3.1 Five FIWs (Foundational Ideas About WUS)
29
particularly under both point and diffuse pollution sources, e.g., see Article 10 of
the European Water Framework Directive (European Parliament & Council 2000).
At times major water polluters are easy to detect, however enforcing an effective
‘polluter pays’ mechanism is rather complex.
Dealing with downstream pollution needs financial resources, technical expertise,
political will and social acceptance. To advance these needs is hard and can easily
fail, however solutions should be envisioned that show progress toward targets in a
learning and adaptive mode, which includes the active involvement of all the stakeholders, such as farmers, owners of industries, and urban planners/citizens. It is
not acceptable, morally and professionally, that, say after 10 to 15 years, the same
downstream problem persists.
FIW3c) Water pollution must be treated adequately for people and nature.
One of the most valuable features of systems is to produce (near) zero water pollution,
however this is impractical for almost all the WUSs, hence the critical need for
treatment, which requires expertise and investment. Much of the health problems
of the people of the world and nature is due to unsatisfactory water and wastewater
systems owing to the lack of infrastructures and proper management. First, it is of
vital importance to treat the water inflows that are destined for human use. Other
water needs of people for activities, such as agriculture, industries, urban green
zones, and water for cooling may adequately use water with lower degrees of quality.
Additionally, contamination harms the aquatic ecosystems, which in turn may harm
human beings, and consequently begs for wastewater treatment and decreasing the
use of harmful substances in human activities. Generally, downstream water quality
is a good indicator of the effectiveness of controlling water pollution in a WUS,
which is an important task of water managers.
Fourth FIW: Benefit
FIW4a) Water benefits should reveal multiple values and costs to all the stakeholders.
Bellagio Principles state “Valuing water means recognizing and considering all the
benefits provided by water that encompass economic, social and ecological dimensions” (UN-HLPW 2017). So benefits are not only economical but also reflect social
and natural dimensions of life including water equity, conservation and beautification. Benefits are net meaning that the costs of a water project should not be ignored.
Costs are crucial to any project and, at least considering all the stakeholders in water,
they should be analysed under a wider and deeper understanding than just economics,
including the costs of, for example, inequity, no conservation, and ignoring beautification. Sometimes water pricing is used to cover the costs and change behaviour
but it is not enough. Maximum water use for households, industries, commerce and
irrigation must be defined. Such policies are also very helpful in deciding on possible
developments in a region.
29
particularly under both point and diffuse pollution sources, e.g., see Article 10 of
the European Water Framework Directive (European Parliament & Council 2000).
At times major water polluters are easy to detect, however enforcing an effective
‘polluter pays’ mechanism is rather complex.
Dealing with downstream pollution needs financial resources, technical expertise,
political will and social acceptance. To advance these needs is hard and can easily
fail, however solutions should be envisioned that show progress toward targets in a
learning and adaptive mode, which includes the active involvement of all the stakeholders, such as farmers, owners of industries, and urban planners/citizens. It is
not acceptable, morally and professionally, that, say after 10 to 15 years, the same
downstream problem persists.
FIW3c) Water pollution must be treated adequately for people and nature.
One of the most valuable features of systems is to produce (near) zero water pollution,
however this is impractical for almost all the WUSs, hence the critical need for
treatment, which requires expertise and investment. Much of the health problems
of the people of the world and nature is due to unsatisfactory water and wastewater
systems owing to the lack of infrastructures and proper management. First, it is of
vital importance to treat the water inflows that are destined for human use. Other
water needs of people for activities, such as agriculture, industries, urban green
zones, and water for cooling may adequately use water with lower degrees of quality.
Additionally, contamination harms the aquatic ecosystems, which in turn may harm
human beings, and consequently begs for wastewater treatment and decreasing the
use of harmful substances in human activities. Generally, downstream water quality
is a good indicator of the effectiveness of controlling water pollution in a WUS,
which is an important task of water managers.
Fourth FIW: Benefit
FIW4a) Water benefits should reveal multiple values and costs to all the stakeholders.
Bellagio Principles state “Valuing water means recognizing and considering all the
benefits provided by water that encompass economic, social and ecological dimensions” (UN-HLPW 2017). So benefits are not only economical but also reflect social
and natural dimensions of life including water equity, conservation and beautification. Benefits are net meaning that the costs of a water project should not be ignored.
Costs are crucial to any project and, at least considering all the stakeholders in water,
they should be analysed under a wider and deeper understanding than just economics,
including the costs of, for example, inequity, no conservation, and ignoring beautification. Sometimes water pricing is used to cover the costs and change behaviour
but it is not enough. Maximum water use for households, industries, commerce and
irrigation must be defined. Such policies are also very helpful in deciding on possible
developments in a region.