No doubt. IWRM as a concept is gaining currency given the need for efficient water resource management to bridge the gap between water supply and demand. There is a near consensus towards adopting basin as a unit of planning for operationalising the concept of IWRM. However the key challenges towards operationalising IWRM are the following: Willingness of Institutions and the political will to bring in institutional reforms in water sector and reaching a consensus on role clarity Willingness of WSS sector to ne integral part of IWRM component and not a stand alone Integration of environmental objectives, combining quality, ecological and quantity objectives for protecting highly valuable aquatic ecosystems and ensuring a general good status of other waters Integration of all water resources, combining fresh surface water and groundwater bodies, wetlands, coastal water resources at the river basin scale; Integration of all water uses, functions and values into a common policy framework, i.e. investigating water for the environment, water for health and human consumption, water for economic sectors, transport, leisure, water as a social good; Integration of disciplines, analyses and expertise, combining hydrology, hydraulics, ecology, chemistry, soil sciences, technology engineering and economics to assess current pressures and impacts on water resources and identify measures for achieving the environmental objectives of the Directive in the most cost-effective manner; Integration of water legislation into a common and coherent framework. The requirements of some old water legislation (e.g. Ground & surface water laws and environmental policy guidelines/laws ) Other pieces of legislation (Urban Wastewater Treatment guidelines must be co-ordinated in river basin management plans where they form the basis of the programmes of measures Integration of all significant management and ecological aspects relevant to sustainable river basin planning including those which are beyond the scope of the Water Framework Directive such as flood protection and prevention; Integration of a wide range of measures, including pricing and economic and financial instruments, in a common management approach for achieving the environmental objectives of the Directive. Programmes of measures are defined in River Basin Management Plans developed for each river basin district; Integration of stakeholders and the civil society in decision making, by promoting transparency and information to the public, and by offering an unique opportunity for involving stakeholders in the development of river basin management plans; Integration of different decision-making levels that influence water resources and water status, be local, regional or national, for an effective management of all waters; Integration of water management from different sectors for river basins shared by several districts A clear focus, on ecological component based on a freshwater eco-regional assessment to establish a scientifically based, shared vision in the basin planning process stand to qualify as a "Good practice" in addition to the need for a meaningful socio-economic analyses to understand the drivers behind water uses and the bottom line is periodic update of reliable Information base. This does not mean measuring everything all the time, but rather carrying out a strategic, targeted and integrated programme, the results of which can be used to inform and adjust management decisions. However, what is critical for successful initiating and concluding basin planning process and basin plan preparation is good scientific information system, good data management and sharing. In particular, an understanding of freshwater ecosystems and key hydrological and ecological processes is essential and should be used to decide on all aspects of integrated basin management Conclusion Integrated water resources management, if it is to be done successfully, must focus on transparent mechanisms for: sharing, Protecting and, Supplying, the scarce water resources, through: a) Clear, non-overlapping institutional arrangements b) a strong knowledge of natural resources issues and c) Integration across institutions, policies, strategies for all aspects of natural resources d) Strong community participation and with a clear separation of the roles ofa) Regulator, standard setter and auditor b) Resource manager and c) Operator & service provider
Taxonomy
- Water Resource Management
- Water Management
- Ecosystem