INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT Lecture – 1.

INTEGRATED WATERINTEGRATED WATERRESOURCES MANAGEMENTRESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Lecture – 1

Economicefficiency

Environmental & ecologicalsustainability

Equity

IWRM

Because of the increasing scarcity of water and financial resources, the finite and vulnerable nature of water as a resource, and the increasing demands upon it, water must be used with maximum possible efficiency;

The basic right for all people to have access to water of adequate quantity and quality for the sustenance of human wellbeing must be universally recognized;Interventions often bring benefit to certain section of population while disbenefits to another section. Need equity in the distribution of social costs and benefits among stakeholders

The present use of the resource should be managed in a way that does not underminethe life-support system thereby compromising use by future generations of the same resource.Over-riding Criteria

“IWRM”

and

“Interdisciplinarity”

Disciplinary ?Multi-disciplinary ?Interdisciplinary ?Cross-disciplinary ?Transdisciplinary ?

Interdisciplinarity

“Interdisciplinarity in an Individual”

Socio-technical OR Sociotechnical??

The world’s freshwater resources are under increasing pressure. Water is vital for human survival, health and dignity and a fundamental resource for human development.

•Resources are scarce•Demands are outstripping supplies

Why IWRM? - Key issues in water management

Water cycle


Population underwater stressWater withdrawals have increased more than twice as fast as population growth

Currently 1/3rd of world's population live in countries that experience medium to high water stress.

The impact of pollutionDeteriorating water quality influences water usability d/s, threatens human health and the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, thus reducing effective availability.

Water governance crisis Sectoral approaches to water resources management have dominated in the past and are still prevailing. This leads to fragmented and uncoordinated development and management of the resource.

Increased competition...Increased competition for the finite resource is aggravated by inefficient governance.

•Policy and institutional issues are complicated•Current approach is sectoral and fragmented


Securing water for people 1/5th of world’s population is without access to safe drinking water and half of the population is without access to adequate sanitation.

Challenges in Water Resources Management

Securing water for food productionOver the next 25 years food will be required for another 2-3 billion people. Water is increasingly seen as a key constraint on food production…

Protecting vital ecosystemsAquatic ecosystems depend on water flows, seasonality and water-table fluctuations and are threatened by poor water quality.

Gender disparitiesWater management is male dominated. Though their numbers are starting to grow, the representation of women in water sector institutions is still very low.

Managing risks. Providing security to human life and other economic, social and environmental systems from floods, droughts, pollution and other hazards.

Challenges in Water Resources Management

Coping with climate change. climate variability and climate change demand improved management of water to cope with more intense floods and droughts.

Forging the political will to act. political attention and commitment are vital to ensure good decision-making and the necessary investments in WR development and management.Collaboration across sectors and boundaries. finding appropriate ways to co-ordinate policy-making, planning and implementation in an integrated manner across sectoral, institutional and professional boundaries.

• Decreasing per-capita availability• Degrading water quality• Increasing competition/conflict within sectors and within

society– Agriculture versus fisheries; agriculture versus water supply– Haves versus have nots– Upstream versus downstream– National versus international

• Increasing competition/conflict with the environment

Demand• Increasing in all sectors• Inefficient use

Supply• Quantity (Natural Scarcity,

Groundwater Depletion)

• Quality Degradation• Cost of Options









IWRMIWRMIWRMIWRM

Where Are We Headed?

Challenges and Issues in Water Resources management in Bangladesh

Ever expanding water needs of a growing economy and population

Maintaining food security for this huge population puts tremendous challenge (additional food grain demand of 9.5 million tons in 2025)

More and more agricultural land is being taken up for urban and other uses.

Preserving natural ecosystems

Maintaining environmental flow

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(a) Bangladesh [Source: WARPO, 2001]

With the anticipated population growth, the increased stress will enhance the already existing conflicts between different users and different regions, e.g., between domestic and agricultural uses, agriculture and industry, agriculture and fisheries, upstream and downstream, etc.

Management of risk due to natural hazards -- the greatest challenge to water management in Bangladesh

Challenges and Issues in Water Resources management in Bangladesh

Water Resources Management Issues

Water Resources Management Issues - FLOODSwide spread river floods over

floodplains, flash floods in hilly streams, tidal flood and occasional cyclonic storm-surge flood

Water Resources Management Issues - EROSIONwide spread river floods over

floodplains, flash floods in hilly streams, tidal flood and occasional cyclonic storm-surge flood

huge sediment loads; river erosion along about 75 rivers

wide spread river floods over floodplains, flash floods in hilly streams, tidal flood and occasional cyclonic storm-surge flood


moderate to severe droughts spreading over 10 districts

Dry season from November to May brings water shortages. Extensive irrigation are impacting on hand-tubewells.

Water Resources Management Issues - DROUGHT

Wat. Res. Mgt. Issues - low dry season water availability




Dry season from November to May brings water shortages. Extensive are impacting on hand-tubewells.

very low dry season water availability in SW region due to Farakka diversion

increased salinity intrusion, threatened agriculture &. ecosystem (Sundarbans)

Wat. Res. Mgt. Issues – DEGRADING WATER QUALITY







degrading water quality

Wat. Res. Mgt. Issues – DEGRADING WATER QUALITY







degrading water quality

widespread GW arsenic contamination

Basic componentsPrecipitationEvaporationEvapotranspirationInfiltrationOverland flowStreamflowGroundwater flow

Linkage of landscape to hydrologic cycle

Floodplain LandscapeDeltas of the Ganges & the Brahmaputra (80% is floodplain)

Floodplain wetlands (Haor, Baor, Beel, Jheel)

Grass land

Urban and built-up

Agricultural land

Forest

Wetland

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Agricultural land

Forest

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Grass land

Urban and built-up

Agricultural land

Forest

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Grass land

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Agricultural land

Forest

Wetland

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Storage Function of FloodplainModerates flood flow

Recharges groundwater

Contributes water during dry season from release & baseflow

Maintains river morphology

The hydrologic cycle is being continuously affected by the modification of landscape.

Elimination of wetlands reduces storage space for floodwater.

Modification of land cover by land use change, encroachment of floodplains, deforestation and hill cutting changes the physical properties of land surface.

Road, water control and hazard prevention infrastructures trigger land use change, modify drainage pattern and transfer hazard risk elsewhere.

These activities bring changes in the infiltration and groundwater recharge processes and surface runoff and sediment transport processes that cause increased flood flow and decreased dry season flow in the river.

‘Land’ and ‘Water Management’

Environmental functions: moderation of flood peak, drainage of surface water, transport of sediment, maintenance of river morphology, recharging wetlands and groundwater, augmentation of dry season flow, prevention of saline water intrusion, assimilation of wastes, etc.;

• Ecological functions: providing soil moisture for vegetation, providing habitat for fish, aquatic plants and wild life, supporting bio-diversity, etc.;

• Socio-economic functions: supply of water for domestic use, agriculture, industry and power generation, providing conditions for navigation, recreation & tourism, etc.

These functions are essential for socio-economic activities and ecological sustenance. Ignoring these functions in water management decisions can have large impacts on economies, environment and rural livelihoods, and can undermine economic and poverty reduction goals and degrade ecosystems.

Functions of water resources systems

Previous water management approaches

Fragmented approach -- Increase Aman production (combat disasters!) -- Increase production through massive irrigation

Did not fully take account of the potential impacts on fisheries, navigation, forests, domestic and industrial water supply, bio-diversity and salinity management.

No consultation was made across sectoral and institutional boundaries, meaning little coordination among agencies related to water sector.

Social equity was largely ignored in project planning and development (inequitable distribution of costs and benefits)

Project designs and implementation also largely ignored people’s participation.

DOMESTIC and AGRICULTURAL USESRural domestic water supply impacted by irrigation for agriculture.

Impacts of fragmented approach

AGRICULTURE and INDUSTRY(In major cities)


AGRICULTURE and FISHERIES De-watering of beels for agriculture putting stress on fisheries

FISHERIES and FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTSFCD&I projects responsible for reduction in open water fisheries(e.g. an 80% decline in capture fisheries in FC covered area in NW region).


DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY and URBANIZATION Urban water supply impacted by rapid urbanization

FC PROJECTS and NAVIGATIONClosure of the outlet of floodplain khals by FC embankment creates obstruction to country boats.(Among 66 FC projects in the northeast region, 19 have major and 14 have medium level negative impacts on country boat transport)




FC polders in the tidal floodplains of SW and SC regions have resulted excessive siltation causing severe deterioration of morphology of tidal rivers.

Courtesy: IWM



FC polders in the tidal floodplains of SW and SC regions have resulted excessive siltation causing severe deterioration of morphology of tidal rivers.

Reduction of freshwater flow to the Ganges distributary because of diversion of Ganges water at Farakka by India, has aggravated the problem

TRANSPORTATION and FLOOD MANAGEMENTIll-planned roads and highways causes drainage congestion and flooding.


AQUACULTURE and AGRICULTUREShrimp aquaculture in SW region --- conflict with agricultural land use.

WRM system must include cross-sectoral information exchange and co-ordination procedures, AND evaluation of individual projects with respect to implications for others (and society).


Many different uses of water resources are interdependent; management of the water resource must take this into account

Why is IWRM useful?

IWRM - a significant step in addressing the shortcomings of traditional approaches;

More coordinated decision-making- across sectors

.....and scales

• Integrated management means that all different uses of water resources are considered together.

• ‘Management’ emphasizes that we must not only focus on development of water resources but that we must consciously manage water development in a way that ensures long term sustainable use for future generations.

• Integrated water resources management is therefore a systematic process for the sustainable development, allocation and monitoring of water resource use in the context of social, economic and environmental objectives.

• The basic IWRM concept has been extended to incorporate participatory decision making.

What is IWRM?

GWP (2000):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.

Definition of IWRM

All different uses of water resources are considered togetherWater allocation and management decisions to consider the effects of each use on the othersTake overall social and economic goals as well as achievement of sustainability into accountIncorporate participatory decision making

Economicefficiency

Environmental & ecologicalsustainability

Equity

Because of the increasing scarcity of water and financial resources, the finite and vulnerable nature of water as a resource, and the increasing demands upon it, water must be used with maximum possible efficiency;

The basic right for all people to have access to water of adequate quantity and quality for the sustenance of human wellbeing must be universally recognized;

The present use of the resource should be managed in a way that does not underminethe life-support system thereby compromising use by future generations of the same resource.

Effective management of water resources demands a holistic approach.

Finite – HC on average yields a fixed quantity.

(1) Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential to sustain life, development and the environment.

Water Management Principles

Raising awareness among policy-makers and the general public.

Real participation – when stakeholders are part of decision making

Stakeholders at all levels have an impact on decision at different levels of management.

(2) Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach, involving users, planners and policymakers at all levels.


Pivotal role of women in collecting and safeguarding water.

Seldom reflected in institutional arrangements for the development and management of WR.

Need positive policies to address women’s specific needs and to equip and empower women to participate at all levels.

Social and cultural circumstances vary – need to explore different mechanisms.

(3) Women play a central part in the provision, management and safeguarding of water


Many past failures in WRM – full value of water has not been recognized, leading to wasteful and environmentally damaging uses.

An important means for decision making on the allocation of water;

It is vital to recognise first the basic right of all human beings to have access to clean water and sanitation at an affordable price.

(4) Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and should be recognised as an economic good.“Water has a value as an economic good as well as a social good”


Integration of land and water managementInterdependence of land, water, ecosystems and socio-economic development

Implementing IWRM

Existing Wetlands Conservation Act alone can not prevent degradation of wetlands.

Integration can be facilitated by formulating and implementing a floodplain land use regulation.

restriction so as to ensure hydraulic link between the river and the floodplain, and the socio-economic and environmental functions of floodplainconstraint of environmental flow in order to ensure in-stream flow requirementPrograms are required to restore storage function of floodplain and for restoration of wetlands.

A single resource

Integration of surface water and groundwater management

Implementing IWRM

Integration of quantity and quality in WR development of appropriate quantities of water with an adequate quality.

Integration of u/s and d/s water-related interests Identification of conflicts of interests

Freshwater and coastal zone management Basin-wide management

Basin level integrationIt is not only important as a means of integrating land use and water issues, but also critical in managing the relationships between quantity and quality and between upstream and downstream water interests

Basin wide managementwould serve following purposes:

to address problems of flood, drought, water shortage, power shortage and environmental pollution faced by the countries sharing Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna basins, and

to augment dry season flow of the rivers to supply water for public health, agriculture, industry, inland fisheries, water transport and environmental conservation.

An institutional mechanism is needed for cooperation among riparian countries for basin wide planning and integrated approach to hazard reduction and multi-sectoral utilization of water resources.

Mainstreaming WR management with national economy Integration of water management (Water policy, strategies and decisions) with overall development process in order to make progress towards the goal of poverty reduction and sustainable development. None of the major agencies in Bangladesh in the water sector have articulated the essential linkages between water and poverty. In Bangladesh, it requires decision-making to be based on the assessment of the impacts of water management strategies, options and programmes on the NDGs, as stated in the NWP (economic development, poverty alleviation, food security, public health and safety, decent standard of living for the people, and protection of the natural environment)

Development of criteria, indicators, linkage relationships and operational guidelines is needed to assess the contribution of water management options to the NDGs.

Implementing IWRM

Implementing IWRMWater Resources Development : Sectoral approach

Implementing IWRMWater Resources Development : The IWRM Process

Cross-sectoral integration in national policy development

Water-related developments within all economic and social sectors are to be taken into account in overall management.

WRM system must include cross-sectoral information exchange and co-ordination procedures, AND evaluation of individual projects with respect to implications for others (and society).

Implementing IWRM

Integration of all stakeholders in the planning and decision process

Needs to be made mandatory at identification, appraisal and O & M stages of water use, land use and infrastructure construction projects.

Needs operational tools for conflict management and resolution.

Implementing IWRM

Implementing IWRMEnabling Environment

A1. PoliciesA2. LegislationA3. Financing & incentive structures

Institutional rolesB1. Creating an organizational frameworkB2. Institutional capacity building

Management instrumentsC1. Natural resources assessmentC2. Plans for IWRMC3. Demand managementC4. Social change instrumentC5. Conflict resolutionC6. Regulatory instrumentsC7. Economic instrumentsC8. Information management

INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT Lecture – 1.

Documents

water management slide

water stress water withdrawals

water flows

increasing scarcity

poor water quality

water of adequate quantity

high water stress

safe drinking water