach requires a wide range of expertise)
I want to add more the way to sustainable water resource management.
To focus on the development of innovative economic, legal and institutional instruments for sustainable use and on greater awareness, education and participation of the general public [KLAUS Toepfer, United Nations Under-Secretary General and Executive Director].
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