Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) – Basic Concept

The basic idea behind the concept of IWRM is that fresh water is a scarce entity and all different uses of fresh water are all different uses of it are all competing and interdependent. And while this evident to all of us, so far not proper attention has been paid to it. Some of examples of its mutual-dependent uses are

·      High demand for irrigation purposes of fresh water mean that there will less water left for Industrial  and Drinking purposes

·      If contaminated wastewater from municipalities and industries is allowed to be flow out into main river system unattended and untreated, it will harmful for the fisheries, ecosystem and biodiversity.

·      And if the water is protected and retained for fisheries and biodiversity the less can diverted for other purposes like irrigation.

·      A dam or other water retaining structure is very useful for collecting and distributing water as and when required for irrigation purposes, controls flooding and can be used for power generation. While on the other hand it increases water logging at upstream, harmful for that particular river system’s unique biodiversity. And if the water is stored in rivers, very less water is the end of river flows are almost dried up resulting saline sea water intrusion into delta land.

So examples are many and they all prove that all different water uses unregulated use of scarce water resources is extremely wasteful and unsustainable. That use may give a temporary or short term benefit for one purpose but may also produce much more danger to somewhere else.

So in IWRM, Integrated means that all different uses of water resources are to be considered together. And water allocations and management decisions should account for an overall sociological and economical goals and also include the sustainable development. And a coherent policy making related to all sectors needs to be existed. One of the way to achieve this integrated policy and decision making is to involve all user groups (e.g. farmer, household users, industrialists etc.) in water resource management from initiation of policy making till the management. And from national level to grass root level. And by this way we will get many additional benefits such as, informed users apply local self regulations related to issues such as water conservation and catchment protection far more effectively than central regulation and surveillance can achieve.

Management is used in a more broader sense, And means that we must only just to focus on day to day management of water resources. But we must consciously manage water development in a ways that ensures long terms sustainable use even for future generations. And that we must left the plant in even better state  for our new generations  to come so that also get benefited from its resources  as we are now.

And as defined by Cap-Net “Integrated Water Resources Management is therefore a systematic process for the sustainable development, allocation and monitoring of water resources use in the context of social economic and environmental objectives.” And it further says implies that “It contrast with sectoral approach that applies in many countries.” Like where responsibility of drinking water rests with one agency, for irrigation with another and for the environment yet another, lack of cross –sectoral linkages leads to uncoordinated water resources development and management. And this is  what results in disputed and unsustainable system.