26
3 Theory
easy to identify and understand by non-specialists. For example, the data presented
should clearly demonstrate inflows, outflows (i.e., all the WPIs) and their balance
(FIW1a). The quality and benefits attached to each WPI should be easily recognisable.
Transparency is crucial because the data of the three Pillars are very complex
and sometimes not directly measurable. However, lack of measured data must not
be the cause of eliminating a particular WPI. The accuracy of the data for each WPI
should be reasonable in accordance with a proper combination of measured data, local
knowledge, and expert estimate. Sometimes one of these three sources of data is not
available and should be promoted. For measurable data, utilizing Information and
Communication Technologies (e.g., sensors and intelligent systems) can go a long
way to increase the amount of data and hence the accuracy of the final decisions. Local
knowledge is important and should be discovered through direct involvement of the
stakeholders. Expert estimates should be precautionary and consider comprehensive
and integrated solutions to water rather than focussing on other specific aspects such
as economic, ecosystem, health, food, land, or construction.
FIW1c) All the stakeholders of each inflow and outflow must be enabled to effectively
participate in its management.
Each of the inflows and outflows of a WUS, i.e., all of its WPIs, has various stakeholders. Each stakeholder should choose its WPIs of interest including their quality
and benefit, and inform the decision makers. So the phrase “all the stakeholders” in
FIWs means the totality of the stakeholders that have shown interest in a particular
WPI. The active involvement of stakeholders in decision making must be ensured
through a transparent, independent and free process. Institutions of water management should devise an adaptive and autonomous reporting and monitoring of stakeholder involvement. In this process, all the stakeholders should be enabled to participate. Examples of stakeholders are urban, irrigation, industry, river, aquifer, delta,
downstream, and other special groups, such as marginalized and (water) poor people.
Furthermore, important concerns, such as the precautionary principle and minimization of environmental harm, should be properly handled by ensuring active involvement of stakeholders that defend them. In the final analysis, it is the responsibility
of water institutions with the full cooperation of the water companies to secure the
active involvement of all the stakeholders. In doing so, fairness, impartiality and
transparency will increase, promoting the trust and confidence of the stakeholders in
sharing their data truthfully, which makes water management more robust.
Second FIW: Consumption
FIW2a) Inflows into a WUS become consumptive and non-consumptive outflows
(binary state).
Inflow into a WUS makes water available for its services, which in turn becomes
outflow according to water balance. The amount of the outflow that becomes unavailable to the same WUS for reuse in a time interval is called water consumption. In
other words, a fraction of the water applied to any WUS becomes water consumption,
such as, crop evapotranspiration (ET), reservoir evaporation, water transfers out of
3 Theory
easy to identify and understand by non-specialists. For example, the data presented
should clearly demonstrate inflows, outflows (i.e., all the WPIs) and their balance
(FIW1a). The quality and benefits attached to each WPI should be easily recognisable.
Transparency is crucial because the data of the three Pillars are very complex
and sometimes not directly measurable. However, lack of measured data must not
be the cause of eliminating a particular WPI. The accuracy of the data for each WPI
should be reasonable in accordance with a proper combination of measured data, local
knowledge, and expert estimate. Sometimes one of these three sources of data is not
available and should be promoted. For measurable data, utilizing Information and
Communication Technologies (e.g., sensors and intelligent systems) can go a long
way to increase the amount of data and hence the accuracy of the final decisions. Local
knowledge is important and should be discovered through direct involvement of the
stakeholders. Expert estimates should be precautionary and consider comprehensive
and integrated solutions to water rather than focussing on other specific aspects such
as economic, ecosystem, health, food, land, or construction.
FIW1c) All the stakeholders of each inflow and outflow must be enabled to effectively
participate in its management.
Each of the inflows and outflows of a WUS, i.e., all of its WPIs, has various stakeholders. Each stakeholder should choose its WPIs of interest including their quality
and benefit, and inform the decision makers. So the phrase “all the stakeholders” in
FIWs means the totality of the stakeholders that have shown interest in a particular
WPI. The active involvement of stakeholders in decision making must be ensured
through a transparent, independent and free process. Institutions of water management should devise an adaptive and autonomous reporting and monitoring of stakeholder involvement. In this process, all the stakeholders should be enabled to participate. Examples of stakeholders are urban, irrigation, industry, river, aquifer, delta,
downstream, and other special groups, such as marginalized and (water) poor people.
Furthermore, important concerns, such as the precautionary principle and minimization of environmental harm, should be properly handled by ensuring active involvement of stakeholders that defend them. In the final analysis, it is the responsibility
of water institutions with the full cooperation of the water companies to secure the
active involvement of all the stakeholders. In doing so, fairness, impartiality and
transparency will increase, promoting the trust and confidence of the stakeholders in
sharing their data truthfully, which makes water management more robust.
Second FIW: Consumption
FIW2a) Inflows into a WUS become consumptive and non-consumptive outflows
(binary state).
Inflow into a WUS makes water available for its services, which in turn becomes
outflow according to water balance. The amount of the outflow that becomes unavailable to the same WUS for reuse in a time interval is called water consumption. In
other words, a fraction of the water applied to any WUS becomes water consumption,
such as, crop evapotranspiration (ET), reservoir evaporation, water transfers out of