scholarly journals Perspective: The challenge of ecologically sustainable water management

Water Policy ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 475-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Bernhardt ◽  
StuartE. Bunn ◽  
David D. Hart ◽  
Björn Malmqvist ◽  
Timo Muotka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Environmental Water ◽  
Sustainable Water Management ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Water Demands ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Ecologically Sustainable

Sustainable water resource management is constrained by three pervasive myths; that societal and environmental water demands always compete with one another; that technological solutions can solve all water resource management problems; and that environmental solutions to protect and maintain freshwater resources are more expensive and less dependable than technological solutions. We argue that conservation and good stewardship of water resources can go a long way toward meeting societal demands and values. Furthermore, water requirements to sustain ecosystem health and biodiversity in rivers and their associated coastal systems can be well aligned with options for human use and deliver a suite of ecosystem goods and services to society. However, to achieve ecologically sustainable water management, we propose several key issues that must be addressed. The objective of this opinion paper is to stimulate discussion across traditional discipline boundaries with the aim of forging new partnerships and collaborations to meet this pressing challenge of ecologically sustainable water management.

scholarly journals Minimizing carbon loss through integrated water resource management on peatland utilization in Pulau Burung, Riau, Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 200 ◽  
pp. 02019
Author(s):  
Nurul Ihsan Fawzi ◽  
Annisa Noyara Rahmasary ◽  
Ika Zahara Qurani
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Table ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Peat Soil ◽  
Carbon Loss ◽  
Integrated Water Resource Management ◽  
Subsidence Rate ◽  
Yearly Average

Sustainable utilization of peatland is required for balancing production and conservation efforts. On peatland, one of the main components to examine sustainability is understanding the carbon balance. This research was conducted in Pulau Burung, Riau, Indonesia, which has a long history of peatland utilization for agriculture. The sets of utilized data included historical data of water management on peatland represented by water table and subsidence rate, next to carbon density of peat soil. The results showed the function of integrated water resource management made the yearly average water table depth is 48 and 49 cm in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The range water table is between 31cm to 72 cm due to season variability and crop requirement. Consequently, the rate of annual subsidence is averaging at 1.7 cm with cumulative subsidence in 32 yr is 54.1 cm. Since the water never drained since the establishment, the subsidence rate of the first five years is averaging only at 3.3 cm yr–1. Low subsidence rates minimize annual carbon loss during the peatland utilization around (30 to 200) Mg CO2 ha–1 yr–1. In 32 yr, the water management in peatland utilization in Pulau Burung has prevented 2 000 Mg CO2 ha–1 to 4 925 Mg CO2 ha–1 loss compared to other cultivated areas in peatland. Further, this paper discusses the practice that resulted in low emission of coconut agriculture in Pulau Burung as one of sustainability dimensions, which support the other sustainability aspects, that is the thriving local livelihood.

Water resource management in ancient Iran with emphasis on technological approaches: a cultural heritage

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 582-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gagik Badalians Gholikandi ◽  
Mandana Sadrzadeh ◽  
Shervin Jamshidi ◽  
Morteza Ebrahimi
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Hydraulic Systems ◽  
Water Demands ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
History Of ◽  
Engineered Structures ◽  
Water Conveyance

Water is an essential component in the history of Iran. Due to the unfavorable distribution of surface water and the fluctuation of yearly seasonal streams, to fulfill water demands, ancient Iranians have tried to provide a better condition for utilization of water. Accordingly, elegant designs like qanats became an indispensable element of hydraulic systems, while institutional frameworks were innovated to be combined with in water resource management. Evidence shows that hydraulic structures and water establishments date back thousands of years known as cultural heritage. Besides, the ancient Iranians have realized the importance of an organization to supervise irrigation and water conveyance. Thus, during the Achaemenid and Sasanian Empires, water engineering was developed significantly through the whole territory. The governmental endorsements associated with contemporary engineered structures have made extensive innovations in water systems, such as canals, watermills, water treatment, water storage, piping and construction. The infrastructure fulfilled a wide range of necessities of a civilized country and assisted in achieving its golden era. Consequently, this paper is aimed at studying ancient water resource management and technological approaches in Iran.

Scope/need of soft path water resource management in developing countries

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 185-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.T. Amin ◽  
M. Han
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Efficient Technology ◽  
Environmentally Sound

The goal of this paper is to identify the major outlines of innovative, integrated and decentralized water management practices, training, research, and development needs in various aspects of soft path water resource management in developing countries of Asia. The decentralized water strategies including science, regulations, training, government policies, and funding for some of the developing countries in Asian region are reviewed. There are two primary ways or paths of meeting water-related needs; one the “hard” path, and the other “soft” path that complements mainly decentralized and open decision-making, application of efficient technology, and environmental protection. One of the soft path decentralized solution being implemented in many developing countries of Asia is small scale rainwater harvesting and management and both government and non-government sectors are promoting the practice on a regional community and family basis. Overall, the paper aims to contribute to the ongoing development of environmentally sound and economically viable approaches to water management in the developing world.

SOUTH AFRICA'S RESERVE: CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICIES

2006 ◽  
Vol 08 (01) ◽  
pp. 61-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALISON BODURTHA QUA-ENOO ◽  
KATE SCHENDEL ◽  
NEVIL QUINN
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Key Issues

South Africa introduced a visionary policy for water resource management in 1998. The South African National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) contains several innovative mechanisms with the potential to transform water resource management within the country and abroad. The Reserve is one of these innovations, guaranteeing a basic water requirement for both human needs and ecosystem health. This article discusses the process of Reserve determination and implementation in South Africa and identifies challenges and opportunities for successful implementation. Based on the perceptions of 28 water managers, consultants, and researchers, the key issues and recommendations for improving implementation are presented. The major findings indicate that political support, the capacity of the implementing organization, supporting policies, strong linkages between policy actors and effective monitoring programs are key issues in the successful implementation of sustainable development policy mechanisms.

scholarly journals Integrated water resource management for mega city: a case study of Dhaka city, Bangladesh / Zintegrowane zarządzanie zasobami wodnymi dużych miast: przykład miasta Dakka w Bangladeszu

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasir Hossain ◽  
Khalid Md. Bahauddin
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Integrated Water Resource Management ◽  
Ground Water Recharge ◽  
Daunting Task

Abstract Dhaka the capital of Bangladesh is facing a serious water scarcity problem due to the big gap between demand and supply of water system. When accelerating water scarcities and pollution in and around urban centers are superimposed on issues like continuing urbanization, lack of investment funds for constructing and maintaining water infrastructures, high public debts, inefficient resources allocation processes, inadequate management capacities, poor governance, inappropriate institutional frameworks and inadequate legal and regulatory regimes, water management in the megacities poses a daunting task in the future. To overcome these water related problems, water can be a designing element for structuring future development with the combination of sustainable approaches for social and physical transformation, open up opportunities for water management system. Therefore an integrated approach like integrated water resource management (IWRM) system is required that responds to problems that are all interrelated. Alternate supply and demand management tools such as ground water recharge, rainwater harvesting, effective water pricing, reclaimed water use are suggested to meet the deficit of current supply system through the efficient use of the scarce resources available. Institutional reform and improved water planning are required to facilitate economic growth and social development. Finally, human resource development is identified as key factor for the sustainable effective management of this valuable resource.

scholarly journals On inclusion of water resource management in Earth System models – Part 1: Problem definition and representation of water demand

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 8239-8298 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Nazemi ◽  
H. S. Wheater
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Demand ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Earth System ◽  
Water Demands ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Scale Models ◽  
Earth System Models

Abstract. Human activities have caused various changes in the Earth System, and hence, the interconnections between humans and the Earth System should be recognized and reflected in models that simulate the Earth System processes. One key anthropogenic activity is water resource management that determines the dynamics of human–water interactions in time and space. There are various reasons to include water resource management in Earth System models. First, the extent of human water requirements is increasing rapidly at the global scale and it is crucial to analyze the possible imbalance between water demands and supply under various scenarios of climate change and across various temporal and spatial scales. Second, recent observations show that human–water interactions, manifested through water resource management, can substantially alter the terrestrial water cycle, affect land-atmospheric feedbacks and may further interact with climate and contribute to sea-level change. Here, we divide the water resource management into two interdependent elements, related to water demand as well as water supply and allocation. In this paper, we survey the current literature on how various water demands have been included in large-scale models, including Land Surface Schemes and Global Hydrological Models. The available algorithms are classified based on the type of demand, mode of simulation and underlying modeling assumptions. We discuss the pros and cons of available algorithms, address various sources of uncertainty and highlight limitations in current applications. We conclude that current capability of large-scale models in terms of representing human water demands is rather limited, particularly with respect to future projections and online simulations. We argue that current limitations in simulating various human demands and their impact on the Earth System are mainly due to the uncertainties in data support, demand algorithms and large-scale models. To fill these gaps, the available models, algorithms and data for representing various water demands should be systematically tested, intercompared and improved and human water demands should be considered in conjunction with water supply and allocation, particularly in the face of water scarcity and unknown future climate.

scholarly journals A comparison between the European and the Brazilian models for management and diagnosis of river basins

Water Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-76
Author(s):  
Pedro Bettencourt ◽  
Claudia Fulgêncio ◽  
Maria Grade ◽  
Julio Cesar Wasserman
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Water Management System ◽  
Management Policies ◽  
Water Quality And Quantity ◽  
Agricultural Demand

Abstract Water management is assuming more and more importance as freshwater resources are becoming scarce, both in quality and in quantity, across many developed and developing countries. This trend can be attributed to population growth, industrialization, growing agricultural demand, poor water management practices and climate change. In attempting to deal with the intensification of water quality- and quantity-related problems in recent decades, many countries have revised their water resource management policies and legislation, introducing new institutional frameworks and management instruments. Considering regional geographic and cultural distinctions, the present article aims at comparing the models of water resource management in the European Union (EU) and in Brazil. Institutional and legal arrangements currently in place, water planning and management instruments currently in use, assessments of water body status and watershed diagnoses were analysed. Main strengths and weaknesses of each water management system are pointed out in the conclusion. Main challenges for the water sector, and highlights of the converging and diverging points concerning water resource management systems, in each region, are discussed.

scholarly journals Adaptive Responses to Climate Change: Evaluating the Implementation and Effectiveness of Water Resource Management Strategies in Selected Hotels within the Environs of Lake Naivasha

2019 ◽  
pp. 287-296
Author(s):  
D. N. Kinyanjui
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Lake Naivasha ◽  
Water Sustainability ◽  
Structural Water ◽  
Management Staff

Aims: This study sought to evaluate the adoption of water resource management strategies in hotels in an attempt to attain water sustainability. Specifically, the research sought to assess the current structural and non-structural water resource management strategies adopted by selected hotels in the environs of Lake Naivasha; establish the perceived effectiveness of both the structural and non-structural water resource management strategies adopted to enhance water sustainability; and compare the structural and non-structural water management strategies in terms of their effectiveness in promoting water sustainability in hotels within environs of Lake Naivasha. Study Design: The study adopted a case study design. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in hotels within the environs of Lake Naivasha between May and December 2010. Methodology: A census of 30 Class (A) registered hotels was conducted, and purposive sampling was used to select 120 respondents from the management staff within the selected hotels. Convenience sampling was used to select 8 managers of water management bodies who acted as key informants during personal interviews. Primary data was collected from the hotel management staff using questionnaires and from managers of water management through personal interviews. Data from questionnaires were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) to derive descriptive statistics on the implementation of WRM strategies. Results: Findings revealed that a majority of the sampled hotels had embraced water resource management strategies through the development of alternative water resources, use of water saving technology, treatment of recycled water and use of water saving manuals. Further, the structural water resource management strategies were perceived to be more effective as they impacted more on reducing the operating costs, promoted environmental conservation and were more preferred than the non- structural strategies despite being more expensive to implement.  Conclusion: It is concluded that water sustainability is however achievable through a combination of a variety of WRM strategies.

Ecohydrology

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Eamus ◽  
Tom Hatton ◽  
Peter Cook ◽  
Christine Colvin
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Environmental Water ◽  
Practical Case ◽  
Field Methods ◽  
Industry Policy ◽  
The One ◽  
Ecologically Sustainable ◽  
Conceptual Foundations

Ecohydrology: Vegetation Function, Water and Resource Management describes and provides a synthesis of the different disciplines required to understand the sustainable management of water in the environment in order to tackle issues such as dryland salinity and environmental water allocation. It provides in the one volume the fundamentals of plant ecophysiology, hydrology and ecohydrology as they relate to this topic. Both conceptual foundations and field methods for the study of ecohydrology are provided, including chapters on groundwater dependent ecosystems, salinity and practical case studies of ecohydrology. The importance of ecologically sustainable development and environmental allocations of water are explained in a chapter devoted to policy and principles underpinning water resource management and their application to water and vegetation management. A chapter on modelling brings together the ecophysiological and hydrological domains and compares a number of models that are used in ecohydrology. For the sustainable management of water in Australia and elsewhere, this important reference work will assist land managers, industry, policy makers, students and scientists achieve the required understanding of water in landscapes.

Characteristics of the chalk groundwater along the Picardy coast and its relationship with wetlands

2021 ◽  
pp. SP517-2020-129
Author(s):  
Violaine Bault ◽  
Laurence Gourcy ◽  
Lise Cary ◽  
Anne Winckel ◽  
Bernard Bourgine
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Subsurface Water ◽  
English Channel ◽  
Water Usage ◽  
Quaternary Deposits ◽  
Study Results

AbstractWater resource management is a major concern in Marquenterre, a maritime plain located in the western part of the department of Somme. Water management is particularly indispensable for protecting wetlands in Marquenterre, regulating water usage, and avoiding saline intrusion into aquifers.Various approaches including geologic modeling and hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical studies were used to prepare a conceptual model of the Marquenterre hydrosystem and to provide better water management in this sector.The conceptual model shows that the chalk aquifer and the various Quaternary deposits aquifers are in hydrogeologic continuity. No seawater intrusion has been discovered in groundwater. Salinization discovered at depth is a result of the most recent marine transgressions. Finally, wetlands are primarily supplied by the chalk groundwater or by rainfall.The study results are used to direct policies of surface and subsurface water resource management. The proposed conceptual model may be useful for other coastal aquifers in the English Channel to address challenges of managing the chalk groundwater and backshore swamps.

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