Water resource management

Water resource management is the activity of planning, developing, distributing and managing the optimum use of water resources. It is a sub-set of water cycle management.

Water is essential for our survival. It is also a critical resource for human development and the environment. However, resources are unevenly distributed in time and space, and only a small part is available for human use. The goal of water resource management is to balance the needs of these various uses without causing harm to the environment.

Overview

Water resource management includes consideration of all the physical, economic and social aspects of water use. The field of water resources management will have to continue to adapt to the current and future issues facing the allocation of water. With the growing uncertainties of global climate change and the long term impacts of management actions,the decision-making will be even more difficult. It is likely that ongoing climate change will lead to situations that have not been encountered. As a result, alternative management strategies are sought for in order to avoid setbacks in the allocation of water resources.

Integrated Water Resource Management

One of the current popular approaches to water resource management is Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). IWRM principles include: the river basin as the basic unit for managing water resources, the participation of all stakeholders in the management process, and decisions made at the lowest appropriate level.

Challenges

There are many challenges associated with water resource management. These include water scarcity, water pollution, conflicts over water rights and access, and the impact of climate change on water availability and quality. These challenges require innovative solutions and the development of new technologies and management strategies.

See also

• Water conservation
• Water policy
• Water quality
• Water scarcity
• Water security
• Water supply