Update 2003 Sharing knowledge for equitable, efficient and sustainable water resources management Integrated Water Resources Management Resources Water Integrated IWRM ToolBox Version 2 - Foreword Dear Friends and Colleagues, I am pleased to introduce to you Version 2 of the IWRM Toolbox, an instrument aimed at assisting with the development of practices inspired by the principles of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM). As Margaret Catley-Carlson, our Chair, stressed in the Preface to Version 1, introducing IWRM is hard work! On the surface IWRM seems easily understood and it is being embraced by everybody as it is a concept that is hard to disagree with – like many other complementary definitions used in the search for social justice and better living conditions for all, such as the fight against poverty and the promotion of gender equality. However, once people – even with the greatest of enthusiasm – try to put IWRM into practice, they are faced with the apparently insurmountable difficulty of bringing together a very intricate socio-economic reality, the legacy of the past and its ingrained practices and beliefs, and the apparently non-reconcilable conflicting demands. Is the task impossible? No, but it does require the joint effort of all stakeholders to bring about – stakeholders who, in most cases, have generally acted in isolation of each other, or even consciously or unconsciously fighting against each other. This presents one of the main challenges for the GWP – rallying all stakeholders together and encouraging them to integrate their activities as advocated by IWRM. Even if the perfect application of IWRM practices is unrealistic – as in any theoretical framework – its principles offer a very practical set of references to pursue sustainable development and management of water resources. Although the ToolBox aims to be a key reference instrument for the practical application of IWRM, it is neither a sacred text, where all truth can be found, nor a manual, from where an answer for any problem at hand can be lifted. Instead, all the information contained in the ToolBox can be useful in identifying and establishing feasible IWRM practices in a range of contexts, and it is a ‘meeting point’ for practitioners committed to establishing IWRM. Indeed, Version 2 already reflects the ideas and constructive criticisms provided by many of our friends and colleagues – contributions for which the whole GWP family, and myself personally, wish to express our gratitude. Also, considering the essential role of education and capacity building, it is very encouraging to see that in some universities and teaching institutions the ToolBox has already been adopted as a ‘text-book’ in IWRM-related courses. I trust all of you, and the whole IWRM community, will continue your active participation in making the ToolBox a ‘living instrument’ for the practical application of IWRM. This volume shows all the Tools and lists case studies, but the full interactive ToolBox is to be found on the web at www.gwpforum.org, and is supported by a CDrom version. Finally, I would like to add my voice to the clear message going worldwide that calls for a clear transition from advocacy to action – a message reinforced in the recent World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg which called for all nations to have National Water Resources Management Plans in place by the year 2005. The GWP, from its patiently constructed and carefully defended neutral platform, aims to be a facilitator of this process. I believe that the IWRM ToolBox can be a very significant instrument in helping people to address this challenge. Emilio Gabbrielli Executive Secretary, GWP CONTENTS POLICY CHOICES AND CHALLENGES..................................................................................1 A THE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT A1 POLICIES – Setting goals for water use, protection and conservation.........................................13 A1.1 Preparation of a national water resources policy......................................................................15 A1.2 Policies with relation to water resources ..................................................................................17 A2 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK – Water policy translated into law ...........................................19 A2.1 Water rights ..............................................................................................................................21 A2.2 Legislation for water quality.....................................................................................................23 A2.3 Reform of existing legislation ..................................................................................................25 A3 FINANCING AND INCENTIVE STRUCTURES – Financial resources to meet water needs...27 A3.1 Investment policies...................................................................................................................29 A3.2 Financing options I: Grants and internal sources......................................................................31 A3.3 Financing options II: Loans and equity ....................................................................................33 B INSTITUTIONAL ROLES B1 CREATING AN ORGANISATIONAL FRAMEWORK – Forms and functions ........................35 B1.1 Reforming institutions for better governance ...........................................................................37 B1.2 Transboundary organisations for water resource management.................................................39 B1.3 National apex bodies ................................................................................................................41 B1.4 River basin organisations..........................................................................................................43 B1.5 Regulatory bodies and enforcement agencies...........................................................................45 B1.6 Service providers and IWRM...................................................................................................47 B1.7 Strengthening public sector water utilities................................................................................49 B1.8 Role of the private sector..........................................................................................................51 B1.9 Civil society institutions and community based organisations .................................................53 B1.10 Local authorities .......................................................................................................................55 B1.11 Building Partnerships ...............................................................................................................57 B2 BUILDING INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY - Developing human resources...............................59 B2.1 Participatory capacity and empowerment in civil society ........................................................61 B2.2 Training to build capacity in water professionals.....................................................................63 B2.3 Regulatory capacity..................................................................................................................65 C MANAGEMENT INSTRUMENTS C1 WATER RESOURCES ASSESSMENT – Understanding resources and needs ..........................67 C1.1 Water resources knowledge base..............................................................................................69 C1.2 Water resources assessment......................................................................................................71 C1.3 Modelling in IWRM.................................................................................................................73 C1.4 Developing water management indicators................................................................................75 C1.5 Ecosystem assessment..............................................................................................................77 C2 PLANS FOR IWRM – Combining development options, resource use and human interaction ...........................................................................................................................................79 C2.1 National integrated water resources plans ................................................................................81 C2.2 Basin management plans ..........................................................................................................83 C2.3 Groundwater management plans ..............................................................................................85 C2.4 Coastal zone management plans...............................................................................................87 C2.5 Risk assessment and management............................................................................................89 C2.6 Environmental Assessment (EA)..............................................................................................91 C2.7 Social Assessment (SA) ...........................................................................................................93 C2.8 Economic assessment ...............................................................................................................95 C3 EFFICIENCY IN WATER USE – Managing demand and supply................................................97 C3.1 Improved efficiency of use.......................................................................................................99