2
1 Introduction
attention into logically, clearly and comprehensively defining the relevant words used
in this book. This way, a reader can pursue the ideas and examples without ambiguity,
and, hopefully, with less criticism. To continue, let us look at the word ‘management’
in the title of the book, and briefly explain its relationship with two other important
words, viz.: security and governance.
1.1 Water Security, Governance or Management
There are strong associations between these three concepts. Water security is relatively new and has a working definition “as the capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water for
sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, and socio-economic development, for
ensuring protection against water-borne pollution and water-related disasters, and for
preserving ecosystems in a climate of peace and political stability” (UN-Water 2013).
This and other water-related definitions and procedures are about three fundamental
Pillars, vis.: water quantity, water quality and water benefits, i.e., having adequate
quantities of water with suitable qualities to promote livelihood, health, economic
and peace. This last item—peace - probably is the distinguishing feature between
security and the other two words, and is largely depend on the social contract theory
touched in Chap. 5. Anyhow, the concept of three Pillars is significant for the progress
of the ideas of this book as presented in Fig. 1.1 for better visualization. Furthermore,
“sustainable access” in the above definition is to some extent about equity that we
will cover in Chap. 5.
Another word is about management of the three water Pillars, which is the focus
of this book. To manage is “to work upon or try to alter for a purpose” within the
process of conducting or supervising (Merriam-Webster Dictionary 2018) a water
system. The alteration process (e.g., allocation, protection, development) is mostly
Water Security
Water Governance
Water Management
Stakeholders
Quantity
Quality
Benefit
Fig. 1.1 The three pillars of water management
1 Introduction
attention into logically, clearly and comprehensively defining the relevant words used
in this book. This way, a reader can pursue the ideas and examples without ambiguity,
and, hopefully, with less criticism. To continue, let us look at the word ‘management’
in the title of the book, and briefly explain its relationship with two other important
words, viz.: security and governance.
1.1 Water Security, Governance or Management
There are strong associations between these three concepts. Water security is relatively new and has a working definition “as the capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water for
sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, and socio-economic development, for
ensuring protection against water-borne pollution and water-related disasters, and for
preserving ecosystems in a climate of peace and political stability” (UN-Water 2013).
This and other water-related definitions and procedures are about three fundamental
Pillars, vis.: water quantity, water quality and water benefits, i.e., having adequate
quantities of water with suitable qualities to promote livelihood, health, economic
and peace. This last item—peace - probably is the distinguishing feature between
security and the other two words, and is largely depend on the social contract theory
touched in Chap. 5. Anyhow, the concept of three Pillars is significant for the progress
of the ideas of this book as presented in Fig. 1.1 for better visualization. Furthermore,
“sustainable access” in the above definition is to some extent about equity that we
will cover in Chap. 5.
Another word is about management of the three water Pillars, which is the focus
of this book. To manage is “to work upon or try to alter for a purpose” within the
process of conducting or supervising (Merriam-Webster Dictionary 2018) a water
system. The alteration process (e.g., allocation, protection, development) is mostly
Water Security
Water Governance
Water Management
Stakeholders
Quantity
Quality
Benefit
Fig. 1.1 The three pillars of water management