IWMI Makes Case for “Non-Integrated” Water Resources Management

SINGAPORE — Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) has become a de facto solution for many water issues, but it sometimes results in negative outcomes and has shut out alternative thinking, International Water Management Institute (IWMI) theme leader Mark Giordano told participants at the Innovations in Water Policy Workshop in Singapore last week.

The workshop was hosted by Singapore's Institute of Water Policy.

At the event, Giordano suggested that policymakers consider alternatives to IWRM that may be more implementable.

IWRM principles include integration across sectors, decentralization of and participation in decision-making, economic and financial sustainability, and using the basin as the unit for decision-making, he explained.

Implementation is not always as smooth as the theory, however, and Giordano cited examples when alternatives can create better solutions than IWRM.

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2 Comments

1. I agree that every water resource should be studied and solutions suitable to it, should be found out which are applicable and implementable. Application of any particular theory is not a wise step. However justice should be done for making water available to every person / sector in a justified manner. The main problem is that little is being done to ensure protection of water resources from faulty development works, mining activities, excess use of water in irrigated agriculture and domestic & commercial construction activities due to ever increasing population. Similarly a campaign is needed for treatment of used water in cities and recirculate it for activities other than drinking water.

2. While I totally agree with Giordano, the point we must never forget is that 'water' is the most needed molecular compound to all forms of life and as such is becoming the most sought for and protected of all earth's natural resources. While oil is currently the most corporatized natural resource on the planet, water resources are quickly moving to that status and in the next decade could well exceed oil resources as the most corporatized natural resource. This will have dire consequences to both humanity and the planet as well if we don't learn the lessons of oil's corporatized problems. It is here that responsible government action coupled with socially responsible activism will play the most important role if they preempt the negative implications of corporatized water resources. If not, the world, especially limited water regions, could well see the specter of 'Water Wars' raise its ugly head. Point being, responsible governments and society should do everything possible to keep water resources from becoming corporatized for the sole benefit of corporate stockholder interests, or subject to rogue/irresponsible government shenanigans (America and China, are you listening?), or sloppy 'bad science' driven water-use policies that leave this precious resource open to being taken hostage by the corporations/irresponsible governments with the results of water allocations being more apportioned to the most economically powerful and/or militarily powerful... These are the most pressing concerns for both individuals and the world's populations to be taking up now before it's too late.