Integrated Water Resources Management

INTRODUCTION

Challenges require IWRM; Challenges faced by more and more countries in their struggle for economic and social development are increasingly related to water. Water shortages, quality deterioration and flood impacts are among the problems which require greater attention and action. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a process which can assist countries in their endeavour to deal with water issues in a cost-effective and sustainable way. The concept of IWRM has attracted particular attention following the international conferences on water and environmental issues in Dublin and Rio de Janeiro held during 1992; however IWRM has neither been unambiguously defined nor has the question of how it is to be implemented been fully addressed. What has to be integrated
and how is it best done? Can the agreed broad principles for IWRM be operationalized in practice – and, if so, how?