Sustainable Water Management: Past, Present, and Future
Comparing Past and Future Water Resource Management
Traditional water management focuses on increasing supply to meet growing demands driven by population and economic growth. This approach often overlooks the self-regulatory capacity of water systems. In contrast, sustainable water management, from a sustainability perspective, aims to prevent overfishing and pollution. It may involve adjusting economic growth rates and controlling population growth to align with the carrying capacity of water resources.
The objective of sustainable water planning is to match human consumption with the water resources of each watershed, avoiding inter-basin transfers. This aligns with the principle of sustainable integration, where water management plans are embedded within broader planning frameworks.
Main Risks from the Hydrosphere
Flooding
Flooding is a natural process that can be exacerbated by human activities. It involves the overflow of a water body, leading to the inundation of areas not typically submerged and the transport of large sediment loads.
Coastal Hazards
Coastal hazards include cliff erosion, which can threaten structures, and the destruction of beaches during storms. Human activities can also alter drift currents, impacting coastal dynamics.
Risks from Poor Water Quality
Water quality issues are leading to an increase in preventable diseases in many countries. Conflicts over water resources are anticipated to rise in the coming century. Additionally, induced salinization of groundwater by seawater intrusion affects coastal regions, rendering water unusable for both consumption and agriculture.
Five Steps for Sustainable Water Reserve Use
As an environmental official, I would implement the following five steps for sustainable water reserve use, guided by principles of sustainable integration and precaution:
- Integrated Land Use Planning: Protect rivers, streams, and aquifers from pollution and salinization. Conserve forests, which act as natural reservoirs, slowing water velocity, increasing humidity, and promoting rainfall. Regulate the exploitation of aquifers to maintain water tables within natural oscillations.
- Mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs): Require EIAs for any necessary infrastructure projects like dams or diversions to understand and mitigate their environmental effects.
- Promote Hydrological Research: Invest in research to better understand the hydrological cycle of each watershed, its ecosystems, and the available water resources for human populations.
- Improve Pollution Control at Source: Enhance wastewater treatment and promote water recycling to reduce pollution entering water bodies.
- Strengthen Monitoring, Enforcement, and Education: Improve monitoring networks, strengthen environmental laws with deterrent fees or penalties, and enhance public information and environmental education campaigns.
“