78
5 Sequity (Sustainable Equity)
go into advancing toward and finally achieving M1 = M2. After establishing this
equality, all the water arrangements at least have equality as defined at the beginning
of this paragraph. Let us see in terms of segments:
• Sg34 has equality, because none of its systems operates below the Min threshold.
• Sg11 must, at least, establish numerical equality at Amin threshold.
• Sg13 must go toward equality by water reallocation in order to get to Sg23.
• Sg23 achieves equality in reaching Sg33.
• Sg12 should go toward equality in reaching Sg22.
Equality does not mean uniformity. Actually it is impossible to produce such
a condition of uniformity because of the enormous diversity in human behaviour,
characteristics and environment. However, “The Pigou-Dalton principle of transfers
says that inequality decreases (or social welfare increases) when an even transfer is
made from a richer to a poorer individual without reversing their pairwise ranking”
(Fleurbaey 2016). For more information on this principle, the reader can also refer to
Sen (1992). This principle also applies to water, which particularly presents higher
positive impacts for the segments below the Min threshold. It should be noted that
in this book there are three meanings in transferring water. First is allocation, which
is transferring new water from a source to a member, second is about reallocation
that can happen from M1 to M2, and the third is stopping allocation, i.e., ending the
abstraction of water from a source and leaving it in nature. If a segment is operating
under the condition of numerical equality, to improve its situation the policy must
maintain equality while moving towards better Targets, e.g., from A to B.
Finally, there is the objection that “a policy of attainment equality would lead to
a very ‘low level equality‘ for all” (Sen, 1992). Then he goes on to state that there is
“some force in that objection, but it would have been a more telling counterargument
had equality been the only principle to be used.” And this is the situation in the
theory presented in this book, which includes the principle of equality. Additionally,
water management must consider other laws (e.g., the law of water balance) and
principles (e.g., the principle of the water conservation) and apply them all together
in a coherent, consistent and efficient manner.
5.3.2 Conservation
Conservation is “for avoiding the unnecessary use of natural materials such as wood,
water, or fuel” (Cambridge Dictionary 2019a), hence essential for sustainable development. In this definition, “unnecessary” is the keyword and as related to water equity
in this chapter, conservation promotes reallocation in order to make water abundance
non-existent. This means that no member should operate above the Max threshold,
avoiding the categories of Water Abundance and Extreme Water Abundance.
Indeed achieving equality is more urgent than implementing conservation.
However, in many situations, particularly those under water scarcity, the implementation of equality depends on conservation measurements in order to release water to
5 Sequity (Sustainable Equity)
go into advancing toward and finally achieving M1 = M2. After establishing this
equality, all the water arrangements at least have equality as defined at the beginning
of this paragraph. Let us see in terms of segments:
• Sg34 has equality, because none of its systems operates below the Min threshold.
• Sg11 must, at least, establish numerical equality at Amin threshold.
• Sg13 must go toward equality by water reallocation in order to get to Sg23.
• Sg23 achieves equality in reaching Sg33.
• Sg12 should go toward equality in reaching Sg22.
Equality does not mean uniformity. Actually it is impossible to produce such
a condition of uniformity because of the enormous diversity in human behaviour,
characteristics and environment. However, “The Pigou-Dalton principle of transfers
says that inequality decreases (or social welfare increases) when an even transfer is
made from a richer to a poorer individual without reversing their pairwise ranking”
(Fleurbaey 2016). For more information on this principle, the reader can also refer to
Sen (1992). This principle also applies to water, which particularly presents higher
positive impacts for the segments below the Min threshold. It should be noted that
in this book there are three meanings in transferring water. First is allocation, which
is transferring new water from a source to a member, second is about reallocation
that can happen from M1 to M2, and the third is stopping allocation, i.e., ending the
abstraction of water from a source and leaving it in nature. If a segment is operating
under the condition of numerical equality, to improve its situation the policy must
maintain equality while moving towards better Targets, e.g., from A to B.
Finally, there is the objection that “a policy of attainment equality would lead to
a very ‘low level equality‘ for all” (Sen, 1992). Then he goes on to state that there is
“some force in that objection, but it would have been a more telling counterargument
had equality been the only principle to be used.” And this is the situation in the
theory presented in this book, which includes the principle of equality. Additionally,
water management must consider other laws (e.g., the law of water balance) and
principles (e.g., the principle of the water conservation) and apply them all together
in a coherent, consistent and efficient manner.
5.3.2 Conservation
Conservation is “for avoiding the unnecessary use of natural materials such as wood,
water, or fuel” (Cambridge Dictionary 2019a), hence essential for sustainable development. In this definition, “unnecessary” is the keyword and as related to water equity
in this chapter, conservation promotes reallocation in order to make water abundance
non-existent. This means that no member should operate above the Max threshold,
avoiding the categories of Water Abundance and Extreme Water Abundance.
Indeed achieving equality is more urgent than implementing conservation.
However, in many situations, particularly those under water scarcity, the implementation of equality depends on conservation measurements in order to release water to