SEARCHING SOLUTIONS TO
WATER ISSUES:
WATER GOVERNANCE
PROF. AYSEGUL TANIK
Istanbul Technical University, Dpt. of Environmental
Engineering, TURKEY
Regional Workshop on
“Water Resources Management: Needs & Prospects”
APRIL 22, 2013 Land Mark Hotel, Amman, Jordan
WATER GOVERNANCE
Global Water Partnership (GWP) Definition:
The range of political, social, economic and administrative systems that
are in place to develop and manage water resources, and the delivery
of water services, at different levels of society.
 International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Definition:
Water governance is a trans-disciplinary field, which explores how water
management policies and practices are formed and changed over time.
 United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Definition:
Water governance includes political, economic and social processes and
institutions through which governments, private sector and civil society
make decisions about how best to use, allocate, develop and manage
water resources.
Good water governance is a precondition for implementing holistic,
integrated water management strategies that balance sometimes
competing needs for environmental sustainability, economic growth,
and equity in access.

THE MACHINERY OF AN INSTITUTION
WATER INSTITUTIONS, the configurations of various legal, policy
and organizational elements involved in water development,
allocation, ownership, use, and management, are components of
water governance and form water governance capacity of countries.
WATER GOVERNANCE




Water Governance Capacity is a nation’s level of
competence
to
implement
effective
water
management through policies, laws, organizations,
regulations and compliance mechanisms.
Without clear policy… it is difficult to establish coherent
laws.
Without clear laws… it is difficult for organizations
(agencies) to know how to operate.
Without
effective
organizations
(agencies)…
implementation and enforcement will be lax.
WATER GOVERNANCE DIMENSIONS
Equitable Use
Sustainable Use
WATER
GOVERNANCE
Efficient Use
Equal Democratic Opportunities
POLITICAL DIMENSION
ECONOMIC DIMENSION
ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSION
SOCIAL DIMENSION
WATER GOVERNANCE DIMENSIONS




The social dimension points to the equitable use of water resources.
The economic dimension informs on efficient use of water resources
and the role of water in overall economic growth.
The political dimension points to granting water stakeholders and
citizens at large equal democratic opportunities to influence and
monitor political processes and outcomes.
The environmental sustainability dimension shows that improved
governance allows for enhanced sustainable use of water resources
and ecosystem integrity.
EFFECTIVE WATER GOVERNANCE WOULD SEEK A GOOD
BALANCE AMONG THESE FOUR DIMENSIONS.
PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE WATER
GOVERNANCE
Coherent
and
Integrative
Equitable
and Ethical
Inclusive
WATER
GOVERNANCE
Accountable
Efficient
Open and
Transparent
Responsive
and
Sustainable
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER
GOVERNANCE IN FRANCE

1898 Water Law: The basis of the legal system concerning water in France.

1964 Water Law: Organization of water management at the river basin scale.


For organizing dialogue and sharing of responsibilities among stakeholders,
an advisory body (the Basin Committee) and an executive organization (the
Water Agency) were created in 6 large river basins.
1992 Water Law: Adoption of Integrated Water Resources Management
approach.

Introduction of two planning tools on basin scale: the Master Plan for Water
Development and Management (SDAGE) for large basin, the Water
Development and Management Scheme (SAGE) for sub-basins.

2004 Law: Transposing of the EU Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) into
national legislation.

2009: Published first-generation River Basin Management Plans prepared in
accordance with EU WFD.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER
GOVERNANCE IN SPAIN

1866-1879 Water Laws

1926: Creation of River Basin Confederations (The Confederaciones
Hidrograficas) to group all major water users of each river basin, and to
allocate the water resources made available by major hydraulic engineering
works.

1985 Water Law: Adoption
Management approach.


of
Integrated
Water
Resources
Re-organizing of River Basin Confederations for development and
management of water resources at the basin scale in an integrative
manner. Consolidation of the institutional role of the River Basin
Confederations, definition of a model of co-decision making in which
direct water users and interested administrations have had an active
role in all water planning and management at basin level.
2009: Published first-generation River Basin Management Plans
prepared in accordance with EU WFD.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER
GOVERNANCE IN ENGLAND - WALES

1876 Prevention of River Pollution Law

1945 Water Law

1948 River Associations Law: First step to management of water
resources at the river basin scale: 32 River Boards were established with
administrative responsibility for the pollution control functions previously
provided by the local authorities.

1963 Water Resources Act: 27 River Authorities were established, each
with a role to conserve, redistribute and augment water resources in England
and Wales on a regional basis. The River Authorities replaced the river
boards established under the River Boards Act 1948.

1973 Water Act: Establishment of Water Authorities: 10 Water
Authorities, established based on the 10 major river basins in England and
Wales, replaced the river authorities established under the Water Resources
Act 1963.
The 1973 Act gave statutory responsibility for all aspects of water
management to each water authority in its region. Thus, river basin
management approach was adopted.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER
GOVERNANCE IN ENGLAND - WALES

1989 Water Act: Privatization of Water Authorities: It transformed the
existing 10 Water Authorities into the new Water and Sewerage Companies
and appointed them as the undertakers for their regions. It also provided for
the Secretary of State for the Environment to have overall responsibility for
regulation of drinking water quality, provided for the National Rivers
Authority to manage pollution and environmental control and defined the
duties of the Director General of Water Services (OFWAT) as the economic
regulator.
Environment Agency replaced the National Rivers Authority in 1995.
Now, Environment Agency is responsible for co-ordination of the integrated
river basin management in accordance with EU WFD.

2009: Published first-generation River Basin Management Plans
prepared in accordance with EU WFD.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER
GOVERNANCE IN AUSTRALIA

1900-1980 (Development Phase): Dam building for drought and flood
control.

1994: Council of Australian Governments Water Reform Agreement:

The key components of the agreement are improving water quality and
environment, refining water rights system and water allocation
procedures, pricing water through independent review and promoting
community participation.
Water Reform Agreement was paralleled by growing awareness of river
basin management, establishment of river basin (catchments)
organizations in some states like Virginia, New South Wales, South
Australia, Tasmania and involvement of community groups and
committees in development of river basin management plans.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER
GOVERNANCE IN AUSTRALIA

2007 Federal Water Law: Establishment of the Murray-Darling Basin
Authority for the integrated river basin management in Murray-Darling
Basin

Murray-Darling River, most important water resource of Australia,
straddles from four states, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria,
South Australia and Australian Capital Territory.
The Act gives the Commonwealth additional powers over state water
planning, including the establishment of the Murray-Darling Basin
Authority.

2004: Council of Australian Governments National Water Initiative

National Water Initiative is the national blueprint for water reform. The
NWI is a shared commitment by governments to increase the efficiency
of Australia's water use.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER
GOVERNANCE IN TURKEY

1923-1980

1923: Foundation of Republic of Turkey.

1936: Establishment of the General Directorate of Electrical Power Resources Survey
and Development Administration (EIEI).

1939: Establishment of the Directorate of Water Works affiliated to Ministry of Public
Works.

1953: Establishment of General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI).

1950s: Focusing socio-economic development based on the development of land and
water resources and supply-oriented water policies, starting to construction of large
dams and irrigation canals.

1961: Establishment of the State Planning Organization, a central planning body,
beginning of the arrangement of the public investments in the water sector through the
national five-year development plans: major water infrastructure such as irrigation
systems, storage facilities and multi- and single purpose dams (for e.g. Hydroelectricity
generation) was state-financed and state-managed.

1970s: Acceleration of the development of the country’s hydropower potential with the
oil crises.

1970s: Increasing of environmental problems and establishment of Under secretariat of
Environment of Prime Ministry, responsible for the coordination of activities related to
environment.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER
GOVERNANCE IN TURKEY

1980-1999

Supply-oriented water policies and sectoral water management.

Increasing of environmental problems.
1981: Establishment of new organizational models which link water and
wastewater management with the establishment of the Istanbul Water and
Sewage Administration (ISKI).
1983: Enactment of Environment Law.
1988: By-Law for Water Pollution Control.
1991: Establishment of the Ministry of Environment.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER GOVERNANCE IN
TURKEY

1999-2013
1999: Declaration of Turkey as a candidate country to EU.

Supply-oriented water policies and sectoral water management.

Increase of environmental problems.

Pilot Projects aiming at EU WFD harmonization in Turkey

Legislation changes done in order to move Turkish water legislation to that of
the Union’s.
2003: Establishment of Ministry of Environment and Forestry with merging of
Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Forestry.
2007: Combining water quality and quantity management under same Ministry
with the attachment of DSI to Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
2009: Opening of the Environment Chapter of EU Negotiations.

Definition of the River Basins in accordance with EU requirements.

Beginning of the preparation of the River Basin Protection Action Plans in
order to provide a basis for River Basin Management Plans obligated by EU
WFD.
2011: Fragmentation of the water quality and quantity management with the
establishment of two new Ministries; Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning
25 RIVER BASINS OF TURKEY
MAIN CHALLENGES OF WATER SECTOR IN TURKEY
1- WATER QUANTITY PROBLEMS
2- WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
3- IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT
4- AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
5- NEGLIGANCE OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
AND LAND USE PLANNING
6- DEFICIENCIES OF MONITORING SYSTEM AND INCOMPLETE DATA
7- LEGAL ISSUES
8- ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
9- CHALLENGE OF TRANSPOSING AND IMPLEMENTING ALL ELEMENTS OF THE EU
WFD
MAIN CHALLENGES OF TURKEY WATER SECTOR

Water issues that Turkey faces today are largely derived due to lack of
good and efficient governance.

Organizational structure for water resources management is highly
centralized.

Stakeholder participation in decision-making process is at a low
level.

The lack of a comprehensive water law,
fragmentation of the institutional framework,
complexity of coordination mechanisms are the other major
challenges in the Turkish water sector.
PROPOSED ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR GOOD WATER
GOVERNANCE IN TURKEY
THANKS FOR YOUR
ATTENTION…