Water Resources Management
Sustainable use can maintain environmental balance
Water is life: This resource should be kept well managed.
WATER and life are synonymous. Life is bountiful in terms of diversity and ecosystem-health in those regions on the earth where there are good sources of water supply either from stream, rain or groundwater aquifer. Not only life in the natural ecosystems is inevitably dependent on water but abundant supply of safe water is essential for healthy human life. Already we are facing water crisis at different places in the world. Conflicts are rising at local, regional and interntional level concerning rights to have access to water. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)Conflict over trans-boundary rivers is a major concern in the arena of international relation now-a-days. For instance, Farakka barrage remained the most burning issue between Bangladesh and India, Bangladesh being deprived of its righteous share of the Gangetic water. The demand for water from domestic to industrial sector is just soaring over the current years while pollution of water sources such as lakes, rivers and also ground water is rising in scale due to inconsiderate disposal of solid and liquid waste in the water bodies. The rivers around the city are so polluted that water harnessing from these rivers by water supplying authority is no more economically feasible. The recent clean Buriganga drive is praiseworthy but it will take time for the river water to be harnessed for domestic use. Meanwhile too much extraction of ground water is creating a great threat for the city dwellers with apprehension of earthquake cooming bigger and here comes the relevance of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM). According to Global Water Partnership (GWP), IWRM is a process which promotes the loordinated 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 eco-systems thus maintaining an environmental balance. Principles of IWRM:
* Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource, but essential to sustain life, development and the environment. * Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach, involving users, planners and policymakers at all levels. * Women play a central part in the provision, management and safeguarding of water. * Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and should be recognised as an economic goods. IWRM aims at:
* Efficiency to make water resources go as far as possible. * Equity in the allocation of water across different social and economic groups. * Environmental sustainability, to protect the water resources base and associated eco-systems. Impacts of Flood Control Drainage Irrigation (FCDI):
* Land degradation: micronutrient deficiencies * Open water fisheries: loss of connectivity * Water quality issues * Drinking water and sanitation problems * Social issue: control over common property resources * Impact on wild life and biodiversity * Increase in hazards from failure of infrastructure Challenges and issues in water management:
* 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 equilibrium Issues for management
* Widespread 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 * Moderate to severe droughts spreading over 10 districts * Dry season (from November to May) water shortages. Extensive impact on hand-tube wells. * Very low dry season water availability in SW region due to Farakka diversion * Increased salinity intrusion, threatened agriculture and ecosystem (Sundarbans) * Degrading water quality * Widespread arsenic contamination of ground water Paradigm-shift
In recent years, integrated water resources management has been adopted instead of the traditional concept of water resources development. Water demands vary a lot in terms of nature of utilization, required amount and quality of water. In past only irrigation for crop fields was the target of water resources development in Bangladesh. The projects of Water Development Board designed in 1960s were focused on augmenting agricultural production through flood control, drainage and irrigation. But water resource has various uses and the uses can be categorized under the following sectors * Agriculture Irrigation * Fisheries: Culture and growth medium * Domestic: Mainly consumptive use * Industrial: As raw material and major process agent * Livestock and poultry: For drinking and cleaning * Transport: Non consumptive important use * Ecosystems both terrestrial and aquatic: Needed to sustain ecosystem services Challenges to be faced by IWRM
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 water. Securing water for food production: Over the next 25 years food will be required for more 2-3 billion people. Water is increasingly seen as a key constraint on food production. Irrigation is an essential part of modern agricultural practices where excessive water for high yielding varieties of crops is a must. Protecting vital ecosystems: Aquatic ecosystems depend on water flows, seasonality and water-table fluctuations and are threatened by poor water quality. Gender disparities: Water 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. 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: Political attention and commitment are vital to ensure good decision-making and the necessary investments in water resource 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 How to Implement IWRM in water sector projects?
Evaluating all available sources of water: Though about 71% of the earth surface is covered with water this water is not usable for human kind for doing the essential works for living such as cooking, washing and irrigation let alone using for drinking purpose. The occurance and distribution of fresh water on the continents is very limited. The available sources now can be broadly categorized into three classes as the following * Surface water * Ground water * Rain water Cooperative role: For successful management of water resources it is needed to ensure collaborative efforts by the manager, planner and benefit harnessing parties of water resources. Planning to be done on the following considerations-
* Water requirement * Quantity and quality of available water resources * Sequential use of water * Water recycle * Discharge standards * Waste water treatment * Treatment for drinking purpose Management of water resources
Pollution prevention: The first priority is set for protection of water resources from pollution. Both the surface and ground water sources can be polluted by human activities. The rivers around the towns and cities are worst polluted. River pollution in upstream can affect water users in downstream. Reuse: Reuse of water can reduce the total water demand which can ultimately reduce human impact on the environment. Reuse of water can be applied both at domestic and industrial sector. Waste water from industrial sources can be used for irrigation if decontaminated properly. Harvesting of rain water: Diversion of river water and pollution of ground water resulted in rain water harvesting in many localities in Bangladesh. New innovative technologies are needed to accelerate the utilization of rain water. Appropriate use: Water should be used for a specific purpose based on its quality. Drinking water quality and irrigation water quality are not the same. For successful management of water resources the quality of available water resources must be assessed first, then allocation of type and quantity of water set for various sectors. Conclusion
The crisis of water which is already apparent in many parts of the world can engulf the whole human race. The process continues with degradation of water resources, inequitable distribution and non-cooperation between the parties who own, manage and utilize water resources. For successful management of water resources, integrated approach is very important. Segmented approach can hamper different water dependent sectors. Integrated water resources management aims at broadly two issues -- ensuring sustainability and raising economic benefits.
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