IV. Water Governance and Management

Water Players and decision makers Different players have conflicting views on water insecurity One player may have quite complex views; most governments will have departments defending conservation as well as others focused on economic development Political: water is a human need International organisations e.g. the United Nations (UN) Government Regional & local councils Lobbyists & pressure groups Economic International: World Bank & IMF TNCs and developers Businesses and users Environmental Conservationists Scientists & planners Social: water is a human right Individuals Residents Consumers land owners, health officials, NGOs like Water Aid Photograph of Aral Sea with grounded tanker

Video: The Corporation: Chapter 18 Expansion Plan Privatization of Bolivian Water

Key Question How to meet the challenge of the need for more water?

Responses: Management strategies Water conflicts can be managed in a range of different ways There is a spectrum of different management strategies Some are sustainable as they balance ecological and human needs Present policies Driven by short term economic + political concerns Often do not include science and effective technology Obstacles to sustainable management Climate change uncertainty and effects Natural variability of water Pressures caused by human activities and rapid growth of transition economies towards a consumerist society Increased water demands Gross inefficiencies in use Poor existing quality of supply across huge areas of world Funding Access to appropriate technology Future policies? Longer term? Need more research, information and monitoring especially on aquifers in developing countries More partnerships? More community involvement? More accountability? Strategies rely on technology?

Hard management solutions Traditional ‘hard’ engineering Dam s; currently 845,000 of which 5,000 classed as megadams. The aim is to increase natural storage capacity by artificial reservoirs. Channels, seen in most arid/semi arid countries whatever their economic status Pipelines Desalination plants Recharging schemes for depleted aquifers Newer hard technologies  Tankers to transport water  Osmosis membranes filtering salt from brackish water  Fertigation : fertilser and water drip feeding of crops

Cost of Equipment Desalinization Plant200 – 400 million euros (for the largest: Barcelona, Algiers, Oran…) Water Pumping and Transfer project over 750 km in Algerian Sahara Desert 1 billion euros Three Gorges Dam23-50 billion euros Itaipu Dam (Brazil/Paraguay)15-18 billion euros

Soft Management Solutions Softer more environmentally and ethically responsible approaches Water conservation e.g. targeted drip irrigation on plants or water harvesting Water restoration Integrated drainage basin management, especially if bottom up and community involved. The 4 Rs: i.e. an attitude fix: Reduce, Respect, Reuse, Renew..... Specific Technologies seen as appropriate / intermediate with fewer negative consequences Water harvesting of grey water Micro dams serving villages Water meters to reduce use Composting latrines – seen in National Trust properties in UK to Mumbai slums!

Conclusion: Water Future Water stress and scarcity are projected to increase because: Climate change will make some areas more arid and rainfall more unreliable Glacial water sources will reduce due to climate change Unsustainable use of some supplies will decrease their quality and quantity Demand will rise due to population and economic growth Water wars will lead to winners and losers in water supply