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AnnexI:WaterasaKeyResourceinSustainableDevelopment
FromReportoftheExpertGroupMeetingonStrategicApproachestoFreshwater
Management,Harare,Zimbabwe,January1998

TableofContents
I. Introduction
II. TheStresses
III. IntegratedWaterResourcesManagement
IV. TheImplicationsforPolicyResponsesandManagement
Strategies
A. TheDevelopmentofNationalandSubnationalWaterPolicy
andProgrammes
B. DevelopingManagementStrategies

V. ImplementingtheManagementStrategies
VI. TransboundaryWaterSystems

AnnexI
WaterasaKeyResourceinSustainableDevelopment:
ReportofWorkingGroup1
I.Introduction
43.TheWorkingGroup'sdiscussionwasbaseduponarecognitionthatwateris
fundamentaltosustainabledevelopmentandabasiccomponentofnationalandregional
ecosystems.Inmanypartsoftheworld,currentpatternsofdevelopmentandusearenot
sustainable,environmentally,sociallyandeconomically.
44.Thefourstagediscussionprocesswas
a. abriefconsiderationofthestressesonfreshwater
b. abriefconsiderationoftheroleofintegratedwaterresourcemanagementineasing
thestressesandresolvingcompetitionforlimitedwaterresources
c. amoredetailedconsiderationofthepolicyresponsesandchoices,thedevelopment
ofstrategiesorlinesofapproachandthechoiceofmanagementoptionsand
d. thearticulationofactionsatinternational,regional,nationalandlocallevel(in
which'local'comprisesallsubnationallevelsfromstates,provinces,regions,
municipalities,districtsdowntocommunitylevel).

II.TheStresses
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45.Thereareanumberofunprecedenteddemandsforwatersupplies,resultingfrom
populationgrowthandsectoralpressures,bothasconsumptiveandnonconsumptive
uses.Thisincludesinparticular,agriculture(particularlyirrigationanddrainage),the
provisionofdomesticwatersupplyandsanitation,industry,energyproduction,
environment/amenity(includingtourism)/ecosystems,changesinpatternsof
consumptionasaresultofindustrialisation,rural/urbanshifts,migration,and
unaccountedforwater.Acharacteristicofthesestressesisthatalltheircomponentsare
notequallydistributedintimeandspace.Allareseekingtomaximisethestreamofsocial
andeconomicbenefitsfromalimitedresourcebase.
46.Unprecedentedimpactsonthewaterresourcebaseincludereducedbaseflows,
decliningaquiferreserves,pointandnonpointpollutiontosurfaceandgroundwater,
backgroundlevelsofcontamination,andclimaticvariabilityandhydrologicaluncertainty.
Thesetogetherarehavingunprecedentedimpactsonsocioeconomicdevelopment,which
canleadtodeterioratingpublichealth(indicatingthathealthaspectsneedtobeexplicitly
factoredintotheplanningprocess)usersforcedtointernalisetheexternalitiesofother
users(leading,forexample,toupstream/downstreamdisputes),increasingcostsofwater
development,limitationsondevelopment,andimpactsonnationalsecurity.
47.Thiscanresultinthedegradationoftheresourcebase,intensifiedcompetitionfor
waterquantityandquality(forexample,agriculturelookingforhighvolumesoflow
qualitywater,municipalitieslookingforsmallvolumesofhighqualitywater)andtheloss
ofproductivityrelatedtowater.
48.Thestrategicchallengesistoensuresustainabilityoftheresourceinthefaceofthe
abovestresses.

III.IntegratedWaterResourcesManagement
49.Thereisacompellingcaseforadoptingintegratedwaterresourcesmanagement
approaches,althoughsomepastattemptshavenotbeenfullysuccessful.Toachieve
success,watermanagementshouldbeconductedwithinanationaleconomicframework
asakeyelementinsustainableeconomicdevelopmentandpovertyalleviation.When
doingso,countriesshouldaskpreciselywhatrolewaterresourcesmanagementcanplay
in
a. promotingsocioeconomicproductivitythroughcoordinationandintegrationof
sectoralpoliciesandexplicitlinkageofwaterintheeconomicframeworkand
planningprocess
b. promotingsustainabilitymaintainingtheassetvalueofthewaterresourcebase
c. mitigatingclimatechangebyusingenergyfromwaterandtheuseofsolarandwind
energyforwaterpumping
d. promotingsoilandwaterconservationthroughexplicitlinkageofwaterwithland
andforestrypolicies
e. promotingpeaceandsecuritythroughcooperationinthemanagementof
internationalwatersystems.
50.Suchmanagementcanalsoprovidefor:
a. reconcilingequityandefficiencyintheallocationofresources,provisionofwater
servicesandtheprotectionoftheresourcebase,thatiswhopaysandwhobenefits
and
b. promotingtheuseofbestpracticesandappropriatetechnologiesformanaging
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waterdemandandsupply.
51.Integratedwaterresourcesmanagementismosteffectivewhenconductedinthe
spatialframeworkoftheriverbasinoraquiferandshouldbesupportedbyintegrated
informationmanagementsystems.

IV.TheImplicationsforPolicyResponsesandManagement
Strategies
A.TheDevelopmentofNationalandSubnationalWaterPolicyand
Programmes
52.TheCommissiononSustainableDevelopment(CSD)shouldurge,asrecommendedin
Agenda21,thateachcountryadoptanationalwaterpolicyandaccompanying
programmes,wherethisalreadyexists,reviewandrevisesuchpolicyandprogrammesas
necessary.TheCSDshouldcalluponcountriestosubmitinformationontheirpolicyand
nationalprogrammesintheyear2002.Policiesshouldbedevelopedinanopenand
transparentprocesswiththeparticipationofallstakeholders.
53.Insomelargecountries,theresponsibilitiesforthedevelopmentandimplementation
ofsuchpoliciesandprogrammesmayneedtobedividedbetweennationalandsub
national(state/province)entities.
54.Theelementsofsuchnationalinstrumentscouldinclude,interalia:
a. Theformulationandimplementationofresearch,monitoringandinformation
managementprogrammesforunderstandingthequantityandqualityofthe
resourcebaseanditsvariabilityintimeandspace,andthesocialandeconomic
forcesaffectingthem
b. Theallocationofwaterresources,takingintoaccounttheprinciplethataccessto
safedrinkingwaterandsanitationisessentialforsatisfyingbasichuman
requirements,thatotherallocationsshouldbebaseduponconsiderationof
economicefficiencyandequity,andthatallocationsshouldbebasedon
sustainabilityoftheresourcebase,includinganecosystemapproachand
environmentalprotection
c. Theincorporationofhealthconcernsintothefreshwatermanagementprocess
throughtheadoptionofexplicithealthobjectivesinplanning,theuseofhealth
indicatorsinroutinemonitoringandtheassessmentofhealthoutcomesin
evaluation
d. Theprotectionoftheaquaticenvironment,includingwetlands,fromlocaland
diffusepollutionsourcesandfromthreatsposedbyexoticinfluencestomaintain
physicalandchemicalbalancesandbiologicalintegrity
e. Themanagementofdemandasakeypartofthepolicy,focusingonwater
conservationthroughrecyclingandreuseandwhereappropriatetobedrivenby
pricingpoliciesandbyadoptingbestpracticesandappropriatetechnologies
f. Themanagementofwatersupplyinordertodealwithannualandinterannual
variations,tosupportfoodsecurityandotherpurposes
g. Theprovisionofappropriatemechanismsformanagementoflandandwater
resourcesonanintegratedbasiswithinnaturalhydrologicalandhydrogeological
units(riverbasinsandaquifers),providingfornecessaryinteractionswith
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administrativeorganisationswhereprovincial,municipalanddistrictboundaries
donotcoincidewithbasinoraquiferboundaries
h. Theinclusionsofprovisionsforcopingwithhydrologicalextremeeventsand
disturbances,particularlydroughtsandfloodsanderosion,through
implementationofprogrammesofdroughtpreparednessandfloodprotectionand
mitigationincludingadequatemonitoringandearlywarningsystems
i. Thedevelopmentandsustenanceofappropriateinstitutionsincludingcross
sectoralwatercouncilsandrecognisingneedsforcapacitybuilding,public
informationandeducation.

B.DevelopingManagementStrategies
55.Findingstrategicmanagementapproachestoimplementthepolicyandtosupport
social,economicandenvironmentalpolicies,aswellaspromotingthelongterm
sustainabilityofthewaterresourcebaserequiresachoiceamonganumberof
managementtools.Institutionaldesign,economicinstruments,advocacy,public
education,(i.e.thewholerangeofmanagementtools)canbeconsidered.Particular
attentionneedtobepaidtoensuringthatthepoorbenefitfromthestrategyadopted.
However,giventhatitisnotpossibletodoeverythingatonceandgiventheknown
constraints,thethematicareasinwhichstrategiccrosssectoralinterventionsarepossible
areoutlinedbelow:
a. Buildawarenessatalllevels(International,regionalandatsharedbasin/aquifer
level).Thisincludestheroleofeducationandtherecognitionoftheneedsof
specificgroups,suchaswomen
b. Buildcapacityincludingstrengtheningparticipatoryframeworks,promoting
communityownershipandmanagement,developingwaterresourcesmanagement
skillsandinstitutionsatbasin/aquiferlevel,developingoperationalmonitoringand
evaluationproceduresdevelopingoperationandmaintenanceand,promoting
publicprivatesectorpartnerships
c. Promoteanenablingenvironmentthrough
i. declaringawaterpolicywithexplicitrecognitionofbasinandaquifer
management
ii. continuouslymonitoringandevaluatingpolicyandactionplans
iii. developinganeffectivelegalandregulatoryframeworkincludingthose
neededwithinabasin/aquiferframework
iv. ensuringeffectiveregulation
v. decentralisingtheimplementationofregulatoryandoperationalfunctionsto
theextentpractical
vi. adoptingappropriateinstrumentsforallocationand
vii. sustainingwaterandsocioeconomicdataandinformationsystems
d. Ensuresoundsectoralstrategiesthrough:
i. settingsectoraltargetsanddevelopingvisiblestate,processresponse
indicators,ensuringthattargetsaredirectedespeciallytowardsthepoor
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ii. extendsustainablewatersupplyandsanitationservices
iii. increasingagricultural/aquacultureproductivityandfoodproductionper
unitofwater
iv. promotingwaterconservationthroughjudicioususeofproceduresand
technology,oldaswellasnew
v. harmonizingwaterresourcesmanagementandenergysectorstrategies
vi. promotingsoilandwaterconservationaspartofbasinwidestrategies
vii. integratingerosionandfloodcontrolwithlandandforestrydevelopment
and
viii. integratingwater/soil/airpollutioncontrolmeasures
e. Copewithvariabilityandchangeincludingstructuralandnonstructuralsolutions
forflooddamagereductionreducingimpactsoffloodingoninhabitantsofaffected
areas,anddevelopingprogrammesfordroughtpreparedness
f. Promoteregionalcooperationthrough:
i. developingapproachestointernationalmanagementbutbuildingonasound
nationalbase
ii. adoptingcooperativestrategies
iii. facilitatinginformationexchangebetweenripariansand
iv. promotingriverbasinorganisationsandbasinlevelplanningand
development.

V.ImplementingtheManagementStrategies
56.Suggestedactionstobetakenwithincountriesforimplementingmanagement
strategiesinclude:
a. Inconsideringthemanagementstrategiesandimplementationmeasurestobe
adopted,countriesneedtodevelopprofilesofcurrentfreshwatermanagement
identifyingthefactorsthatimpedeprogresstowardintegratedwaterresources
management
b. Startingfromthelocallevel,thereisaneedto
analyseandidentifycapacitybuildingrequirementsthroughresearchand
analysis
designappropriatewaterresourceandenvironmentalmanagement
strategies
integratelocallevelinitiativesinoverallbasinplanningframework,and
strengthenthecapacityofcommunitiesinthemanagementoftheirwater
resources
c. Developconsensusamongallstakeholdersthroughbroadbasedconsultationswith
aviewtodevelopingpoliticalwill
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d. Developestimatesofnationalwaterexpendituresandbenefitsinorderto
demonstratethesignificanceofthewatersectorforthenationaleconomyandto
assistinsettingpriorities
e. Adopttechnologiescombiningindigenousandmoderntechniques,especiallyfor
waterconservation,reuseandimprovedefficiencyinirrigationandothersectors
f. Coordinationandmonitoringofwaterwithdrawalatnationalorbasin/aquifer
leveltoensurethesustainabilityoftheresourcebase
g. Supportwatermonitoringandundertakeandpublicisestudiesoftheeconomic
valueofwaterdata.
57.Recommendationsattheinternationallevelincludethefollowing:
a. TheExpertGroupMeetingrecommendedtotheCSDthecompletionofthe
developmentofwatersectorindicatorsinthecontextofitsprogrammeofworkon
indicatorsofsustainabledevelopment,takingintoaccountongoingworkinthis
area
b. Thatinternationalcooperationonwaterrelatednaturaldisastersbecontinued
aftertheendofIDNDR(1999),inparticularthroughthemaintenanceofearly
warningsystemsandtheexchangesofinformationondisasterlossreduction
methods
c. Promotionbytheinternationalcommunityofinformationexchangewithspecial
effortstolinkallcountrieselectronically
d. Internationalorganisationsshouldmobiliseandcoordinateassistancefor
education,trainingandcapacitybuilding
e. DevelopmentofaconsolidatedUnitedNationsGuidebookonintegratedwater
resourcesmanagementtoreplaceexistingsectoralguidelines
f. SupportbyGovernmentsandtheinternationalcommunityforthemaintenanceof
internationalinformationandmonitoringnetworks
g. HarmonisationbyGovernmentsofdatacollectionatthebasin/aquiferlevel
h. Multiandbilateralpartnersshouldemphasiseintegratedwaterresources
management,takingintoaccounttheneedsofthepoorestcommunities.

VI.TransboundaryWaterSystems
58.RiparianStatesareencouragedtocooperateamongeachotheronmattersrelatedto
transboundarywaterresources,buildingonexistingagreementsprinciples,
arrangements,instrumentsandprogrammesofaction,takingintoaccounttheinterests
ofallriparianStatesconcerned.Suchefforts,uponcommonrequestsofconcerned
States,mayneedtobesupportedthroughinternationalcooperation.
AnnexII:FreshwaterEcosystemsandWaterQualityReportofWorkingGroup2
AnnexIII:EconomicandFinancialIssues:ReportofWorkingGroup3
AnnexIV.ParticipationandInstitutionsforIntegratedWaterResourcesManagement
ReportofWorkingGroup4

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