and ensuring that poverty is not a barrier to reasonable access to clean water.
Responses to the needs of the poor will vary depending on the surroundings: The
needs of the poor in urban situations are quite different from those in rural areas,
where both demand and supply of water as a resource are guided by different
factors. The situation of poor women and children requires that policy makers find
ways to provide for at least minimum supply of clean water. Women are frequently
the “water managers” in the household, and difficulties in their efforts to ensure the
family’s water supply can become a barrier to opportunities for education and
employment. Control of the water supply has traditionally been a source of power
in many societies. Policy makers and practitioners need to be aware of the sensitivities of local custom, as well as traditional water rights, when attempting to
implement WDM strategies. Policy makers are also advised to look through the lens
of gender equity to achieve equality amongst the end users. Community participation in water management decision-making helps to ensure that the benefits of
WDM are understood and are widely accepted, which greatly increases the likelihood of success.
3. Environmental sustainability
No other region of the world has so many people striving so hard for economic
growth with so little water than the Asian region. While an average individual uses
only about 10 L of water per day, it is obvious that as populations grow and
lifestyles change that traditional water supply systems cannot cope with the
demands of modern life. The problem is not that India is inefficient in its use of
water, but rather that it has to be even more efficient if the region’s development is
to be sustainable. It is important to note that some water must be left in natural
watercourses (whether on the surface or underground) to protect the natural environment and to permit the environment to continue to provide services such as
waste purification, habitat protection and flood control.
At the same time, there is rapidly growing evidence of the effects that climate
change has on water availability. The region is particularly vulnerable and can
expect increased temperatures and reduced rainfall, according to the 2007 report of
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In the past, water management has generally been based on the assumption that climatic conditions
would remain more or less the same. Based on the IPCC evaluations, Governments
need to be prepared to re-evaluate their policies and institutions for the management of water resources. WDM is an effective strategy for adaptation to the current
challenge of water scarcity, and will become more so as climate change further
reduces the availability of water and land, and brings more heat waves and frequent
dust storms. Policies based on WDM strategies contribute to preparedness and
social resilience in the face of the challenges that lie ahead for the Governments
and people of the region.
Sustainable Urban Water Management Strategies
35
Responses to the needs of the poor will vary depending on the surroundings: The
needs of the poor in urban situations are quite different from those in rural areas,
where both demand and supply of water as a resource are guided by different
factors. The situation of poor women and children requires that policy makers find
ways to provide for at least minimum supply of clean water. Women are frequently
the “water managers” in the household, and difficulties in their efforts to ensure the
family’s water supply can become a barrier to opportunities for education and
employment. Control of the water supply has traditionally been a source of power
in many societies. Policy makers and practitioners need to be aware of the sensitivities of local custom, as well as traditional water rights, when attempting to
implement WDM strategies. Policy makers are also advised to look through the lens
of gender equity to achieve equality amongst the end users. Community participation in water management decision-making helps to ensure that the benefits of
WDM are understood and are widely accepted, which greatly increases the likelihood of success.
3. Environmental sustainability
No other region of the world has so many people striving so hard for economic
growth with so little water than the Asian region. While an average individual uses
only about 10 L of water per day, it is obvious that as populations grow and
lifestyles change that traditional water supply systems cannot cope with the
demands of modern life. The problem is not that India is inefficient in its use of
water, but rather that it has to be even more efficient if the region’s development is
to be sustainable. It is important to note that some water must be left in natural
watercourses (whether on the surface or underground) to protect the natural environment and to permit the environment to continue to provide services such as
waste purification, habitat protection and flood control.
At the same time, there is rapidly growing evidence of the effects that climate
change has on water availability. The region is particularly vulnerable and can
expect increased temperatures and reduced rainfall, according to the 2007 report of
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In the past, water management has generally been based on the assumption that climatic conditions
would remain more or less the same. Based on the IPCC evaluations, Governments
need to be prepared to re-evaluate their policies and institutions for the management of water resources. WDM is an effective strategy for adaptation to the current
challenge of water scarcity, and will become more so as climate change further
reduces the availability of water and land, and brings more heat waves and frequent
dust storms. Policies based on WDM strategies contribute to preparedness and
social resilience in the face of the challenges that lie ahead for the Governments
and people of the region.
Sustainable Urban Water Management Strategies
35