The United Integrated Water Resources

Nations
World Water Management in Action
Assessment
Jan Hassing, Niels Ipsen, Torkil Jønch Clausen,
Programme Henrik Larsen and Palle Lindgaard-Jørgensen
DIALOGUE PAPER

Jointly prepared by DHI Water Policy and

Dialogue Paper UNEP-DHI Centre for Water and Environment
Side publications series
World Water Assessment Programme

United Nations

 
 

Cultural Organization
 Integrated Water
Table of Contents Resources Management
(IWRM) in Action
Introduction 1 Jan Hassing, Niels Ipsen, Torkil Jønch Clausen,
Henrik Larsen, Palle Lindgaard-Jørgensen
1. Linking to key development issues 1
Jointly prepared by DHI Water Policy and
UNEP-DHI Centre for Water and Environment
2. Using common sense and clear
language 3

3. Changing ways of thinking 4

5. Monitoring progress 6
Introduction
6. Challenges in the practical application 6 This paper sets out to explore some of the practical aspects of
the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management
(IWRM). The presentation has the following flow:
7. Implementation takes time and
trade-offs are required 7 1. The relevance of IWRM for a number of key development
issues
8. Top-down and bottom-up processes 2. The key characteristics of the concept
go hand in hand 7
3. The global status of IWRM
9. The practical application of IWRM 4. Practical implementation – the challenges
principles as examples of good practices 8 5. Practical implementation – case studies showing successful
applications to problematic management scenarios
10. IWRM roadmapping towards the
6. How IWRM programmes are being linked with the Mil-
MDGs and beyond 9 lennium Development Goals (MDGs) and adaptation to
climate change by the setting of achievement milestones
Annex 1
Examples of countries that have
adopted IWRM as a key concept 11
1. Linking to key development issues
A number of factors – or drivers – put pressure on water
Annex 2 resources and affect the options and requirements for water
Water and the Millennium management. These are mainly socio-economic drivers but they
Development Goals (MDGs) 13 also include less controllable factors such as climate change.

Annex 3 Population growth is a very important driver, creating demands

Global IWRM indicators based on milestones for more water and producing additional wastewater and pol-
towards achieving the MDGs 14 lution. It is estimated that the world’s population will increase
by about three billion people by 2050 – that’s an increase of
Annex 4 almost 50 per cent. The vast majority of this growth will take
place in developing countries, with all the challenges that car-
Examples of good practice in IWRM 16
ries in terms of investment needs for water supply and waste-
water treatment. In urban areas, the situation is compounded
by the expected continued migration from rural to urban areas,
which increases the current level of difficulty in securing and
protecting water resources, especially for the urban poor. Also,
other migrants (for example environmental refugees, who
sometimes move because of water problems) may contribute
to an unsustainable pressure on water resources in order to
survive in their new destinations, be they urban or rural.

The strong and sustained economic growth in many develop-

ing or middle-income countries with large populations (such
as Brazil, China and India) has itself contributed to increased
pressure on water resources. One of the changes in lifestyle
typically associated with increased wealth is an increased
 Table 1

Key development Examples of how IWRM links to Examples of the adoption of IWRM as a factor in addressing
issues the key development issue development issues
Adapting to climate change Assists appropriate planning of water The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emphasizes the
use, conservation, and the protection goal of achieving ‘sustainable’ water resources management through
of surface-water and ground-water with IWRM. Land and water governance are seen as important components.
better resilience and/or larger safety The adoption of management measures that are robust to uncertainty is
margins essential. IWRM is useful in this respect because it is based on the concepts
of flexibility and adaptability.
Mitigating disaster risks Assists disaster preparedness The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) adopted an Integrated
(e.g. floods and droughts) Flood Management (IFM) approach within the framework of IWRM and
formed the Associate Programme on Flood Management (APFM) in
November 2000. The Global Water Partnership helped to establish the
APFM and is a close partner.
Securing food production Assists the efficient production of food The African ministers round-table discussion on sustainable food security
crops in irrigated agriculture was held in parallel with the 32nd United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) Conference in December 2003 in Rome. The round-
table group agreed that all African countries should improve efficiency
in irrigated agriculture for food production by adopting an integrated
approach to water management.
Reducing health risks Reduces health risks in particular The UNECE1 Water Convention’s Protocol on Water and Health came into
through the management of water force in 2007. The protocol requires countries to set health targets and
quality establish measures for improved water management in order to reach
targets. Progress towards IWRM has been chosen as an indicator for
improved water management.
Sustaining a healthy aquatic Supports the maintenance of Under its 2007 water policy and strategy, the UNEP2 freshwater programme
environment environmental flows and ecological promotes and assists ecosystem management to be an integral part of
reserves national and regional IWRM reform processes. Allocation of minimum flows
for ecosystems (environmental flow) is strongly promoted by the IUCN3 and
can be considered as a component of the IWRM framework.
Collaboration in the Advances the management of Integrated Coastal Area and River Basin Management (ICARM) links
management of freshwater freshwater and the coastal zone as a IWRM and coastal zone management. ICARM is endorsed by the Global
and coastal water continuum Environmental Facility (GEF) as a basic concept for the GEF International
Waters project portfolio. Similarly, the mainstreaming of coastal zone
protective actions in national IWRM processes is a strategy adopted by the
member countries of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of
the Marine Environment (GPA).
Ensuring sustainable water Assists in giving a cross-sectoral view of Lack of appropriate and integrated water resources management
infrastructure water development and a multipurpose development plans can be very costly when it comes to investments in
infrastructure infrastructure. Adequate cross-sectoral co-ordination, a sound scientific
knowledge base, capacity assessment, water allocation mechanisms,
environmental regulations, etc. are key to preventing investment failures
or sub-optimal economic and financial cost recovery. This is acknowledged
by the World Commission on Dams which provides twenty-six guiding
principles. A subset of these principles reflects key areas of the IWRM concept.
Moreover, the Bank-Netherlands Water Partnership Program (BNWPP) aims
at supporting countries in IWRM prior to or in parallel with larger hydraulic
infrastructural development.
Collaboration in the Advances the management of land The Mekong River Commission (MRC) emphasizes the co-ordinated
management of land and and water by considering their mutual management of land and water through their adopted IWRM Strategy.
water impacts This strategy is currently being followed-up through the Basin
Development Plan (BDP 2) prepared collaboratively by Laos, Cambodia,
Viet Nam and Thailand – where water and land are of key strategic
importance for the economy.
Planning transboundary Assists water management with the Heads of state and government in the Region of the Economic Community
collaboration catchment as the management unit, of West African States (ECOWAS) adopted the West African Regional
irrespective of whether it is within Action Plan for IWRM. This plan endorses IWRM as a framework for the
national boundaries or shared between management of the region’s water resources including, among others, the
two or more countries transboundary Niger, Volta and Senegal rivers. The adoption took place in
Bamako, Mali in December 2000.

Managing the water-energy Addresses the link between water and Along with the vast quantities of water that are abstracted and consumed
relationship energy during energy production, the massive amounts of electricity required for
the conveyance, treatment and application of water in various circumstances
is an issue of growing concern. This is particularly true in situations where
there is growing competition for limited water resources and/or climatic
changes are altering the timing and availability of water. While this is a
1  UNECE – The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe comparatively new topic on the global agenda, it is already recognized that
2  UNEP – The United Nations Environment Programme IWRM offers ways of making balanced management decisions.
3  IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature

2 THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME: SIDE PUBLICATIONS SERIES
 2. Using common sense and clear language

demand for meat, which has a much larger virtual The emergence of the concept is one of the results
water content1 than vegetarian food. The general of a search for a new water management paradigm.
trend towards consumerism that’s associated with Faced with increasing water scarcity, pollution,
increased wealth is likely to lead to a larger water climate change, and fractioned and isolated sectoral
footprint per capita because of the virtual water water management practices, the water community
content of most commodities. contributed useful principles and noted which
links they saw as essential for more efficient and
Another economic driver, the globalization of trad- sustainable water resources management. These links
ing goods and services, provides opportunities but and principles were placed in a societal framework
also adds to the pressure on water resources. Water- together with the goals of economic efficiency,
stressed countries can reduce their stress by import- social equity and the sustainability of ecosystems.
ing water-intensive goods and services, but very In preparation for the Rio Summit, the four Dublin
often, this issue is not addressed. The relocation of Principles were agreed upon by nearly 500 govern-
production and employment to cheaper areas is often ment-designated experts from 100 countries who
driven solely by economic considerations. But it assembled at the International Conference on Water
shifts the issues of increased water consumption and and the Environment in Dublin in January 1992.
water pollution to more vulnerable areas that may
be eager to satisfy demands for jobs and economic
development. Such shifts often take place without
Box 1 Key principles in IWRM –
The Dublin Principles
proper consideration for water resources issues.
• Freshwater is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential
As indicated, many development issues are dependent to sustain life, development and the environment
on water resources. This applies, in particular to the
way in which water resources are managed. In addi- • Water development and management should be based
tion to the links mentioned above, water manage- on a participatory approach involving users, planners
ment, in its many different dimensions, is also crucial and policy makers at all levels
for the achievement of the Millenium Development
• Women play a central part in the provision, manage-
Goals (MDGs). (For more detail on this, see Annex 2).
ment and safeguarding of water

Water management that follows the principles of • Water has an economic value in all its competing uses
IWRM has been recognized and adopted by key and should be recognized as an economic good
players in a very wide cross-section of sectors. IWRM
has for instance been adopted for its importance in The International Conference on Water and the Environment,
relation to the efficient production of food crops in January 1992, Dublin
irrigated agriculture, for its assistance in reducing
water-related health risks, and its important role in
reducing the risks of floods and droughts. Later the same year, these principles helped to
inspire Chapter 18 of Agenda 21, which was agreed
Table 1 gives prominent examples of how IWRM at government level. For decision-makers and
links to key development issues and assists in practitioners alike, these principles have provided a
addressing them. Examples are also given of institu- simple, understandable and very useful guidance for
tions and agencies that have adopted the IWRM water resources management and development over
approach to addressing water issues. Using common the last 17 years. The Global Water Partnership’s2
sense and clear language definition of IWRM is widely accepted and is also
used for the purposes of this presentation. It states:

2. Using common sense and clear language ‘IWRM is a process which promotes the
co-ordinated development and management
IWRM is an empirical concept which was built up of water, land and related resources, in order
from the on-the-ground experience of practitioners. to maximize the resultant economic and
Although many parts of the concept have been social welfare in an equitable manner without
around for several decades – in fact since the first compromising the sustainability of vital
global water conference in Mar del Plata in 1977 – it ecosystems.’
was not until after Agenda 21 and the World Summit
on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 1992 in Rio Implementing an IWRM process is a question of
that the concept was made the object of extensive getting the ‘three pillars’ right (see Figure 1):
discussions as to what it means in practice. The
concept has been adopted widely by water managers, 1. moving towards an enabling environment of
decision-makers and politicians around the world. appropriate policies, strategies and legislation

1  Virtual water refers to the total volume of freshwater that is 2  The Global Water Partnership (GWP) was founded in 1996 with
used to produce a particular good or service. Similarly, the water reference to these principles, and has since developed mechanisms
footprint of an individual, business or nation is defined as the total for sharing good practices via a global network of organizations in
volume of freshwater that is used to produce the goods and services currently fourteen sub-regions and seventy countries that are com-
consumed by the individual, business or nation. mitted to sustainable water resources management via IWRM.

DHI Water Policy and UNEP-DHI Centre for Water and Environment 3
 Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Action

Figure 1 The three pillars of IWRM: an enabling environment, an institutional framework

and management instruments

for sustainable water resources development and 3. Changing ways of thinking

management
IWRM processes are now established or being
2. putting in place the institutional framework established in many parts of the world. At the
through which the policies, strategies and legisla- 4th World Water Forum in Mexico (2006), it was
tion can be implemented reported that out of ninety-five countries exam-
ined, 74 per cent either had IWRM strategies in
3. setting up the management instruments required place or had initiated a process for the formulation
by these institutions to do their job of such strategies. The table in Annex 1 gives a
non-exhaustive list of forty-two countries that
IWRM is thus not a scientific theory that needs to have adopted and explicitly used the term IWRM
be proved or disproved by scholars. Rather it is a set in their official documents dealing with water
of common-sense suggestions as to what makes up resources management. While it is obvious that the
important management aspects. IWRM has proved existence of such documents alone is not proof that
to be a flexible approach to water management that IWRM is working in these countries, it is indisput-
can adapt to diverse local and national contexts. able that such documents are essential for helping
It requires policy-makers to make judgments about to create and support an enabling environment for
which set of suggestions, reform measures, manage- water reforms.
ment tools, and institutional arrangements are most
appropriate in a particular cultural, social, political, An attempt to establish a more detailed picture of
economic or environmental context. the extent to which IWRM has been adopted by
government institutions was made by the United
One of the great strengths of IWRM is that it has Nations Environment Programme Collaborating
given the water community a common language Centre for Water and Environment (UCC-Water)
that’s applicable over a wide range of levels from through a survey completed in 2007 with the
the local to the national and regional. This allows support of the UNEP IWRM 2005 Programme.
knowledge and lessons-learned to be exchanged The survey covered fifty-eight countries in Africa,
across borders, across regions and at a local level, Central Asia, South-East Asia, Latin America and
and makes it possible for decision-makers and man- the Caribbean. The respondents were typically
agers to agree on and monitor policies and targets for senior government officials. One of the indicators
the improvement of water resources management. used was the institutional capacity for maintaining

4 THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME: SIDE PUBLICATIONS SERIES
 3. Changing ways of thinking

Figure 2 The institutional capacity for carrying out various IWRM-inspired functions

Policy formulation
Cost recovery of WRM 2 Drafting laws/regulations

Facilitating water demand management 1.5 Environental assessments

Aquatic ecosystems 1 International Cooperation.

Shared watercourses
0.5
Conflict mediation Information and data
0

Socio-economic assessments Monitoring water availability

Pollution loads Water resources assessments

Ambient WQ Water allocation

Planning resource use etc Water use

Mean

The ratings that the respondents were asked to give were: 0 = function not established, 1= function has many gaps in quality and
coverage, 2 = function has some gaps in quality and coverage, 3 = function operates at realistic goal levels.

various functions basic to IWRM, for instance policy frequent principle is ‘user pays,’ while ‘river basin
formulation, water allocation and water demand management’ comes in third. These results, as well
management. The result is shown in Figure 2. as other survey results, illustrate that many countries
acknowledge the usefulness of IWRM principles
From the figure it appears that countries have the and associated management approaches as guide-
best-developed capacities – highest scores – in terms lines in the advancement of their water resources
of the formulation of policies, the drafting of laws management.
and co-operation on shared watercourses. Recovery
of for the cost of water resources management and Since 2002, the UN organizations dealing with water
the capacity for water demand management were (UN-Water) have co-ordinated and monitored the
among the areas that scored lowest. global progress towards IWRM and Water Efficiency
Plans3. At the CSD-16 in 2008, UN-Water reported
The results of the survey showed an expected pat- on the latest status of IWRM planning work4.
tern. From experience it is known that countries and
governments that start from scratch to reform their
water sector, focus on the preparation of policies,
5. Monitoring progress
laws and regulations (the enabling environment)
first. New policies and laws pave the way for new The previous sections show that monitoring the
institutions, set institutional roles, and develop the level of adoption and use of IWRM is a challenge
capacities for taking on these roles. With institutions in itself. Many methodological issues emerge
in place, the new management instruments and capa- along with issues of definitions of indicators. But
bilities needed to perform IWRM can be developed.
3 Article 26 of the Plan of Implementation adopted at the World
Another important indicator of progress towards Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in
IWRM is the number of countries that have water 2002 called for countries to develop Integrated Water Resources
Management and Water Efficiency Plans by 2005.
laws that include certain characteristic IWRM
principles. For the same fifty-eight countries, the 4 UN-Water (2008). Status Report on Integrated Water Resources
Management and Water Efficiency Plans. Prepared for the 16th session
results are shown in Figure 3, overleaf. of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in May
2008. This status reporting is based on surveys made by the United
Figure 3 shows some interesting results. The highest Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA)
in 2007, by UCC-Water itself also in 2007, by the Global Water
scoring indicator is ‘participation of stakeholders’ Partnership (GWP) in 2006, and by the African Development Bank
– the second Dublin principle. The second-most (AfDB) in 2007.

DHI Water Policy and UNEP-DHI Centre for Water and Environment 5
 8. Top-down and bottom-up processes go hand in hand

7. Implementation takes time and

Box 2 A framework for the development
trade-offs are required of indicators for monitoring IWRM
Like any other reform, IWRM is a process that could
take several decades before it reaches the point where A framework for the development of indicators for
water resources management is taking place accord- monitoring the IWRM process and its outcomes can be
ing to the most important principles. In France, the structured at four different levels, or orders, with each
process was started with the establishment of basin order measuring progress at the various stages of the
agencies in 1968. Other important milestones were a IWRM planning cycle:
revised water law in 1992, which was brought in line
• 1st order: Measuring to what extent the basic condi-
with the EU’s Water Framework Directive in 2003.
tions for IWRM have been established ( ‘the paperwork
In Spain, the maturing of the process has lasted has been done’)
close to eighty years. The monitoring of progress
towards IWRM in developing countries that have a • 2nd order: Measuring to what extent IWRM reform
weak institutional capacity for change shows a rather processes have taken effect (‘institutions and stake-
slow progress towards IWRM, as would be expected. holders have changed water management behaviour’)
There are many other factors limiting the speed of
the process in developing countries. In these coun- • 3rd order: Measuring to what extent key water issues
tries, the water sector is predominantly informal, have been addressed (‘changes have taken place in
especially in the rural areas where it is based to a nature and society’)
large degree on self-supply and local, informal water
• 4th order: Measuring the sustainability of economic,
institutions. Regulatory influence is minimal and environmental and equitable uses of water (‘changes
laws, prices and policies often fail to function. In and developmental effects are sustainable’)
contrast, the water sector in developed countries is
more formalized and to a large degree the behaviour Modified after Stephen B. Olsen1
of the sector is under direct regulatory influence.
The chance of success for IWRM at the national level
1  Olsen, Stephen B. 2003. Framework and indicators for
goes hand-in-hand with the development of national assessing progress in coastal management initiatives. Ocean
governance structures and an approach towards a and Coastal Management, Vol.46, Amsterdam, Elsevier Science,
more formal water sector. At the local level, IWRM pp 47–361
principles still guide water resources management
but initiatives and actions are taken by the commu-
nities of their own accord. The IWRM process takes a
long time, but that does not mean that its principles with it. In economic terms, you could say that it has
and goals do not need to be pursued in a world of little or no value. As scarcity sets in, competition
increasing scarcity and competition for water. increases and the resource will increase in value.
Society needs to regulate the use of the resource
Likewise, the implementation of IWRM requires and make sure that water is not wasted on low-value
tough trade-offs between sometimes conflicting uses, but is used in the most beneficial way. Until
objectives. Changing a water law typically involves that happens, local initiatives and local ownership
changing an indirect power balance in relation to are essential in the majority of cases where water
water between different interest groups. Changing demands are relatively small. Large-scale use will
water allocations in order to achieve a better overall continue to be regulated centrally.
societal use of water will, typically, yield both win-
ners and losers – some users will get more and others Regardless of the degree to which water resources
will get less. In some countries, for example the management is centralized, involving water users
large ‘irrigation countries’ of Asia, large water users and interest groups remains important for the
are influential but represent an inefficient use of commitment to and outcome of IWRM. For cross-
water. In such cases, the implementation of IWRM sectoral and multi-stakeholder dialogues at national,
may require delicate, time-consuming and difficult basin, and local level, it is important to have active
negotiations and trade-offs, as well as a change of NGOs or other civil society organizations through
mindset for farmers. which dialogues can take place. This is important for
overall water management results and many govern-
ments encourage and support such dialogues as part
8. Top-down and bottom-up processes of establishing an appropriate enabling environment
go hand in hand for IWRM.

The level of centralized influence on the manage- As the progression above alludes, bottom-up water
ment of a water resource has shown to some degree resources management processes can thrive in situ-
to be dictated by how scarce it is, either as a result ations where there is an abundant supply of water
of lack of water itself or as a result of poor water to meet demand. When the squeeze is on, how-
quality. If you have a resource that is of good ever, IWRM – with its consolidation of an enabling
quality and is plentiful in terms of the demands environment and institutional roles – will have to
made on it, it may seem not to matter how you deal be applied. The institutional roles will describe the

DHI Water Policy and UNEP-DHI Centre for Water and Environment 7
 Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Action

sharing of authority and responsibility between

local levels, basin levels and a centralized level. Box 3 Management issues at increasing
levels of water scarcity – the turn
In 2000, South Africa had come to a stage in water of the water screw
scarcity (and inequality in access) where water
reallocation became necessary. The response was a When dealing with water, the crucial scarcity may not be
compulsory licensing process initiated on the basis the scarcity of the natural resource itself, but rather the
of the National Water Act of 1998. Existing water scarcity of the social resources needed to adapt to water
rights were revoked and had to be applied for again scarcity. The significance of this message is made clear by
if needed. Water licences were made time-bound and considering how water managers can deal with increasing
at the same time, the links between land ownership scarcity over time.
and water licences were severed.
• At the first turn of the water screw, the remedy is to
get more water. This goal is predominantly accom-
plished by water storage and transfer.
9. The practical application of IWRM
principles as examples of good • At the second turn of the water screw, the effort is
practices redirected towards efficiency measures, predominantly
end-use efficiency. The goal here is to get more benefit
Whatever the rhetoric that surrounds it, IWRM per drop.
should be judged by its usefulness. The following
cases all serve to demonstrate the benefits accru- • The last turn of the water screw is the reallocation
ing on the ground when actions are inspired and of water rights. This requires profound changes in
national policies because achieving allocation efficiency
guided by IWRM thinking and principles. Whether
could mean the withdrawal of water rights from
or not IWRM has brought about changes that irrigation schemes that generate a low-value-per-unit
would have appeared anyway as a result of the of water. The food needed by growing populations will
co-operation of dynamic professionals and politi- then need to be imported and paid for by the industry
cians with vision and common sense will never and services sector. This will require large-scale social
be known. A comparison of the ‘with IWRM’ and restructuring, which risks tension and conflict within
‘without IWRM’ situation can, at best, be specula- countries and between sectors and population groups
tive. The very least that IWRM does, is to remind with different stakes in the new socio-economic
the practitioner about a number of good – and environment.
generally accepted – principles, that assist with
Source: Snellen & Schrevel
taking on water-sector reforms, and give common
mechanisms for exchange on best practices for
specific management solutions.
billion in new filtration and treatment facilities or a
Malaysia: local level IWRM actions made $1.6 billion clean-up of the causes of the pollution.
winners of both lakeside communities and In partnership mode, the water supply company
the environment assisted the upstream farmers to implement good
There was a conflict of needs between two sectors farming practices, bought land for protection, and
using the water bodies in Kelana Jaya Municipal rehabilitated existing wastewater treatment plants.
Park in Malaysia. The two sectors were urban As a result of the water quality improvements, the
wastewater (including stormwater and solid waste) city avoided the need for costly filtration meth-
and the environment (including wetlands, flora ods, the population of the watersheds enjoys an
and fauna). The sectors had not been considered in improved environment and the city made a total
an integrated manner so stakeholders were losing saving of $4.4 billion. See also Annex 4.
opportunities and risking health. They eventually
got together with local authorities to identify reme- China: IWRM actions at provincial level
dial IWRM actions. From these actions, improve- substantially improved the aquatic
ments were made in water quality, fisheries and environment and the water-use efficiency in
health. Both lakeside communities and the environ- an area with over forty million inhabitants
ment came out as winners when the conflicts were A provincial -evel IWRM process took place in
resolved. See also Annex 4. Liaoning Province in China. Untreated industrial
and urban wastewater was polluting the streams
USA: a conflict between pollution in a source to a level where they were no longer supporting
watershed and the water supply for New York the river’s ecological processes. As part of a new
City was resolved in a partnership at state institutional framework, the EU-Liaoning Water
level resulting in huge economic benefits. Resource Planning Project Office was established.
This case is from the USA and relates to a conflict This office had the responsibility of developing
between the polluting activities of a watershed and implementing an IWRM plan. Pollution loads
and an urban water supply. New York City’s water were reduced by 60 per cent and the quality of
supply (nine million consumers) from the source the water in the river improved considerably.
watershed was experiencing a deterioration in qual- Deforestation practices were halted, drinking
ity. The city was faced with a choice of investing $6 water within the basin was safeguarded, and

8 THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME: SIDE PUBLICATIONS SERIES
 10. IWRM roadmapping towards the MDGs and beyond

ecosystems along several river stretches were 10. IWRM roadmapping towards the
restored. See also Annex 4.
MDGs and beyond
Mexico: national level irrigation reforms As outlined in this paper, the principles of IWRM
were taken following IWRM principles, have been widely adopted by countries and concrete
decision-making and responsibilities were examples of how they can be applied in practical
decentralized, and efficiency was greatly water management have been demonstrated in many
increased. places. However, if the water resources management
Reforms were driven by external governance factors reforms are to support the achievement of the MDGs
including membership of the North American Free and adaptation to climate change, the implementa-
Trade agreement (NAFTA), which forces efficiency tion of water policy changes must be linked to
improvements in irrigated agriculture in order efforts to achieve the MDGs and proceed at a pace
to facilitate competition with US and Canadian that’s in-keeping with the MDGs’ 2015 deadline. It
agro-products. This coincided with a period of rapid has, therefore, been suggested that national IWRM
economic and social change in Mexico and major plans and strategies should have associated pro-
political upheaval in the traditional governing party. grammes of implementation with timeframes and
To date, the outcome of decentralizing responsibili- milestones, i.e. a ‘roadmap.’
ties (water-user organizations) has been positive
with water fees paid by users up from 18 per cent Based on the Copenhagen Initiative on Water and
of operations and maintenance costs (in 1988) to Development5, UN-Water, in conjunction with the
80 per cent today. Water distribution efficiency rose Global Water Partnership launched the initiative,
from 8 per cent to 65 per cent and there has been ‘Roadmapping for Advancing Integrated Water
a general reduction in operations and maintenance Resources Management (IWRM) Processes’ at CSD 16
costs because of better use of equipment and a in March 2008.
reduction in personnel of more than 50 per cent.
See also Annex 4. The initiative recommends that nationally-owned
roadmaps for improving water management through
Chile: a continuous interaction between IWRM could include a set of milestones to help
growth strategies and water issues countries translate their IWRM plans into specific
Over the last 20 years, Chile has successfully actions and interventions on the ground, as well as
incorporated water issues into its strategies for to monitor the impact of actions taken or interven-
sustainable growth – offering valuable lessons to tions made. Such roadmaps could be developed
all policy-makers involved in national development around outcomes to be achieved by implementing
planning, not just those responsible for water. In water policy changes aimed at the achievement of
Chile, water has been a key ingredient in fuelling the MDGs and the adaptation to climate change.
exports and economic growth, and the country’s
decision-makers have also made provisions that pro- It is recognized that countries are at different stages
tect the environment and provide affordable water of their water development and that management
for the poor. Through implementation of IWRM and for institutional and policy changes to be
principles, water has successfully been applied as a effective, some countries will need substantial
strategic input to the national economy and trans- capacity building and time. The timeline of indi-
ferred from low-value to high-value uses. As a result, vidual national processes will, therefore, vary widely
Chile provides an example of progress towards the according to existing plans and points of departure.
three E’s of IWRM: ‘economic efficiency,’ ‘social Moreover, the details in planning and implementa-
equity’ and ‘environmental sustainability.’ See also tion must reflect local water issues and management
Annex 4. conditions.

The Fergana Valley: IWRM actions at Thus, it is envisaged that each country would make
international level in Central Asia improved its interpretation and design its own roadmap for
water accessibility and irrigation efficiency. improving water management. In doing so, countries
The Fergana Valley was once the most fertile are likely to monitor their plans to implement
valley in Central Asia. With a population of IWRM and the MDG-related water resource manage-
approximately ten million, it is now subject to ment priorities that they have identified by keeping
high soil salinization and its crops are no longer a watching brief on three key inter-related processes:
sufficient to feed its population. State boundaries
between Uzbekistan, Kyrgistan and Tajikistan make • the extent to which key enabling conditions for
transboundary management problematic. IWRM the implementation of these priorities have been
principles emphasizing capacity building, higher addressed
efficiency and equity were applied in a partnership
mode. Bottom-up IWRM approaches increased 5  The Copenhagen Initiative is an outcome of the International
yields and water productivity by up to 30 per cent. Conference on Managing Water Resources Towards 2015, which
See also Annex 4. was hosted by the Danish Government in co-operation with UN-
Water and the Global Water Partnership and held in Copenhagen
on 13 April 2007. The Conference Summary can be found at
www.ucc-water.org

DHI Water Policy and UNEP-DHI Centre for Water and Environment 9
 Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Action

• the progress of specific IWRM change processes encouraged to monitor on a continuing basis and
in an integrated (process and outcome) way, on all
• the extent to which improved water management
three key inter-related processes outlined above.
though IWRM has successfully contributed to the
achievement of the MDGs
To facilitate meaningful discussion and comparison,
the initiative recommends that such monitoring
In this way, the roadmaps would also serve as may be carried out within a structured framework
monitoring instruments, inspiration and guidance under which, every three years, a specific set of
for countries and development partners striving to indicators or theme is chosen. The themes suggested
improve water resources management for develop- by UN-Water and GWP are:
ment. On the assumption that water management
policy changes should be directly related to the • 2009: Focus principally on reviewing the extent
milestones for the achievement of the MDGs, to which key enabling conditions for the imple-
roadmaps could have MDG-linked indicators that mentation of national IWRM priorities have
could be monitored every three years – 2009, 2012 been addressed. Note progress on specific IWRM
and 2015. change processes and the realization of the water-
related MDGs
In addition to the need for each country to develop • 2012: Focus principally on reviewing the progress
its unique implementation plan or roadmap, it is of specific IWRM change processes. Note progress
emphasized that regular reporting and discussion on enabling conditions and the realization of the
at regional and global levels can play an important water-related MDGs
role in encouraging and supporting such processes
and addressing the barriers to progress. In 2008, • 2015: Focus principally on assessing the extent
country reports to the Commission on Sustainable to which improving water management through
Development (CSD) focused on progress in establish- IWRM has successfully contributed to the
ing plans to implement IWRM and in addressng implementation of the MDGs. Note progress
their identified MDG-related water resource on enabling conditions and on specific IWRM
management priorities. Beyond 2008, countries are change processes

10 THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME: SIDE PUBLICATIONS SERIES
Annex 1: Examples of countries that have adopted IWRM as a key concept
Roadmaps, strategies, policies, laws, plans, etc. with explicit reference to IWRM
The table below provides examples of forty countries that have found IWRM a useful framework for the management of water
resources and have included it as a pivotal concept. In these countries, the concept has been included in key government
documents that guide and regulate the use, conservation and protection of a nation’s water resources and IWRM is being
implemented at local level. The table is not exhaustive.

Country Evidence of the continued adoption and explicit use of IWRM

Algeria National Plan for Water – Ministry of Water Resources (2003)

National Water Law – Government of Algeria (2005)
Action Plan for the implementation of an IWRM Framework – Ministry of Water Resources (draft 2006–2007)
Angola IWRM and Water Efficiency Roadmap – Ministry of Water and Energy (draft 2007)
Argentina IWRM Roadmap – Sub-secretariat of Water Resources (2007)
Armenia Water Code – Government of Armenia (2002)
National Water Policy – Government of Armenia (2005)
National Water Programme – Government of Armenia (draft 2007)
Botswana IWRM Strategy and Action Plan – Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources (2006)
Brazil National Water Policy (Law No. 9433) – Government of Brazil (1997)
National Water Resources Plan – Ministry of Environment (SRH/MMA), National Water Council (CNRH) and National Water
Agency (ANA) (2007)
Burkina Faso Decree No. 2003–220: Action Plan for IWRM in Burkina Faso (PAGIRE) – Ministry of Agriculture, Hydraulics and Fishing
Resources (2003)
Burkina Faso Water Vision - Ministry of Agriculture, Hydraulics and Fishing Resources (2000)
Water Law No.002-2001 – Government of Burkina Faso (2001)
Cambodia Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM 2005) and Roadmaps in Cambodia – Department of Water Resources
Management and Conservation (2006)
Water Law – Royal Government of Cambodia (Sept 2006)
China China Water Law – Government of China 2002
Colombia National Development Plan 2006–2010 – National Planning Department (2006)
Costa Rica National Strategy for Integrated Water Resources Management – Government of Costa Rica (2006)
National IWRM Action Plan – Government of Costa Rica (2006)
National Water Law (No. 14585) – Government of Costa Rica (draft 2006)
Ivory Coast IWRM Roadmap 2007-2015 – Ministry of Environment, Water and Forestry (2007)
Egypt National Water Resources Plan – Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (2004)
Eritrea Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Efficiency Plan (IWRM/WE) – Ministry of Land Water and Environment
(draft 2007)
Ghana IWRM Component Support programme (2004–008) – Water Resources Commission (2004)
Water Resources Policy – Water Resources Commission (draft 2007)
Grenada Simultaneous preparation of IWRM Roadmap and National Water Policy – Water Policy Steering Committee (April 2007)
Honduras IWRM Action Plan – Honduran Water Platform (2006)
Indonesia National Water Law No.7/2004 – Government of Indonesia (2004)
IWRM Roadmap – Directorate General Water Resources of Ministry of Public Works (2006)
India National IWRM Committee – Government of India 1999
National Water Policy – Government of India 2002
Kazakhstan IWRM National Roadmap including proposed project outlines – speed-up of the IWRM 2005 objectives implementation in
Central Asia – Government of Kazakhstan (2006)
Kenya Water Act 2002 – Government of Kenya (2002)
National Water Policy on Water Resources Management and Development (Sessional Paper No.1 of 1999) – Ministry of Water
and Irrigation
Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Efficiency Plan for Kenya – Ministry of Water and Irrigation (draft 2007)
Kyrgyzstan IWRM National Roadmap including proposed project outlines – speed-up of the IWRM 2005 objectives implementation in
Central Asia – Government of Kyrgyzstan (2006)
Lao PDR Policy on Water and Water Resources – Government of Lao PDR (draft 2000)
The Law on Water and Water Resources – Government of Lao PDR (1996)
IWRM National Roadmap – Water Resources Co-ordination Committee Secretariat (2006)

DHI Water Policy and UNEP-DHI Centre for Water and Environment 11
Annex 1: (cont)

Country Evidence of the continued adoption and explicit use of IWRM

Lesotho Roadmap to completing integrated water resources management and water efficiency planning in Lesotho – Ministry of
Natural Resources, Water Commission (April 2007)
Liberia Liberia IWRM Roadmap – Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (draft 2007)
National Water Policy – Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (draft 2007)
Malawi National Water Policy – Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development (2005)
Water Resources Act No. 15 of 1969 with later amendments. Government of Malawi
Integrated Water Resources Management/Water Efficiency (IWRM/WE) Plan for Malawi – Ministry of Irrigation and Water
Development (draft 2007)
Malaysia 9th Malaysia Plan – Economic Planning Unit – Prime Minister’s Department (2006)
National Study for the Effective Implementation of IWRM in Malaysia – Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (2006)
Our Vision for Water in the 21st Century – Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (2000)
Mauritania IWRM Action Plan – National Council for Water (2007)
National Development Policy for Water & Energy – Ministries of Water, Energy and Environment (1998)
National Water Act (Article 3) – Government of Mauritania (2005)
Morocco Master Plans of Integrated Water Resources Development for River Basins – Ministry of Land, Water and Environment (2001)
National Water Plan – Ministry of Land, Water and Environment (2006)
Decree no 2–05–1594 – Development and Revision of Master Plans and National Plans for Integrated Water Resources
Management – Government of Morocco
Mozambique National Water Resource Strategy – Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (2004)
IWRM Plan – National Directorate of Water Affairs (draft 2007)
Namibia National Water Policy White Paper – Government of Namibia (2000)
Water Resources Management Act – Government of Namibia (2004)
Integrated Water Resources Management Strategy and Action Plan – Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development
(2006)
Nicaragua General Law on National Waters – Government of Nicaragua (2007)
Environmental Action Plan – Ministry of Environment (1994)
IWRM Action Plan – Ministry of Environment (1996)
Philippines Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (2004-2010) – Government of Philippines (2004)
Clean Water Act – Government of Philippines (2004)
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Plan Framework – National Water Resources Board (2007)
Swaziland Water Policy – Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy (draft 2007)
IWRM and Water Efficiency Plan – Water Resources Branch (draft 2007)
Water Act (2003) – Government of Swaziland
Tajikistan IWRM National Roadmap Including Proposed Project Outlines: Speed-up of the IWRM 2005 Objectives Implementation in
Central Asia – Government of Tajikistan (2006)
Tanzania National Water Sector Development Programme 2006–2025 – Ministry of Water (2006)
IWRM Strategy and Action Plan – Ministry of Water (2004)
National Water Policy – Ministry of Water (2002)
National Water Law based on revised Water Act No. 42 of 1974 – Government of Tanzania (draft 2007)
Thailand National Water Law/Code – Government. of Thailand (draft 2007)
National Water Policy – Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (2000)
IWRM National Roadmap – Department of Water Resources (2007)
Togo National Water Policy – Directorate of Water and Sewerage (draft 2007)
National Water Law – Directorate of Water and Sewerage (draft 2007)
IWRM Roadmap – Directorate of Water and Sewerage (draft 2007)
Turkmenistan IWRM National Roadmap including proposed project outlines – speed-up of the IWRM 2005 objectives implementation in
Central Asia – Government of Turkmenistan (2006)
Uganda A National Water Policy – Ministry of Water, Lands and Environment (1999)
National Water Action Plan – Water Resources Management Department (1994)
Water Resources Management Reform Strategy – Water Resources Management Department (2005)
National Water Quality Management Strategy – Ministry of Water and Environment (2006)
Uzbekistan IWRM National Roadmap Including Proposed Project Outlines – speed-up of the IWRM 2005 objectives implementation in
Central Asia – Government of Uzbekistan (2006)
Zambia IWRM and Water Efficiency Plan – Ministry of Energy and Water Development (2006)
The Revised National Water Policy – Ministry of Energy and Water Development (2007)
Water Resources Management Bill – Ministry of Energy and Water Development (draft 2007)
National Development Plan – Ministry of Energy and Water Development (2007)

12 THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME: SIDE PUBLICATIONS SERIES
Annex 2: Water and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Millennium Development Contribution of improved water resources management and access to

Goal water supply and sanitation

Poverty Water is a factor of production in agriculture, industry and other economic activities
To halve the proportion of the Investments in water infrastructure and services is a catalyst for local and regional development
world’s people whose income is Reduced vulnerability to water-related hazards reduces risks in investments and production
less than a dollar a day
Reduced ecosystem degradation makes the livelihoods of the poor more secure
Improved health increases productivity and reduces the burden on those who care for the sick

Hunger Water is a direct input to irrigation for expanded grain production

To halve the proportion of Reliable water is needed for subsistence agriculture, homes, gardens, livestock and tree crops
the world’s people who suffer Water is needed for the sustainable production of fish, tree crops, and other foods gathered in common
from hunger property resources (also affects poverty when such goods are sold for income)
Cheaper food prices mean less urban hunger
Healthy people are better able to absorb the nutrients in food than those suffering from water-related
diseases, particularly worms

Primary Education Improved school attendance as a result of improved health and reduced water-carrying burdens,
To ensure that children especially for girls
everywhere complete a full Having separate sanitation facilities for girls and boys in schools increases girls’ school attendance
course of primary schooling

Gender Equality Community-based organizations for water management improve the social capital of women
To ensure girls and boys have Reduced health and care-giving burdens brought about by improved water services give women more time
equal access to primary and for productive endeavours, adult education, empowerment activities and leisure
secondary education Water sources and sanitation facilities closer to home put women and girls at less risk of sexual harassment
and assault while gathering water and searching for privacy
Higher rates of child survival are a precursor to the demographic transition toward lower fertility rates;
having fewer children reduces women’s reproductive responsibilities

Child Mortality Improved quantities and quality of domestic water and sanitation reduce main morbidity and mortality in
To reduce by two-thirds the young children
death rate for children under five Improved nutrition and food security reduces susceptibility to disease

Maternal Mortality Improved health and reduced labour burdens from water carrying reduce mortality risks
To reduce by three-quarters the Improved health and nutrition reduce susceptibility to anaemia and other conditions that affect maternal
rate of maternal mortality mortality
Sufficient quantities of clean water for washing pre- and post-birth cut down on life-threatening infections
Higher rates of child survival are a precursor to the demographic transition toward lower fertility rates, and
fewer pregnancies per woman reduce maternal mortality

Major Disease Better water management reduces mosquito habitats

To halve, halt and begin to Better water management reduces the incidence of a range of other water-borne diseases
reverse the spread of HIV, Improved health and nutrition reduce susceptibility to and the severity of HIV/AIDS and other major diseases
malaria, other major diseases

Environmental sustainability Improved water management, including pollution control and water conservation, is a key factor in
To stop the unsustainable maintaining ecosystem integrity
exploitation of natural resources The development of integrated management within river basins creates situations where sustainable
and to halve the proportion of ecosystem management is possible and upstream-downstream effects are mitigated
people who are unable to reach Biodiversity conservation and combating desertification are furthered by sound water management
or afford safe drinking water

DHI Water Policy and UNEP-DHI Centre for Water and Environment 13
 Annex 3: Global IWRM indicators based on milestones towards achieving
the MDGs
The first set of indicators (focus for 2009): The second set of indicators (focus for 2012):
Putting enabling conditions in place Seeing the IWRM change process taking
Here, the focus should be on ensuring that enabling effect
conditions are in place, and that change processes Here, the focus should be on ensuring that the
have been initiated in accordance with a politically implementation of change processes takes place
supported and approved legal framework and with and that changes begin to take effect to influence
the allocation of appropriate financing sources for the way in which water managers at all levels deal
management functions. To illustrate the way in with water. To illustrate the ways in which countries
which countries might monitor progress in these might monitor progress in these areas, here are some
areas, here are some possible examples of process possible examples of performance indicators that
indicators that could be used: could be used:

Make the following changes to ensure an enabling Enabling environment

environment:
• New legislation and standards show that institu-
• Revise and amend policies and laws tional capacity building is taking effect
• Mainstream water into national development • Water resources agencies are starting to adminis-
policies, strategies and plans ter according to new IWRM principles
• Allocate appropriate and sustainable funding in
national budgets Institutional framework
• Sector ministries are actively promoting and
Make the following changes to ensure a robust institu- implementing the IWRM approach
tional framework:
• Water-use organizations and the private sector
• Establish cross-sectoral co-ordination frameworks are increasingly co-ordinating water use in co-
operation with government authorities
• Change ministerial and departmental mandates
• Awareness and management capacity is growing
• Formally involve stakeholder groups
measurably in government and user groups
• Launch awareness and mobilization campaigns
• Decentralize responsibility and delegate decision- Management instruments
making at the river basin, provincial/local and • Monitoring and research programs are docu-
community levels menting the impacts and causes of major water
• Develop the capacity of government staff and issues
stakeholder groups • Transparent, coherent and consensus-based plan-
ning and strategy-making is taking effect in all
Make the following changes in management instruments: sectors
• Improve information management • Social, economic and regulatory instruments are
changing inappropriate water allocations and
• Carry out assessments of water resources issues
uses
• Develop IWRM strategies and plans
• Water conflicts across the sectors are mediated
• Produce coherent water resources development through the participation of appropriate stake-
and management plans that support the achieve- holder groups
ment of the MDGs
• Demand the management of user behaviour and
water-use efficiency
• Introduce social change instruments for public
awareness, mobilization and conflict mediation
• Develop regulatory instruments and associated
enforcement frameworks
• Formulate economic instruments to encourage
behavioural change

14 THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME: SIDE PUBLICATIONS SERIES
 Annex 3: Global IWRM indicators based on milestones towards achieving the MDGs

The third set of indicators (focus for 2015):

Mitigating key water constraints related to
the achievement of the MDGs
Here, the focus should be on reviewing the extent
to which the required water infrastructure has been
developed and water resources management issues
addressed in accordance with the strategic goals and
targets in water resources development and manage-
ment plans – and thus in a way that supports the
achievement of the MDGs. To illustrate the way in
which countries might monitor progress in these
areas, here are some possible examples of process
and outcome indicators that could be used:

MDG 1: Poverty and Hunger

• The infrastructure to store surface water and
further develop groundwater resources is put in
place
• The health of aquatic ecosystems – particularly
fish – is optimized and protected
• Rural poor populations are protected against
flood risks

MDGs 4–6: Health

• Discharges of human waste waters are treated
for bacterial contamination to prevent diarrhoea
outbreaks
• Toxic emissions from industrial enterprises are
controlled within international health standards
• Pesticide release to ground-water, wetlands and
surface-water is controlled

MDG 7: Environmental sustainability

• Appropriate environmental flows are ensured in
order to maintain wetlands, goods and services
• Safe water supply and sanitation expansion has
reached or exceeded Target 10 (to halve by 2015
the proportion of people without sustainable
access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation)
• Urban slum dwellers are protected against
flooding
• Social, economic and regulatory instruments are
changing inappropriate water allocations and
uses
• Water conflicts across the sectors are mediated
through the participation of stakeholder groups

DHI Water Policy and UNEP-DHI Centre for Water and Environment 15
 Annex 4: Examples of good practice in IWRM

Malaysia: local level: The rehabilitation of watershed regulations, environmental and economic
lakes in Kelana Jaya Municipal Park6 partnership programmes, wastewater treatment plant
Issues: Tin-mining activities created polluted ponds, upgrades and protection measures at reservoirs.
reservoirs and lakes. Rapid development added
wastewater, solid waste and storm water overflow to Tangible impacts: More than 350 farms within the
the main lake in the area used for fishing, recreation watershed are implementing best-management
and, potentially, for a non-drinking water supply. practices, thereby reducing pollution loads; some
The lake ecosystem changed completely caused by 280 km2 of land has been acquired for protection;
poor water quality and the loss of wetland plants effective watershed regulations have been enforced;
and animal life. the problem of 2,000 failing septic-tank systems has
been remedied; and existing wastewater treatment
IWRM actions: A stakeholder forum was formed with plants have been upgraded with tertiary treatment.
400 Friends of Kelana Jaya Park and a 15-member There has been a reduction of more than 50 per cent
steering committee. An awareness programme was in coliform bacteria, total phosphorus and several
introduced in three schools to target students, other major contaminants. As a result of the water
parents and teachers. Communities and local quality improvements, the city’s water supply has
authorities were brought together and they identified been exempted from filtration, the population of the
and implemented the actions necessary for integrat- watersheds enjoys a better quality environment and
ing urban and environment planning. the city made a total saving of $4.4 billion.

Tangible impacts: Solid waste and wastewater from China: provincial level: Liao river basin
storm drains were reduced by 60 per cent and management8
the quality of discharge from an oxidation pond Issues: The province of Liaoning, with a population
improved after refurbishment work was carried out. of over forty million, has seen rapid development
Water quality in the lake improved, with consequent resulting in water shortages and severe water pol-
benefits for fishing and lake ecosystems, and health lution. In the 1980s, water-use efficiency was very
benefits were observed in the lakeside communities. low in urban and industrial areas and for irrigation.
Water pollution was rampant. No fish could be
USA: state level: New York City water officials found in 70 per cent of the streams and ecosystem
as partners in watershed management7 productive functions had ceased in 60 per cent of
Issues: Faced with a deteriorating quality of input the streams. Citizens were ignorant of water con-
water, the city of New York had the choice of build- servation issues. Urban wastewater was discharged
ing a new water supply treatment plant at a cost untreated into streams and in some cases infiltrated
of $6 billion or taking comprehensive measures to the ground-water aquifers. Deforestation took place
improve and protect the quality of the source water in the upper parts of the catchments.
in the Croton and Catskill/Delaware watersheds. The
watersheds cover an area of approximately 5,000 IWRM Actions: An institutional framework was
km2 and deliver water for over nine million people set up comprising the Liaoning Cleaner Water
in New York. Dual goals of protecting water quality Project Office, the Liao River Basin Co-ordination
and preserving the economic viability of watershed Commission, and the EU-Liaoning Water Resource
communities were set out. Planning Project Office. Together, they developed an
IWRM Planning Project. Under this project, a water
IWRM Actions: Partnerships were developed resources assessment was carried out, a reform of
between New York City; New York State; the US the policy for water exploitation and use was made,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); watershed water prices were adjusted, a monitoring network
counties, towns and villages; and environmental and was established, and capacity building within an
public interest groups. Programmes were developed IWRM framework was encouraged. In addition,
to balance agriculture, urban and rural wastewater the Cleaner Water Project created a wastewater
and storm drainage infrastructure, the environment, infrastructure where low-production-high-pollution
and the quality of water in the nineteen reservoirs production was discouraged and planning was put in
and three controlled lakes. A watershed agricultural place to prevent and control pollution. Development
programme was supplemented by land acquisition, of the Liao River Basin was planned and a reforesta-
tion programme was implemented.
6  Global Water Partnership. ToolBox for Integrated Water Resources
Management – Rehabilitation of lakes in Kelana Jaya Municipal Tangible impacts: Pollution loads were reduced by
Park (Case #173). www.gwptoolbox.org/index.php?option=com_ 60 per cent and the quality of river water improved
case&id=116&Itemid=46 (Accessed 17 February 2009).
considerably. Upstream-downstream conflicts
7  Commission on Geosciences, Environment and Research
(CEGR). 2000. Watershed Management for Potable Water Supply:
Assessing the New York City Strategy. Washington D. C., National 8  Lis Stedman. 2003. Liaoning’s search for sustainability. Water21.
Academies Press. London, IWA Publishing, pp. 20–22.

16 THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME: SIDE PUBLICATIONS SERIES
 Annex 4: Examples of good practice in IWRM

were reduced and deforestation practices halted. Chile: national level: a continuous interaction
Drinking water within the basin was safeguarded between growth strategies and water issues10
and ecosystems along several stretches of the river Issues: The strategy of exporting products for which
were restored. Groundwater pollution was reduced Chile has a comparative advantage has led to a
and public awareness of demand management and boom in the export of goods that use water in
pollution risks was raised. their production process. A sharp increase in water
demand has followed, often in water-poor basins.
Mexico: national level: irrigation reform This has resulted in competition for water in many
following IWRM principles9 areas. Export needs are now competing with in-
Issues: The Mexican government suffered a severe country needs for drinking water and farming for
financial crisis in the 1980s. One of the results of the domestic market. And water is rising in value.
this was that the budget for the maintenance of the
national irrigation system was reduced significantly. IWRM Actions: Improvements in water-use efficiency
This created a vicious cycle in the irrigation sector – have been considerable especially in areas linked to
rapidly deteriorating systems made farmers unwilling exports. In wine production for instance, sophisti-
to pay for irrigation water, thus creating a shortage cated water management systems are now in place.
of funds. The ineffective irrigation also generated During the 1980s, Chile’s policies on water resources
widespread salinization and drainage problems. were guided by the same market-oriented principles
as were used to reform the country’s economy.
IWRM Actions: The financial crisis led to drastic Market forces have played a major role in ensuring
changes in Mexico’s irrigation policy. The National that water is allocated to the highest value uses –
Development Plan (1989–1994) called for an increase demonstrating that water is considered to be an
in irrigation efficiency and a better use of the exist- economic good. Increased private-sector investment
ing infrastructure. Under the National Program for in sanitation has been encouraged by Chile’s focus
Decentralization of Irrigation Districts, the Mexican on maintaining its macro-economic equilibrium,
government initiated the transfer of irrigation coupled with the many safeguards that were put in
districts to Water User Associations (WUAs). Along place to protect foreign capital. This has boosted the
with the management transfer, the government, sup- development of the sewerage sector as well as the
ported by the World Bank and the Inter-American water supply sector.
Development Bank, invested in rehabilitation and
improvement to irrigation and drainage systems and Tangible impacts: Chile has managed to support
in operation and maintenance equipment, which growth in water-demanding industries and sectors
was transferred to the WUAs along with the systems. and achieved high growth in exports. Water is
In 1992, the Mexican government issued a renewed allocated to high-value uses partly based on market
federal National Water Law (NWL) and correspond- mechanisms. By 2010, almost all the country’s
ing regulations as the main legal basis for water sewage is expected to be treated.
and irrigation management in the country. The
NWL explicitly declares sustainable development as Fergana Valley: international level: improving
its primary objective. Furthermore, it is consistent water accessibility through IWRM11
with Mexico’s efforts related to decentralization, Issues: The Fergana Valley was once the most fertile
water-user participation, the efficient use of water, valley in Central Asia. With approximately ten
the expanded participation of the private sector, million inhabitants, it is now subject to high levels
and fiscal policies related to the collection of water of soil salinization and the crops grown there are
levies for both water use and water pollution control. no longer sufficient to feed the population. State
Political commitment to the reform process was boundaries between Uzbekistan, Kyrgistan and
visible through the support from the president. Tajikistan make transboundary management prob-
lematic and cause constant internal and interstate
Tangible impacts: Mexico began establishing WUAs disputes. More than 60 per cent of the inhabitants
in 1990. By 1997 the transfer had resulted in 400 do not have access to safe drinking water or basic
operational WUAs of an average size of 7,600 ha. sanitation, which causes widespread water-borne
Following the transfer, there was a steady pace of diseases in the rural areas. Irrigation infrastructure is
better maintenance in the majority of the irrigation inadequate and water use is inefficient.
districts. Most irrigation systems are operated and
maintained by WUAs or by farmers themselves and IWRM Actions: Improved management of water
government subsidy has dropped to only 15 per resources based on IWRM principles was initiated,
cent of the operation and maintenance costs. Now,
more than 90 per cent of farmers pay their irrigation
10  Sandy Williams and Sarah Carriger, Global Water Partnership
assessment charges. – Technical Committee (TEC). 2006. Policy Brief 2 – Water and
Sustainable Development: Lessons from Chile. www.gwpforum.org/
gwp/library/Policybrief2Chile.pdf (Accessed 17 February 2009).

11  The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and

the Scientific Information Center of the Interstate Commission
for Water Coordination (SIC-ICWC). Integrated Water resources
9  www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrigation_in_Mexico (Accessed Management in Fergana Valley. http://iwrm.icwc-aral.uz/index_
17 February 2009). en.htm (Accessed 17 February 2009).

DHI Water Policy and UNEP-DHI Centre for Water and Environment 17
 Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Action

emphasizing higher efficiency and more equity. 80,000 people and 320 ecological sanitation toilets
IWRM capacity building within the river basin were constructed on a cost-sharing basis. Water-
management area was put into practice, involv- borne diseases have decreased by more than 60
ing river commissions, provinces, municipalities, per cent on average and infant mortality has been
companies and WUAs. The effectiveness of bottom- almost eradicated in all villages, despite prevailing
up approaches was demonstrated and methods to poverty. Twenty-eight Water Committees have been
enhance water use efficiency were put in place. The created to operate and maintain the water systems
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation efficiently and more than 30 per cent of those
(SDC) assisted the Interstate Commission for Water involved in the village committees are women. Crop
Coordination of Central Asia (ICWC) in the imple- yields and water productivity increased by as much
mentation of IWRM principles. as 30 per cent. Expanded and improved irrigation
practices were implemented using innovative solu-
Tangible impacts: Partnership between all the water tions for the management of the irrigation canals.
management actors across the Fergana Valley was There is now sustainable financing at canal, water-
achieved. Safe drinking water was provided to user association, and farm levels.
twenty-eight villages with a total population of

18 THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME: SIDE PUBLICATIONS SERIES
World Water Assessment Programme side publications,
March 2009
During the consultation process for the third edition of the World Water Development Report, a general
consensus emerged as to the need to make the forthcoming report more concise, while highlighting
major future challenges associated with water availability in terms of quantity and quality.
This series of side publications has been developed to ensure that all issues and debates that might
not benefit from sufficient coverage within the report would find space for publication.
The 17 side publications released on the occasion of the World Water Forum in Istanbul in March, 2009,
in conjunction with World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World, represent the first
of what will become an ongoing series of scientific papers, insight reports and dialogue papers that
will continue to provide more in-depth or focused information on water–related topics and issues.

Insights
IWRM Implementation in Basins, Sub-Basins and Aquifers: State of the Art Review
by Keith Kennedy, Slobodan Simonovic, Alberto Tejada-Guibert, Miguel de França Doria and José Luis Martin for UNESCO-IHP
Institutional Capacity Development in Transboundary Water Management
by Ruth Vollmer, Reza Ardakanian, Matt Hare, Jan Leentvaar, Charlotte van der Schaaf and Lars Wirkus for UNW-DPC
Global Trends in Water-Related Disasters: An Insight for Policymakers
by Yoganath Adikari and Junichi Yoshitani at the Public Works Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan, for the International Center for
Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM), under the auspices of UNESCO.
Inland Waterborne Transport: Connecting Countries
by Sobhanlal Bonnerjee, Anne Cann,Harald Koethe, David Lammie, Geerinck Lieven, Jasna Muskatirovic, Benjamin Ndala, Gernot
Pauli and Ian White for PIANC/ICIWaRM
Building a 2nd Generation of New World Water Scenarios
by Joseph Alcamo and Gilberto Gallopin
Seeing Traditional Technologies in a New Light: Using Traditional Approaches for Water Management in Drylands
by Harriet Bigas, Zafar Adeel and Brigitte Schuster (eds), for the United Nations University International Network on Water, Environ-
ment and Health (UNU-INWEH)

Dialogue Series
Water Adaptation in National Adaptation Programmes for Action Freshwater in Climate Adaptation Planning and Climate
Adaptation in Freshwater Planning
by Gunilla Björklund, Håkan Tropp, Joakim Harlin, Alastair Morrison and Andrew Hudson for UNDP
Integrated Water Resources Management in Action
by Jan Hassing, Niels Ipsen, Torkil-Jønch Clausen, Henrik Larsen and Palle Lindgaard-Jørgensen for DHI Water Policy and the UNEP-
DHI Centre for Water and Environment
Confronting the Challenges of Climate Variability and Change through an Integrated Strategy for the Sustainable Manage-
ment of the La Plata River Basin
by Enrique Bello, Jorge Rucks and Cletus Springer for the Department of Sustainable Development, Organization of American States
Water and Climate Change: Citizen Mobilization, a Source of Solutions
by Marie-Joëlle Fluet, International Secretariat for Water; Luc Vescovi, Ouranos, and Amadou Idrissa Bokoye, Environment Canada
Updating the International Water Events Database
by Lucia De Stefano, Lynette de Silva, Paris Edwards and Aaron T. Wolf, Program for Water Conflict Management and Transforma-
tion, Oregon State University, for UNESCO PCCP
Water Security and Ecosystems: The Critical Connection
by Thomas Chiramba and Tim Kasten for UNEP

Scientific Papers
Climate Changes, Water Security and Possible Remedies for the Middle East
by Jon Martin Trondalen for UNESCO PCCP
A Multi-Model Experiment to Assess and Cope with Climate Change Impacts on the Châteauguay Watershed in Southern
Quebec
by Luc Vescovi, Ouranos; Ralf Ludwig, Department of Geography, University of Munich; Jean-François Cyr, Richard Turcotte and Louis-
Guillaume Fortin, Centre d’Expertise Hydrique du Québec; Diane Chaumont, Ouranos; Marco Braun and Wolfram Mauser, Department
of Geography, University of Munich
Water and Climate Change in Quebec
by Luc Vescovi, Ouranos; Pierre Baril, Ministry of Transport, Québec; Claude Desjarlais ; André Musy; and René Roy, Hydro-Québec.
All authors are members of the Ouranos Consortium
Investing in Information, Knowledge and Monitoring
by Jim Winpenny for the WWAP Secretariat
Water Footprint Analysis (Hydrologic and Economic) of the Guadania River Basin
by Maite Martinez Aldaya, Twente Water Centre, University of Twente and Manuel Ramon Llamas, Department of Geodynamics,
Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
Governance for Sustainable Development

In a world where limited resources are increasingly

stressed, good water governance is more crucial than
ever for sustainable development. Ecosystems are under
threat, health risks are growing as a consequence of
decreasing water quality, and climate changes add to
threats to the sustainability of the world's water
resources and thus also to the livelihoods of our
increasing populations.

DHI Water Policy, a member of the DHI Group, is

assisting governments and institutions to address these
problems through improved governance and Integrated
Water Resources and Coastal Zone Management. This
assistance is often rendered in a partnership
arrangement and covers areas such as diagnostic water
resources assessments and institutional analyses, policy
dialogues and formulation, legislation, and overall sector
reforms. Facilitation of stakeholder involvement is a key
component in all these processes.

The UNEP-DHI Centre for Water and Environment is a

centre of expertise of the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP). The centre supports UNEP in the
implementation of its Water Policy and Strategy. It is
hosted by DHI and located at its headquarters in
Hørsholm, Denmark

www.unesco.org/publishing
United Nations

 
 

Cultural Organization