Introduction to IWRM
D. Thalmeinerova
based upon GWP ToolBox resources
Local, Regional, National, Fluvial, Global
Ancient
1200 A.D.
1900
1990s
Future
Community
Basic management
of water quantity
Sectoral management
of water quantity and quality
institutional fragmentation
spatial fragmentation
local co-ordination
Integrated multifunctional use
river basin as unit
institutionalised cooperation
Multi-level Comprehensive Governance
Before we start….
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The basis of IWRM is that different uses of water are
interdependent
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Integrated management means that all the different uses of
water resources are considered together
WATER CYCLE
Driving forces on water resources
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Population growth: demands for more water and producing more waste
water and pollution
Urbanization: migration from rural to urban areas which increases the
current level of difficulty in water delivery and waste water treatment
Economic growth: mainly in developing countries with large populations
contributes to increased demand for economic activities
Globalization of trade: production is relocated to “labor-cheap” areas that
takes place without consideration for water resources
Climate variability: more intense floods and droughts increase vulnerability
of people
Climate change: increase uncertainty about water cycle regimes
IWRM concept is
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an empirical concept which is built up from the on-the-ground experience
of practitioners,
a flexible approach to water management that can adapt to diverse national
and local contexts,
thus
it is not a scientific theory that needs to be proved or disproved by scholars.
and (but)
it requires policy-makers to make judgments about which reforms and
measures, management tools and institutional arrangements are most
appropriate in a particular cultural, social, political, economic and
environmental context.
IWRM definition
IWRM is a process which promotes the
coordinated development and
management of water, land and related
resources, in order to maximize the
resultant economic and social welfare in
an equitable manner without
compromising the sustainability of vital
ecosystems.
GWP, TEC Background Paper No. 4:
Integrated Water Resources Management
IWRM:
What does it really mean?
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More coordinated development and management of:
– Land and water
– Surface water and ground water
– Upstream and downstream interests
Discussion questions:
Who should propose measures to protect against floods?
Who should bear a cost to implement measures to mitigate
floods?
Key water resources management functions
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Water allocation
Pollution control
Monitoring
Financial management
Flood and drought management
Information management
Basin planning
Stakeholder participation
IWRM
Manage water resources within a basin
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What about international basins?
What about large distances within a basin (with disparate communities and
institutions)?
How to manage a basin that has no monitoring network?
How to manage a basin where water supply and demand fluctuate both
intra-seasonally and inter-annually?
How to manage a basin where authorities have a little access to financial,
transport and technological capabilities?
Three pillars of IWRM
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Implementing IWRM process is a question of getting the “three
pillars” right:
1. Moving towards enabling environment of appropriate policies, strategies
and legislation
2. Putting in place the institutional framework (through which policies can be
implemented)
3. Setting up the management instruments required by these institutions to do
their job
CHANGE AREAS
CHANGES ARE MADE TO SEEK
Economic
Efficiency
Social Equity
TO REACH
SUSTAINABILITY
Environmental
Sustainability
Managing competing uses
Cross-sectoral integration
• Enabling
environment
• Institutions
• Management
instruments
Water for
people
Water for
food
Water for
nature
Water for
other
uses
Integrating across levels and sectors
National
Basin
Local
Energy
Fisheries
Envir
onme
nt
Agriculture
Water
Finance
Tourism
Industry
IWRM PRINCIPLES
• Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential to sustain
life, development and the environment.
• Water development and management should be based on a
participatory approach, involving users, planners and policymakers
at all levels.
• Women play a central part in the provision, management and safeguarding of water.
• Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and should
be recognized as an economic good as well as social good.
Dublin, 1992
IWRM Principles
• Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential to sustain
life, development and the environment.
Respecting the basin
IWRM Principles
• Water development and management should be based on a
participatory approach, involving users, planners and policymakers
at all levels.
Difficult to ensure “active involvement”
50
200
2 000
200 000
2 500 000
decision
work
participation
information
population
Pitfalls in putting IWRM into practice
Trying to establish management relations between too many
variables risks getting mired in complexity at the expense of
effectiveness.
When putting IWRM into
practice it’s important to
think strategically about
where and to what degree
coordination and new
management instruments
are necessary.
IWRM Principles
• Women play a central part
in the provision,
management and safeguarding of water
Source: The Economist
IWRM Principles
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Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and should be
recognized as an economic good as well as social good
– Water is becoming scarcer and its value rising
– Recognition that costs should be borne by those who benefit
Arguments for treating water as an
economic good:
Arguments for treating water as a
human right:
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Market-based approach will
ensure that people are better
stewards of water resources
Encourages conservation
Improves quality
Helps allocate water to maximize
benefits
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Ensures water for all
Helps set priorities of water policy
Focuses attention on resolving
water conflict
Helps safeguard other human
rights
Why IWRM?
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Globally accepted and makes good sense.
Key element in national water policy.
Incorporates social and environmental considerations directly into policy and
decision making.
Directly involves the stakeholders.
Is a tool for optimizing investments under tight financing climate.
Traditional
versus IWRM
approaches
…in order to understand better “integrated” approach…
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Traditional approach
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Integrated approach
– One sector
– Multi sectors
– Limited institutions involved
– Various institutions involved
– Decision making at one sector
– “collective” decision making
– Specific issues addressed
– Complex issues addressed
– Specific interests solved
– Overriding interests solved
– Sectoral allocation of funds
– National allocation of funds
In order to understand better “integrated” approach
Traditional approach:
Integrated approach:
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How will new investment be
agreed upon?
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How can local management
structures balance competing
uses?
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How will stakeholders negotiate
water rights in different conditions
of water availability (scarcity)?
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How will consumers respond to
periodic water shortages or to
increasing environmental
concerns?
Hydrological/hydraulic
– What is expected yield of the
catchment?
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Engineering
– How much water leaks from
the system?
– How can leakage be reduced?
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Management
– What is the economic level of
leakage?
Lessons learnt
Risks of fully sectoral approach
 Overlooking negative impacts on
environment and other sectors
 Inefficient use of resources—natural
and financial
Risks of fully integrated approach
Getting mired in complexity.
Not making good use of
specialist expertise.
Finding a balance
Integrate
d
approach
Each country needs
to decide where
integration makes
sense based on its
social, political and
hydrological
situation.
Sectoral
approac
h
The nature of IWRM: Lessons from IWRM in practice
How water is developed and managed must reflect country
priorities (including environmental standards) and governance
approaches.
Water management will not be
successful if it is set up as a
stand-alone system of
governance and administration,
separate to the rest of
government.
Examples: IWRM is linked to
key development issues
Key development issue
How IWRM helps
Example
Securing food production
Assists the efficient production of
food crops in irrigated
agriculture
FAO round table (2003, Rome)
agreed that all African
countries should improve
efficiency in irrigated
agriculture for food
production by adopting
IWRM approach
Reducing health risks
Better management of water
quality
UNECE Protocol on Water and
Health (2007) requires to set
health targets. Progress
towards IWRM has been
chosen as an indicator for
improved water management
Freshwater and coastal water
IWRM recognizes freshwater and
coastal zone as a continuum
Integrated Coastal Area and River
Basin Management (ICARM)
is endorsed by GWP as a basic
concept for the GEF projects
portfolio
Key development issue
How IWRM helps
Example
Mitigating disaster risks
Assists disaster
preparedness
WMO adopted IFM
approach within the
framework of IWRM in
2000
Planning transboundary
cooperation
Assists water management
of shared basins
ECOWAS adopted the West
African Regional Action
Plan for IWRM in 2000.
The IWRM is a
framework for
transboundary Niger,
Volta and Senegal rivers
Adapting to climate change Assist appropriate planning
of water use with better
resilience
IPCC emphasizes IWRM
approach that is based
on the concepts of
flexibility and
adaptability
Summary about IWRM: what we have learnt
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IWRM is linked to sustainable development
IWRM is not a one-size-fits-all prescription and cannot be applied as a
checklist of actions
IWRM is not a prescription but an iterative process and an adaptive
approach
IWRM implementation must reflect country priorities
Water management will not be successful if it is set up as a stand-alone
system of governance
IWRM includes both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ components
Lessons from IWRM in practice
IWRM is a means not an end. None of the successful case studies
analysed set out to achieve IWRM. Rather they set out to solve
particular water-related problems or achieve development goals by
looking at water holistically within larger physical and development
contexts.
Equity
Sustainability
Efficiency
IWRM