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Understanding the Importance of Water Conservation

Water scarcity is a growing crisis affecting many parts of the world. According to the United Nations, over 40% of the global population currently experiences water shortages, and this figure is expected to grow in the coming years. To make matters worse, less than 3% of the world’s water supply is freshwater suitable and accessible for human use. Sustainable access to water will be one of the defining issues of our time and it is a problem we need to tackle now. Whether through innovations in policy, technology, or individual actions, reducing water waste and using water more efficiently must become priorities around the globe. Here, we explore the importance of water conservation and highlight the significant impact of water scarcity, should we fail to take action. 

Water Scarcity Is a Global Issue

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimates that 2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water and 3.6 billion lack access to safely-managed sanitation. Parts of the Middle East and Northern Africa are already experiencing severe water stress, with populations far exceeding the availability of resources. Many experts predict that half the global population could face water shortages by 2025 if we fail to curb our consumption and waste.

Some countries will be hit harder by this problem than others. Parts of India and Asia are already facing extreme water scarcity, with some groundwater supplies depleted entirely, and many African countries also struggle with a lack of clean water infrastructure and availability. As the climate crisis worsens, countries in these areas will face even more hardship than they’re currently struggling with. 

Water shortages can result in the spread of diseases, poor sanitation, a rise in food shortages and have a devastating impact on agriculture, to name just a few. Water inequality also exacerbates global poverty as populations without access to clean water struggle to improve their living standards without this essential resource. 

You might also like: 4 Countries with Water Scarcity in 2023

5 Impacts of Water Scarcity

1. health and sanitation.

The impacts of water scarcity are far-reaching and damaging. A lack of clean water and proper sanitation facilities spreads diseases, with millions of deaths each year linked to contaminated water sources. 

2. Food Production and Agriculture

Water scarcity also severely impacts food production and agriculture. Much of the world’s freshwater is used for crop irrigation, and water shortages translate directly to food shortages . Naturally, this will have widespread consequences for future generations. 

3. Migrations and Conflicts

Mass human migrations and conflicts are also consequences of severe water scarcity . Water stresses can displace populations and lead to refugee crises as people move to find more liveable conditions. Water disputes also continue to increase tensions between countries that share water resources like rivers or aquifers. Several experts suggest that future wars may well be fought over access to water rather than oil.

4. Environmental Changes

Water scarcity also has irreversible impacts on the environment. In the future, we could see an increased loss of biodiversity, deforestation and desertification from water shortages. Freshwater ecosystems provide habitats for numerous plant and animal species, but many wetlands and rivers are drying up or becoming polluted. 

5. Climate Change

Deforestation also reduces access to clean water which creates a vicious cycle where water scarcity intensifies the long term effects of climate change. Experts agree that action must be taken to protect watersheds and freshwater ecosystems before we lose irreplaceable habitats and their inhabitants. Tackling this issue is critical to achieving equal and sustainable development for all. The world must take collective action to manage and share our limited freshwater resources before water stress becomes a catastrophic global crisis.

More on the topic: Causes and Effects of Water Shortages

What Can We Do to Preserve Water Sources?

1. home water conservation.

There are many steps individuals and communities can take to use water more sustainably and reduce waste. Simple actions like taking shorter showers, turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing dishes, and only running full loads in the washing machine can save thousands of litres of water per household each week. Fixing leaky taps or pipes is also important, as even small drips can waste many gallons of water annually if left unfixed.

2. Landscaping and Gardening Choices

Outside the home, replacing manicured lawns and gardens with native plants and succulents can significantly reduce water needs. Where lawns are necessary, watering efficiently in the early morning and avoiding watering on windy days helps minimise waste. 

Learn more here: All You Need to Know About Sustainable Gardening

3. Innovations In Water Systems

Installing water-efficient irrigation systems and rainwater tanks to collect runoff are also impactful steps to conserve this resource. Natural pools over traditional swimming pools are also an effective swap. Natural pools rely on plants and beneficial microbes to keep the water clean and recirculate it through the pool’s ecosystem, providing the same recreational and health benefits as traditional pools with a fraction of the water needs and cost. 

4. Policy and Pricing Reform

Water pricing reform and policy changes around water rights and allocation are also needed. Putting a fair market value on freshwater and limiting overuse of aquifers and rivers will drive more conscientious usage while raising funds to improve water accessibility for those in need. Charging higher rates for high volume water usage can also encourage efficiency and conservation. Policymakers around the world must implement pricing reform for water to reflect the true environmental and social cost of this essential resource.

5. Community Education and Action

Collective action around water conservation is key. Community education campaigns, water efficiency rebate programs, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and working with local governments on water management policies all help support change on a broader scale. Every small step taken to value and conserve our limited water resources matters in securing enough clean freshwater for all. Reducing water scarcity is a shared responsibility that will require coordinated efforts across sectors and borders to achieve success. 

Final Thoughts

Water is essential for life, yet it is our most threatened resource. Despite much being said about the climate crisis in recent years, water scarcity is rarely mentioned. Raising awareness is critical to this challenge to enable communities to work together and ensure this resource is available for future generations. By transitioning to sustainable agricultural and land-use practices, decentralised water management systems and widespread adoption of water conservation measures, we can adapt to water scarcity challenges and mitigate the worst effects. 

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A number of key messages emerge from the foregoing discussion of water resources. Demand for these limited resources continues to increase as populations grow and move. Sound management depends on reliable information about the quantity and quality of water available and how this availability varies in time and from place to place. It is important to enhance the understanding of all elements of the water cycle and how human activities affect it, so that water resources can be protected and developed sustainably .

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• Groundwater resources can help meet demand, but too much of it is being withdrawn and some of it is being polluted. It is important to better control the use of underground water that will not be replenished.
• Longstanding practices, such as collecting rainwater, are being refined and supplemented by newer techniques such as artificial recharge, desalination and re-use. More support is needed, not only for innovative technical solutions to improve supplies, but also for the management of demand and the promotion of efficiency in water use.
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Profesional resources, education & outreach home, education geosource database, why is water an important resource.

In most parts of the world, water is a scarce resource. That might seem strange, because there is so much water on Earth. Almost all of the water on Earth, more than 97 percent of it, is seawater in the oceans. The rest is called fresh water, because it does not have a high salt content. Most of the world’s fresh water is frozen solid in large glaciers in Antarctica and Greenland. Almost all of the fresh water that is available for human use is either contained in soil and rock below the surface, called groundwater, or in rivers and lakes.

In most areas of the United States there is enough fresh water for human use. Yet usable fresh water is not as abundant as you might think. In some areas, like the arid Southwest, there is not enough water. In those areas, water has to be transported long distances from other places in human-made channels called aqueducts. Even in areas with plenty of fresh water, there are sometimes shortages. Rainfall is the only way that water supplies are replenished. During times of drought, when rainfall is below average for a number of years, water supplies can become dangerously low. Even when rainfall is adequate, water from rivers and lakes might be unusable because of pollution. In some areas, groundwater cannot be used because when it is removed from the ground, nearby wetlands would be damaged by drying up. As the population of the United States continues to grow in the future, water shortages will become more common, because the supply of available water remains the same. Water conservation will become more and more important as time goes on.

People use water in many ways at home: drinking, cooking, bathing, brushing teeth, washing clothes, dishes, and cars, flushing toilets, watering gardens and lawns, and filling swimming pools. Most people do not think much about how much water they use. Perhaps this is partly because they don’t pay for it each time they use it, except when they buy bottled water.

There are many ways to conserve water in homes. Some are easier than others. Leaky faucets and leaky toilets waste very large amounts of water, because even though the flow rates are small, they leak all the time. New designs of toilets and washing machines use much less water than older designs, but replacement is expensive. Water-saving shower heads save a lot of water, and they are relatively easy and inexpensive to replace. The most effective ways to reduce water use, however, might be the most difficult. Taking “navy showers” (turning off the water while you’re soaping yourself), not planting lavish lawns in areas that are normally arid, and not washing cars so often are examples of effective and simple ways to conserve water.

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The Value of Water and Its Essential Role in Supporting Sustainable Development

About the author, kelly ann naylor, michela miletto and richard connor.

Kelly Ann Naylor is Vice-Chair, UN-Water and Associate Director for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Michela Miletto is Coordinator, World Water Assessment Programme, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Director, UNESCO Programme Office on Global Water Assessment.

Richard Connor is Editor-in-Chief, United Nations World Water Development Report, UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme.

18 March 2021

W hile everyone recognizes that water is “essential to all life”, including humans, it is often taken for granted, at least by those who have easy and affordable access to a safe and abundant water supply. As a result, it is frequently misused, polluted or wasted. Giving “value” to water is a way to better recognize its importance—to us as individuals, but also to societies and the environment from which it comes and to which ultimately returns.

But what does “value” mean in this context? What is water “worth”? These are the main questions addressed in the 2021 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR 2021). 1

The current status of water resources highlights the need for improved water resources management. Recognizing, measuring and expressing water’s worth, and incorporating it into decision-making, are fundamental to achieving sustainable and equitable water resources management and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

While the term “value” and the process of valuation are well defined, there are several different views and perspectives on what value specifically means to various user groups and stakeholders. So, the question “value to whom?” is also a critical one. There are different methods for calculating value and different metrics to express it. The question of how value can be determined thus becomes fundamental. As described throughout WWDR 2021, the terms “price”, “cost” and “value” are by no means synonymous. Whereas the first two are easily quantifiable from a primarily economic, monetary-based perspective, the notion of value encompasses a much broader set of often intangible benefits. While monetary valuation is arguably easier than most other approaches, and has the advantage of using a common metric by which values of different uses can be quantitatively compared, it can lead to the undervaluation or exclusion of benefits that are more difficult to monetize.

WWDR 2021 groups current methodologies and approaches to the valuation of water into five interrelated perspectives: valuing water sources , in situ water resources and ecosystems; valuing water infrastructure for water storage, use, reuse or supply augmentation; valuing water services , mainly drinking water, sanitation and related human health aspects; valuing water as an input to production and socioeconomic activity , such as food and agriculture, energy and industry, business and employment; and other sociocultural values of water , including recreational, cultural and spiritual attributes.

Differences in the way water is valued not only exist between stakeholder groups but are widespread within them. These divergent perspectives on water value and the best ways to calculate and express it, coupled with limited knowledge of the actual resource, present a challenging landscape for rapid improvements in valuing water. It is, for example, practically impossible to quantitatively compare the value of water for domestic use, the human right to water, customary or religious beliefs, and the value of maintaining flows to preserve biodiversity. None of these should be sacrificed for the sake of achieving consistent valuation methodologies. While the often-intangible nature of some sociocultural values attributed to water regularly defies any attempt at quantification, such values can nevertheless be regarded among the highest ones.

Furthermore, efforts to value water are likely to suffer from some level of bias, even when unintentional, on the part of those directly involved in valuation processes, as the perception of the values attributed to water and its related benefits can be highly subjective. The fundamental question about value is then (as mentioned above) "value to whom?". Valuations often tend to target specific beneficiaries, while other stakeholders may benefit less or even be negatively impacted.

As described in WWDR 2021, good water governance recognizes multiple values and the active participation of a varied set of actors. The use of multi-value approaches to water governance entails acknowledging the role of values in driving key water resources management decisions as well as a call for the active participation of a more diverse set of actors, leading to better integrated and equitable decision-making.

The political will to consider all value sets for water, and to then act on that basis, is critical, necessitating the transformation of political processes and a redistribution of power and voice through the building of public awareness and pressure for change. Addressing conflicting views and overseeing potential trade-offs are among the greatest challenges to water management. Various water use sectors, from water supply, sanitation and hygiene, to agriculture, energy, industry and the environment, stand to benefit over the longer term from an improved integration of the values of water across the full development cycle, from planning through to improved efficiencies, adaptive management and monitoring. But in the near term, there will be trade-offs and a need for adjustments through a set of controls and incentives for certain sectors to use water more efficiently in particular instances. The initial phases of water resources planning and infrastructure design present considerable but underused opportunities for introducing various aspects of water’s value.

Once identified through stakeholder processes of engagement and empowerment, acknowledging the various aspects of water’s value can help ensure their equitable treatment in subsequent stages of water management. Similar opportunities to further address trade-offs exist in later stages of decision-making. In the short term, not all sectors will benefit every time, and some sectors, if not all, will need to adapt in response to the different values of water.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes the integrated nature of development and the need to balance economic, social and environmental considerations, as well as the need to mitigate trade-offs and maximize synergies between the SDGs and their policy domains. Recognizing and embracing water’s multiple values is essential to finding mutually supportive solutions across the majority of the Goals.

1 The United Nations World Water Development Report is the UN-Water flagship report on water and sanitation issues, focusing on a different theme each year. The report is published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on behalf of UN-Water, and its production is coordinated by the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme. The report gives insight on the main trends concerning the state, use and management of freshwater and sanitation, based on work done by the members and partners of UN-Water. Launched in conjunction with World Water Day (22 March), the report provides decision-makers with knowledge and tools to formulate and implement sustainable water policies. It also offers best practices and in-depth analyses to stimulate ideas and actions for better stewardship in the water sector and beyond.

The UN Chronicle  is not an official record. It is privileged to host senior United Nations officials as well as distinguished contributors from outside the United Nations system whose views are not necessarily those of the United Nations. Similarly, the boundaries and names shown, and the designations used, in maps or articles do not necessarily imply endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

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UN World Water Development Report 2021

Valuing Water

The current status of water resources highlights the need for improved water resources management. Recognizing, measuring and expressing water’s worth, and incorporating it into decision-making, are fundamental to achieving sustainable and equitable water resources management and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Those who control how water is valued control how it is used. Values are a central aspect of power and equity in water resources governance. The failure to fully value water in all its different uses is considered a root cause, or a symptom, of the political neglect of water and its mismanagement. All too often, the value of water, or its full suite of multiple values, is not prominent in decision-making at all.

Whilst the term ‘value’ and the process of ‘valuation’ are well defined, there are several different views and perspectives of what ‘value’ specifically means to various user groups and stakeholders. There are also different methods for calculating value and different metrics to express it.

Differences in the way water is valued occur not only between stakeholder groups but are widespread within them. These divergent perspectives on water value and the best ways to calculate and express it, coupled with limited knowledge of the actual resource, present a challenging landscape for rapid improvements in valuing water. It is, for example, futile to attempt to quantitatively compare the value of water for domestic use, the human right to water, customary or religious beliefs, and the value of maintaining flows to preserve biodiversity. None of these should be sacrificed for the sake of achieving consistent valuation methodologies.

Traditional economic accounting, often a key means of informing policy decisions, tends to limit water values to the way that most other products are valued – using the recorded price or costs of water when economic transactions occur. However, in the case of water, there is no clear relationship between its price and its value. Where water is priced, meaning consumers are charged for using it, the price often reflects attempts for cost recovery and not value delivered. Yet, regarding valuation, economics remains a highly relevant, powerful and influential science, even though its application needs to be made more comprehensive.

Nevertheless, the different values of water need to be reconciled, and the trade-offs between them resolved and incorporated into systematic and inclusive planning and decision-making processes. The way forward, therefore, will be to further develop common approaches to valuation where feasible, but also to prioritize improved approaches to compare, contrast and merge different values, and to incorporate fair and equitable conclusions into improved policy and planning.

The  2021 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report (UN WWDR 2021) entitled ‘Valuing Water ’ groups current methodologies and approaches to the valuation of water into five interrelated perspectives: valuing water sources, in situ water resources and ecosystems; valuing water infrastructure for water storage, use, reuse or supply augmentation; valuing water services, mainly drinking water, sanitation and related human health aspects; valuing water as an input to production and socio-economic activity, such as food and agriculture, energy and industry, business and employment; and other sociocultural values of water, including recreational, cultural and spiritual attributes. These are complemented with experiences from different global regions; opportunities to reconcile multiple values of water through more integrated and holistic approaches to governance; approaches to financing; and methods to address knowledge, research and capacity needs.

• UN World Water Development Report 2021: Valuing Water English |  Français
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• Review Article
• Published: 31 January 2023

Global water resources and the role of groundwater in a resilient water future

• Bridget R. Scanlon   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-1234-4199 1 ,
• Sarah Fakhreddine 1 , 2 ,
• Ashraf Rateb 1 ,
• Inge de Graaf   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7748-868X 3 ,
• Jay Famiglietti 4 ,
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• Di Long   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-9033-5039 11 ,
• Mesfin Mekonnen   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3573-9759 12 ,
• Hannes Müller Schmied 13 , 14 ,
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• Alan MacDonald   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6636-1499 16 ,
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Nature Reviews Earth & Environment volume  4 ,  pages 87–101 ( 2023 ) Cite this article

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An Author Correction to this article was published on 29 March 2023

This article has been updated

Water is a critical resource, but ensuring its availability faces challenges from climate extremes and human intervention. In this Review, we evaluate the current and historical evolution of water resources, considering surface water and groundwater as a single, interconnected resource. Total water storage trends have varied across regions over the past century. Satellite data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) show declining, stable and rising trends in total water storage over the past two decades in various regions globally. Groundwater monitoring provides longer-term context over the past century, showing rising water storage in northwest India, central Pakistan and the northwest United States, and declining water storage in the US High Plains and Central Valley. Climate variability causes some changes in water storage, but human intervention, particularly irrigation, is a major driver. Water-resource resilience can be increased by diversifying management strategies. These approaches include green solutions, such as forest and wetland preservation, and grey solutions, such as increasing supplies (desalination, wastewater reuse), enhancing storage in surface reservoirs and depleted aquifers, and transporting water. A diverse portfolio of these solutions, in tandem with managing groundwater and surface water as a single resource, can address human and ecosystem needs while building a resilient water system.

Net trends in total water storage data from the GRACE satellite mission range from −310 km 3 to 260 km 3 total over a 19-year record in different regions globally, caused by climate and human intervention.

Groundwater and surface water are strongly linked, with 85% of groundwater withdrawals sourced from surface water capture and reduced evapotranspiration, and the remaining 15% derived from aquifer depletion.

Climate and human interventions caused loss of ~90,000 km 2 of surface water area between 1984 and 2015, while 184,000 km 2 of new surface water area developed elsewhere, primarily through filling reservoirs.

Human intervention affects water resources directly through water use, particularly irrigation, and indirectly through land-use change, such as agricultural expansion and urbanization.

Strategies for increasing water-resource resilience include preserving and restoring forests and wetlands, and conjunctive surface water and groundwater management.

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Change history, 29 march 2023.

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-023-00418-9

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B.R.S. conceptualized the review and coordinated input. S.F. reviewed many of the topics and developed some of the figures. A.R. analysed GRACE satellite data and M.S. reviewed this output. Q.G. provided input on water economics. E.J. reviewed impacts of land-use change. S.R.K. provided data on future precipitation changes. L.F.K. provided detailed information on surface water/groundwater interactions. M.M. provided data on water trade. C.J.V. provided input on green and grey solutions. All authors reviewed the paper and provided edits.

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Scanlon, B.R., Fakhreddine, S., Rateb, A. et al. Global water resources and the role of groundwater in a resilient water future. Nat Rev Earth Environ 4 , 87–101 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-022-00378-6

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Water Transfers in the West: Efficiency, Equity, and the Environment (1992)

Chapter: 12 conclusions and recommendations, conclusions and recommendations.

The West's water needs are changing. Rapidly increasing economic and population growth in urban areas has generated corresponding increases in demand for augmentation of water supplies. Irrigation, by far the largest water use, remains a mainstay of some local and state economies. Perhaps the most rapidly escalating call for water is motivated by concern for environmental and recreational values, values not protected by law or public advocacy in the early evolution of western water allocation. These increasing and shifting patterns of demand are being exerted on a resource already fully appropriated in most of the region.

The committee believes that voluntary water transfers are the single most significant tool available for responding to these new and changing water needs. It is nevertheless the case that transfers sometimes are proposed without proper regard for third party interests. Based on its review of the potentially adverse impacts of water transfers, this committee concludes that third party interests deserve greater consideration when transfers are proposed. While seeking ways to promote transfers, state and tribal governments should also devise ways to improve their laws and procedures to protect third parties. Federal agencies involved in water allocation and management should also promote transfers and protect third party interests in the process. Each sovereign must devise its own specific approach, suited to its own objectives, but the committee offers recommendations to aid decisionmakers in designing these approaches. The rec-

ommendations are based on the fundamental premise that transfers should meet the needs of a changing West while causing a minimum of adverse impacts.

The committee examined actual and potential water transfers in diverse areas of the American West to understand better the nature, scope, impacts, and institutional setting of water transfers. Every situation is unique, but there are important commonalities. The committee believes that the problems and opportunities illustrated in the various case studies are not unique and will arise elsewhere throughout the West. Thus valuable lessons for future federal and state water allocation policy can be drawn from the studies.

CRITICAL ISSUES

Three critical issues received recurring attention during the course of this study—area-of-origin protection, instream uses, and transaction costs—and should be considered key areas of concern for federal, state, and tribal governments committed to improving their water transfer processes.

Area-of-Origin Protection

If water transfers are to be used to facilitate more responsive water management, the equity issues related to area-of-origin impacts will require continued attention. Although an individual farmer might benefit from selling water rights to satisfy growing urban demand, rural counties are left with the problem of trying to protect their tax bases, environments, cultures, and economic futures. The Arizona Ground Water Management Act, as enacted in 1980, is one example of this dilemma. It allowed water to be transferred from agricultural areas to municipal and industrial use, but it has no mechanisms for considering the interests and values of the areas where the water originates. Changes enacted in 1991 do provide some area-of-origin protection.

Similar concerns are expressed by people in communities where social and cultural values may depend on protecting existing water uses and keeping water in natural water courses and wetlands. They fear that out-of-basin transfers will undermine the integrity of the communities themselves. In northern New Mexico, for example, the seemingly neutral institutions of adjudication—which can include a public interest review of new appropriations and transfers—do not fully reflect the concerns of the Hispanic community. Lifestyle, community organization, and personal relationships are all intimately related to traditional water uses and allocation arrangements. The

New Mexico state system, however, like most western states, regards water essentially as a property right and a commodity; it does not see water as an element of community cohesion, history, and collective aspirations.

Instream Uses

It is also clear that one of the major issues for decisionmakers is the balancing of consumptive and nonconsumptive, or instream, uses. Prior appropriation allows private rights to be created in public resources, and throughout the West's history, appropriative water rights were typically held by private parties or public water providers for consumptive uses. (An exception was made for hydropower rights, which could be exercised only by building facilities in the stream to take advantage of flowing water.) However, many of today 's demands are for nonconsumptive uses that require flowing water to be left in the stream. With few exceptions (e.g., New Mexico), virtually all western states have enacted programs that legally recognize instream uses. However, because water in most western streams is fully appropriated, such mechanisms face significant constraints. In most cases, a public entity holds such rights and they are relatively junior in priority.

Several of the case studies illustrate that transfers can be used to help satisfy demands for instream flows with more reliable senior rights. However, existing institutions generally do not encourage transfers for nonconsumptive uses and may in fact inhibit them. The Truckee-Carson experience illustrates the positive potential of agriculture-to-wildlife and wetland transfers. Incentives for transfers in this case included both the threat of a judicially mandated involuntary transfer and the provision of funds to induce water rights sales. Voluntary transfers to instream uses have not occurred in other areas, such as the Central Valley and the Yakima Valley, where courts have not intervened or where they have confirmed existing uses.

Transaction Costs

The potential for increased transaction costs caused by greater consideration of third party effects must be addressed. Public policy has been greatly influenced by the concept of transaction costs and the need to minimize them. Transaction costs are the costs of negotiating and enforcing transfer agreements and clarifying property rights so that transactions may proceed. The higher the transaction costs, the lower are the profits or economic benefits that accrue to those

transferring the water from one use to another, and therefore the lower are the incentives motivating transfers.

Some transaction costs are a necessary part of enacting any water transfer. Others, however, result from ambiguous policies or criteria for transfer approval, and from costly and duplicative efforts to provide information about a transfer and its potential impacts. Additional costs are incurred when the range of parties engaged in the transfer process is expanded to include third parties.

In general, transaction costs that are incurred in empowering and accommodating traditionally underrepresented third party interests are beneficial. In other words, society agrees to incur costs beyond those basic to the process of buying and selling water in the hope that its values will be more broadly represented and the hidden costs of transfers addressed. As interest in water transfers as a voluntary reallocation tool has increased, there has been a growing call to streamline the process to encourage market transfers. The case studies reviewed in this report suggest, however, that this goal must be tempered by the reality that some increased transaction costs are necessary if we are to address third party effects adequately. Although substantial opportunities exist to improve the transfer procedures in use in the West and reduce some costs, transferring water is no simple matter. Thus no simple and inexpensive process will be able to meet the needs of buyers, sellers, governing bodies, and affected third parties equitably.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Conclusion 1:, water transfers can promote the efficient reallocation of water while protecting other water-dependent values recognized by society..

Changes in the use of water—whether in the point of diversion, location of use, or type of use, and whether or not accompanied by changes in ownership of water rights —are necessary and desirable in a dynamic society. Changes in use often are driven by changes in the perceived economic value of a particular water use. For most of the West's history since settlement, diversions have been from natural watercourses and instream uses to storage and off-stream use, initially for mining, later for agricultural and municipal purposes. These demands led to the construction of major storage and conveyance facilities, including systems for interbasin transfers within and among states.

Economic reality and environmental concerns limit the construc-

tion of additional water development projects designed to increase supplies. As demand approaches the limits of available supplies, the movement of currently available water from relatively low-valued to relatively high-valued uses becomes an increasingly attractive alternative. Furthermore, the water transfer agenda now includes acquisition of water rights and changes in water project operations to restore and protect instream flows and associated values that were degraded by past patterns of water development and use.

The committee supports water transfers as one component of efficient water management, provided that such transfers are accomplished equitably. One problem is that existing laws, policies, and procedures concerning water market transactions and other transfers often fail to ensure either that third parties are protected from negative effects or that they share the benefits. Affected parties can include existing rights holders, rural communities, unique cultures, the environment, and other interests beyond the willing seller and willing buyer. The impacts can be obvious—increased per capita costs for irrigation system maintenance and operation, and loss of county tax revenues —or subtle—the diminished viability of rural economies, a loss of confidence in the community's future, and the erosion of unique cultural values of water-dependent communities. Examples of possible environmental impacts include instream flow losses and water quality alterations affecting fish and wildlife; changes in aquatic and riparian habitats, stream channel integrity, and esthetic values; and the loss of recreational uses.

The “no injury” rule that historically has governed water transfers under the prior appropriation doctrine in most western states is the foundation for third party protection, but it generally is not adequate to protect the full array of affected interests. Although many states have adopted a public interest review requirement for proposed transfers, others still rely exclusively on a no injury test that protects only other water rights holders. Further, public interest requirements in some states are not clearly defined, leaving state administrators with little guidance on how to apply the policy. Many changes in state and federal laws, policies, and procedures are needed to provide appropriate protection for the full range of water uses and users, natural environments, basins of origin, unique cultures, and communities.

RECOMMENDATION:

All levels of government should recognize the potential usefulness of water transfers as a means of responding to changing de-

mands for use of water resources and should facilitate voluntary water transfers as a component of policies for overall water allocation and management, subject to processes designed to protect well-defined third party interests.

Conclusion 2:

State and tribal governments have primary authority and responsibility for enabling and regulating water transfers, including identification and appropriate mitigation of third party effects..

States historically have had primary authority in the administration of water rights, except on Indian lands where tribal governments are the administrative authority. Thus the administration of water transfers is the responsibility of the state or tribal governments. These governments are capable of assessing transfers in the context of the region's water management needs and of providing accessible mechanisms for revealing and addressing third party impacts. This authority is extensive, including transfers of federal project water. Federal intervention may be necessary, however, when there is an overriding national interest such as interstate relations, navigation, or endangered species.

State and tribal governments should design administrative processes so that the scale of regulation reflects the scale of effects. For example, transfers of water rights within a basin involving no change in use and no change in point of diversion should be processed with minimal delays and procedures while still meeting baseline public notice, protest, and hearing requirements. The most straightforward transfers—those involving minor and noncontroversial changes of use within a basin—could be treated as presumptively approvable as long as direct third party effects are identified and reasonable mitigation measures are presented in the transfer application. The burden of proof for disapproval would fall on regulators and opponents.

Large or complex transfers within basins, most interbasin transfers, and interstate transfers need additional scrutiny. These should be evaluated against public interest criteria defined by the state, with consideration of biological, physical, and economic efficiencies, and of significant economic, environmental, and social effects on third parties. The burden of ensuring that third party impacts are revealed and considered in the review process should be shared by the transferring parties and state and tribal governments.

Recognition of rights to instream flows is one way of preserving environmental interests within state and tribal water law systems.

State laws regarding the acquisition of water rights for instream flow purposes vary. Some states allow any party to acquire and hold rights for instream flow purposes, whereas others require such rights to be held by a designated state agency. Given the importance of instream flows to a variety of third parties, authority to acquire and hold water rights for instream flow purposes should be a feature of water law and administrative practice in all states.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

State and tribal administrators should develop and publish clear criteria and guidelines for evaluating water transfer proposals and addressing potential third party effects.

State and tribal administrative processes should provide for public and broad third party representation in the review of water transfer proposals. In addition to normal actions such as notices of proceedings, public hearings, and protest opportunities, programs should include affirmative review of potential third party effects in cases likely to involve significant effects.

State and tribal processes should seek to regulate water rights transfers in ways appropriate to the scale of effects with the dual objectives of avoiding excessive transaction costs and providing meaningful consideration of third party interests.

State laws should allow governmental entities to acquire water rights for instream flow purposes with the same priority and protection against injury enjoyed by rights held for other uses. Affirmative state policies may be necessary and appropriate to acquire sufficient instream flow rights to mitigate the effects of historic diminutions of streamflow.

States should provide leadership in exercising their water administration and planning responsibilities to identify opportunities for water transfers that might serve as instruments for achieving a wide range of water management objectives.

Conclusion 3:

Water transfer law and policies should be designed to consider the interests of the trading partners, third parties, and the environment in a cost-effective manner..

In designing transfer policies, decisionmakers face serious trade-offs between the desire to preserve the direct private or public gains from water transfers and the desire to protect third party interests. Such policies significantly affect the relative benefits and costs of

proposed transfers and the distribution of these benefits and costs. As a general rule, regulatory processes and requirements that attempt to protect against all third party impacts regardless of the nature or magnitude of the effect or the standing of the party result in high transactions cost and discourage desirable transfers. Conversely, procedures and processes that ignore third party interests altogether allow transfers to impose inequitably large losses on third parties. Either result is inefficient and inequitable. Regulatory processes and requirements can distinguish between large or pervasive third party effects and small or ephemeral impacts. In many instances the costs of accommodating or mitigating third party impacts can be defrayed from the economic benefits that the transfer generates. Transaction costs can be reduced by taking steps to improve the information base that is used to evaluate a transfer, encouraging negotiated resolutions to conflicts, and establishing streamlined procedures for estimating transferable quantities based on consumptive use for various categories of use.

Many disputes between transfer applicants and objectors involve the quantity of water that should be transferable. Policies that presume a transferable quantity per irrigated acre may help reduce transfer costs. New Mexico, for instance, sets a standard quantity of water that may be transferred per unit of irrigated land retired. Parties who disagree with this quantity bear the cost of proving that some other amount is appropriate. This system, however, requires third parties to take on a potentially difficult and expensive task—quantifying the amount of water that can be transferred. In contrast, the Colorado transfer review process requires the transfer applicant and all objectors to provide evidence on transferable quantity, thus possibly incurring higher cumulative costs for engineering and legal studies but providing more protection. Each state can consider ways to reduce the informational costs of assessing transfer impacts as well as the costs created by ambiguous criteria.

Litigation often is inevitable to resolve water use conflicts, but adversarial proceedings are not a good forum to explore a wide range of options affecting multiple interests. Nonjudicial conflict resolution processes might be valuable for providing comprehensive evaluation of transfer proposals. There is a need to allow others besides attorneys and technical experts to share in framing the issues, as well as a need to share the information among all interested parties.

Transaction costs incurred to address third party concerns serve a beneficial role when they give affected third parties a voice in the review process. However, there are many opportunities to reduce unnecessary transaction costs by clarifying state policies and by en-

couraging actions to lower the costs of gathering information on potential impacts.

The costs of mitigating third party effects should be internalized as a cost of the transfer—that is, the beneficiaries or proponents of the transfer should bear the mitigation costs as a matter of law and equity. Therefore the cost of the transfer should include sufficient funds to help mitigate third party effects, in the form of water, money, or other compensation.

To help reduce costs, policies might be designed so that, in general, transfers of acquired rights are limited to consumptive uses. This may entail setting state, river basin, or regional standards for the consumptive use of water per irrigated acre based on crop type, historic water availability, and other local variables. Such standards should be flexible enough to account for variations in water availability and local conditions. Third parties should not have to develop data on the transferable quantity; data should be developed by the buyer or seller.

Regulatory requirements should be designed to encourage negotiated resolutions of conflicts. Consideration should be given to processes other than judicial proceedings (e.g., a state water court) to provide the initial evaluation of transfer proposals.

Conclusion 4:

Water transfers between basins should be evaluated to determine and account for the special impacts on interests in the areas of origin..

Water is not merely a commodity in the normal sense of the word but rather a resource held in common for all citizens, and this should be recognized in the processes used to evaluate water transfers. The interests of communities, local governments, individuals, and the environment in the areas from which water is proposed to be exported are not now adequately represented in the laws and policies of many western states. Communities hold strong values that support maintaining water within its natural watershed. For some, water is the basis of present and future economic vitality and environmental amenities; these values often are augmented by water-related social and cultural concerns and traditions. Among the cases studied, the threat to cultural values is illustrated dramatically in the case of the acequias of northern New Mexico.

State laws and policies often fail to recognize that when water is removed from its natural watershed a variety of economic, social, and environmental harms can occur. Prior appropriation law has never limited the use of water to the watershed in which it originates, and the committee does not recommend that water be constrained to its watershed of origin. However, states do need to ensure that the special problems caused the public by transbasin export are fully addressed before such transfers are permitted. Although basin-of-origin interests should not have veto power over transfers, their interests should be represented in the evaluation process, to the extent that those interests are important to society.

State tax laws often provide incentives for transfers because local taxing jurisdictions cannot impose taxes or in lieu payments, and these incentives could be revised to address the equities of reallocation. Municipalities and certain quasi-public water utilities that purchase or lease water supplies or build and operate works to use water supplies from outside their service areas ordinarily pay no property taxes to local governments in areas of origin because of intergovernmental immunity from taxation. In addition, western states usually provide by law that private entities may be taxed on the value of water facilities only by the county where the water is used. The inability to tax facilities that dewater areas of origin compounds the disadvantages to the communities in these areas. For instance, states could revise their tax laws to make exporting entities bear a larger portion of the costs of mitigating the third party effects of transfers. Exporters could be subject to local property or other taxes. States might consider developing a transaction tax for water rights transfers. This transaction tax would be analogous to a severance tax and would be used to mitigate adverse environmental effects caused by transfers (interbasin as well as others). Setting the level of such a tax would require careful analysis so that desirable transfers are not discouraged but adequate revenues for mitigation are collected.

States and tribal governments should develop specific policies to guide water transfer approval processes regarding the community and environmental consequences of transferring water from one basin to another, because such transfers may have serious long-term consequences.

Water transfer processes should formally recognize interests within basins of origin that are of statewide and regional importance, and these interests should be weighed when transbasin exports are being considered.

Although each state or tribe should select the approach that suits its needs best, area-of-origin protection generally would include impact assessment, opportunities for all affected interests to be heard, regulatory mechanisms to help avoid adverse effects, compensation (e.g., financial payments or mitigation), and authority to deny a proposed transfer or water use involving a transbasin export if the effects are judged unacceptable.

States should revise laws that now exempt water facilities from taxation by the county of origin either because the exporter is a public entity or because of provisions that make such facilities taxable only in the county where the water is used. Mechanisms to compensate communities for transfer-related losses of tax base, such as an annual payment in lieu of taxes, may be needed.

Conclusion 5:

Public interest considerations should be included among the third party issues and legal provisions for permitting. conditioning, and denying water transfers..

The committee recognizes the difficulties inherent in representing and quantifying public interest values in state and tribal forums. Many state laws, for example, direct administrators to consider the public interest as they review proposed transfers, but few provide real guidance as to what constitutes the public interest or offer specific procedures to ensure probable effects and adequate representation of the public interest. Legal inadequacies and uncertainties often restrict or hinder economically efficient and environmentally desirable water rights transfers. These uncertainties and problems also often interfere with effective actions on behalf of third party interests, including factors usually referred to as “public interest” and “public trust.”

Although this report makes a modest attempt to suggest some elements critical to any definition of the public interest, state and tribal governments ultimately must provide such guidance for their water administrators. This guidance must include criteria to be considered in a public interest review and also procedures to provide for adequate representation of the interests.

To protect third parties in water rights transfers, public interest language in western states' water laws should be reviewed, clarified, and, where appropriate, more vigorously applied. States should develop definitions and criteria for assessing what constitutes the

public interest, perhaps benefiting from the legislative and judicial initiatives developed by the states of Idaho and Alaska. Such definitions should embrace existing water rights holders, environmental water needs for ecosystem protection, and social and cultural values in basins of origin.

To the extent that public trust concepts and values cannot be represented dependably under existing laws and policies, states should develop new laws, institutions, and administrative tools for doing so. Key elements of public trust administration might include comprehensive planning at the river basin level, including the identification of existing social and environmental values dependent on water, clearly defined procedures to guide applicants seeking water transfer approval, and institutional arrangements for holding and managing water for instream and environmental uses.

Conclusion 6:

Environmental impacts can and should be considered by state, tribal, and federal agencies when potential water transfers are evaluated..

Transfers of water may have significant effects on natural ecosystems, ranging from loss of aquatic and riparian habitats associated with dewatering streams to water quality effects arising because of increasing concentrations of pollutants. Direct impacts on plants and animals also are caused by the construction and operation of physical conveyance systems used in support of water transfers. Those states (such as Colorado) that rely solely or primarily on the prior appropriation system and a test of no injury to other water rights holders do not adequately assess injury to natural ecosystems. Environmental protection should be part of the basis for impact assessment and mitigation relating to proposed transfers.

Current law requires significant environmental studies when new structural water projects are undertaken, including reservoirs, channelization, power generation, and diversion projects. However, little effort is made to quantify or characterize the local and regional environmental impacts caused by water transfers and related conveyance systems. This inequity will need attention as water transfers become an increasing component of water management.

Federal, state, and tribal water transfer policies and laws should ensure consideration of ecological values affected by transfers, for

example, the goals of protecting riparian and wetland habitats and the water needs of endangered species. Adjustment of water laws, administrative practices, and water supply strategies may be necessary to achieve this end.

States should develop inventories of wetland and riparian systems that depend on surface water systems likely to be sought for transfers so that transfers can then be evaluated in light of ecosystem protection and restoration goals.

When water is transferred to new uses in new areas, there is an opportunity to promote overall efficiency by dedicating some of the newly available supply to public uses such as environmental protection. Congress should consider using a share of the receipts gained from marketing federal project water to acquire water to protect western biota and habitats. The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Act might be amended to permit both state and local grant recipients and federal agency participants to use fund money to acquire water rights for environmental protection and mitigation.

Conclusion 7:

Traditional indian and hispanic communities have unique interests relating to water transfer policies, and these interests merit special consideration when proposed transfers are evaluated..

In many water transfers, traditional Indian and Hispanic communities find themselves in a classic third party role. Such communities view water rights administrative processes—including rights filings, adjudications, and transfers—as a threat to their historical uses of water. Also, they often view the prior appropriation doctrine as serving individual interests at the expense of community interests and as hostile toward communal social values.

Many Indian and Hispanic communities had well-established water use and allocation systems that preceded state systems. When states adopt the prior appropriation system and apply it to these communities, they can cause considerable disruption of longstanding water management processes. For example, in the acequias of northern New Mexico, prior appropriation adjudications imposed a system of individual priorities for the first time on a tradition that called for communal sharing of surpluses and shortages. The new priority system fractured longstanding and important communal structures.

It is important to note that traditional Indian and Hispanic communities were not adequately represented in state water adjudications because members lacked not only knowledge of the importance

of the adjudications but also the resources to assert their interests fully. As a result, in many instances, individuals within the community were decreed no water or less water than had been used historically. Moreover, during the era of federal investment in Bureau of Reclamation water infrastructure and delivery systems, traditional communities typically were ignored. As a consequence, water supplies for these communities were limited. Thus, in evaluating proposed water transfers, states should consider options to supplement existing decrees that do not adequately address the historical water uses of Indian and Hispanic communities.

States should carefully scrutinize any proposed water transfer that could adversely affect water supplies for Indian and Hispanic communities.

States should consider enacting legislation that permits the establishment of historical or cultural zones as a means of insulating Indian and Hispanic communities from further injury. Transfers that would have adverse impacts on these zones would receive strict scrutiny.

Conclusion 8:

Tribal governments should consider special factors in approving and administering water transfers on their reservations..

Indian tribal governments play a dual role when water transfers involve reservation water. As proprietors, tribes typically have senior water rights within a state appropriation system; as sovereigns, tribes have authority to administer members', and often nonmembers', water use on the reservation. Senior reserved Indian water rights were essentially ignored during the era of federal investment in large irrigation storage and water delivery systems. As a consequence, Indian communities generally lack the facilities to use much of their water entitlement and often lack the capital to develop such facilities. In the meantime, non-Indian appropriators, often with the assistance of federal reclamation projects, have used water from the streams where Indian rights exist.

Tribal governments have on-reservation authority for administering water transfers. Setting tribal water transfer policies and administering them present special challenges. Tribes desire some flexibility to adjust their senior water rights use to current economic conditions. Water use transfers are an important means for achiev

ing the highest and best use of water. Tribes, however, should not ignore the needs of third parties in tribal water transfers. Notably, as tribal water codes are being drafted, they need to consider these and other third party impacts.

Tribal consideration of transfers of water to off-reservation uses raises additional questions. Foremost among these questions is what law applies to the tribal water when it leaves the reservation. States have very strict rules to protect existing and even junior water uses from injury as a result of a senior water right transfer. State law, however, does not apply to Indians' use of their water on their reservations. Federal and tribal laws governing Indian tribes' use of their water are still evolving but are beginning to conflict with state attempts to extend its water laws into Indian country. This fact, along with the specter of non-Indians having to compete and pay for water they used historically for free, is causing state and tribal tensions.

Indian reservations suffer the highest rates of poverty and attendant social ills of any region in this country. Tribal governments therefore must find ways to develop healthy economies and employment. With declining federal funding, tribal water marketing can generate critically needed capital for development. Leasing opportunities exist both on and off reservations, and several recent settlements include provisions for off-reservation leasing of tribal water.

When Indian water rights are transferred or applied to off-reservation uses, tribal governments should establish procedures to evaluate third party effects.

State and federal governments should cooperate with tribes in evaluating and implementing mutually beneficial transfers.

Conclusion 9:

Water laws should be enacted to promote water conservation and salvage while protecting third party interests..

Water is a scarce resource in the West, and all intentional and nonintentional uses of water that prohibit reuse merit careful attention. Interest in water conservation and salvage operations has been aroused by the Imperial Irrigation District to Metropolitan Water District transfer described in Chapter 11 . Although it may be difficult to duplicate the success of this transfer, countless smaller salvage projects could be undertaken. In addition, some states—particularly Arizona—are looking to agricultural water conservation to make water

available for other uses and have enacted policies to encourage or mandate agricultural conservation.

Technology is available to reduce much water waste. Because much of the water in the West is used by irrigated agriculture, however, the feasibility of applying the technology is limited by the economic condition of agriculture. The feasibility of applying technology to reduce evaporation losses from water surfaces, reduce transpiration from unwanted plants, and reduce loss of water to areas where it is not recoverable is limited by economics. Salvage is further complicated by legal uncertainties concerning who owns or controls the conserved water; state laws that prohibit the transfer, sale, or reuse of conserved water; and the difficulties of maintaining the timing and quantity of return flows on which downstream rights holders depend.

If widespread water conservation and salvage are to take place throughout the West, the return flow problem must first be overcome. The principal reason the Imperial Irrigation District/Metropolitan Water District salvage project succeeded is because there are no downstream senior water rights that depend on the return flows, with the exception of environmental third parties (e.g., the Salton Sea).

If legal disincentives to water conservation and salvage are removed and unnecessary procedural requirements are relaxed, the cost of converting wasted water to productive uses could be reduced. Some controls are necessary, of course, such as existing laws that prevent a would-be salvager from depriving another water user of a water supply by consuming more water than the amount historically used or allowed by an existing water right. But states should act to remove the threat that salvaged water will be declared abandoned. They may want to liberalize the standard of proof that water is truly conserved or salvaged and not being taken from others. Water is, after all, the property of the public, and a public service is provided by those whose conservation and salvage efforts make more water available in a stream.

The great potential of water salvage notwithstanding, laws that facilitate salvage should not ignore the potential for disruption of natural systems, environmental amenities, and the expectations of future water users. Improvements in irrigation efficiency can dry up a wetland. Streams valuable for river rafting can be reduced to unsuitable levels. These interests should be weighed in an established state transfer process that includes procedures for considering effects on the public interest. To the extent that these matters are generically addressed in the allocation and transfer process, no special treat

ment is necessary for a transfer or reuse of conserved or salvaged water. A state, however, may wish to use the transfer of conserved or salvaged water as an opportunity to further public purposes. For instance, Oregon has integrated the goals of its instream flow protection program with a conservation and salvage law enacted in the late 1980s. It requires that 25 percent of the water conserved be allocated to the state to maintain instream flow. Thus far, however, the committee is not aware of any transfers that have occurred under Oregon's new law.

States, tribal governments, and federal agencies should establish programs to reduce the uncertainties and costs involved in water conservation and salvage, facilitating and providing incentives to encourage conservation and reuse of water.

State, tribal, and federal water transfer review processes should take full account of the third party effects of a transfer of conserved or salvaged water, just as with any other transfer.

Conclusion 10:

Water transfer reviews should consider the interrelationships between water quality and water quantity and also between surface and ground water resources..

Where water is scarce, it is particularly important to recognize the relationships between quantity and quality and between surface water and ground water supplies. As population growth and economic development continue in the West, the increased demand for water is likely to highlight these relationships. For instance, both sewage effluent and irrigation return flows are potential causes of water quality degradation, depending on the degree to which they are diluted with higher-quality water. Uncertainty about the water rights status of sewage effluent in some states (e.g., Arizona) restricts water use changes that would allow use of effluent for replacement purposes or to meet downstream senior water rights.

Growth in the urban and industrial sectors also can bring increased pollution, and polluted supplies in effect reduce the quantity of water available for use. Effects on ground water and surface water quality may arise from transfers to new locations and uses, and from the diminished assimilative capacity of the water bodies from which the transfers are made.

States and tribes should accelerate the development of laws, policies, and administrative procedures to ensure consideration of water quality changes that might result from transfers involving the use of municipal effluent and other waters of impaired quality.

States and tribes should encourage conjunctive management of surface and ground water, based on knowledge of hydrologic connections and a full consideration of the related water quality issues and other potential third party effects.

States and tribes should require agencies to develop technical capabilities for evaluating and monitoring surface and ground water quality as part of the transfer evaluation process.

Conclusion 11:

Federal legislative and administrative policies should more clearly support federal water transfers while addressing third party effects and the distribution of benefits from transfers involving federal project water..

Current policies of the Congress and the U.S. Department of the Interior regarding the transfer of entitlements to federal project waters are vague. Although they represent a positive step to separate project entitlements from the original beneficiaries, the policies provide no guidance on how to identify and evaluate third party impacts when entitlements to use federal project water are transferred. Attitudes toward transfers vary considerably within federal water agencies; some regional offices promote transfers aggressively, whereas others generally take a hands-off attitude or actually restrict transfers. Neither Congress nor federal project administrators has been clear as to which third party effects should warrant denial of federal project transfers and which need to be mitigated before transfers are allowed to proceed.

For example, Congress has not spoken on the crucial issue of the resale of federal waters at a profit—the “windfall” issue. Congress could decide to recapture some of the federal (i.e., taxpayer) investment in federal projects, either in the form of financial contributions or in the form of water that might be reallocated to new purposes such as environmental protection or mitigation.

These uncertainties are an impediment to changes in the use and location of use of federal project water and provide sharp contrast to the orderly review processes that exist in some states (e.g., Idaho).

These uncertainties can lead to inefficient and sometimes environmentally and socially damaging solutions to western water problems.

Federal policies on voluntary water transfers generally defer to state law and administrative practice in determining how the third party effects of proposed water transfers are to be assessed and accommodated. Nevertheless, some federal project consistency should be encouraged in this critical area of concern. Some third party effects are so serious that they may warrant federal denial of proposed water transfers. Others may not warrant denial but may require that substantial mitigation measures be taken.

The Secretary of the Interior should develop a formal process for assessing transfers of federal project water. This process should identify the role of those agencies of the Department of the Interior responsible for natural resource stewardship, and allow for consultation with tribal governments, states, and the interested public, to ensure that major third party effects are assessed and mitigated.

Congress should set clear policy for the distribution of profits from the resale of federal project water, and this policy should provide a portion of the economic value in federal project water to be recaptured for public use.

The Secretary of the Interior should require greater consistency in applying the department's general policy supporting voluntary transfers and should specify that there is authority to transfer water among as well as within project service areas. Careful attention must be paid to third party effects.

The American West faces many challenges, but none is more important than the challenge of managing its water. This book examines the role that water transfers can play in allocating the region's scarce water resources. It focuses on the variety of third parties, including Native Americans, Hispanic communities, rural communities, and the environment, that can sometimes be harmed when water is moved.

The committee presents recommendations to guide states, tribes, and federal agencies toward better regulation. Seven in-depth case studies are presented: Nevada's Carson-Truckee basin, the Colorado Front Range, northern New Mexico, Washington's Yakima River basin, central Arizona, and the Central and Imperial valleys in California.

Water Transfers in the West presents background and current information on factors that have encouraged water transfers, typical types of transfers, and their potential negative effects. The book highlights the benefits that water transfers can bring but notes the need for more third-party representation in the processes used to evaluate planned transfers.

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WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Water scarcity affects more than 40% of the global population. Water-related disasters account for 70% of all deaths related to natural disasters. The World Bank helps countries ensure sustainability of water use, build climate resilience and strengthen integrated management.

• Context & Challenges
• Results & Initiatives

Today, most countries are placing unprecedented pressure on water resources. The global population is growing fast, and estimates show that with current practices, the world will face a 40% shortfall between forecast demand and available supply of water by 2030. Furthermore, chronic water scarcity, hydrological uncertainty, and extreme weather events (floods and droughts) are perceived as some of the biggest threats to global prosperity and stability. Acknowledgment of the role that water scarcity and drought are playing in aggravating fragility and conflict is increasing.

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Feeding 10 billion people by 2050 will require a 50% increase in agricultural production , (which consumes 70% of the resource today), and a 15% increase in water withdrawals. Besides this increasing demand, the resource is already scarce in many parts of the world. Estimates indicate that over 40% of the world population live in water scarce areas, and approximately ¼ of world’s GDP is exposed to this challenge. By 2040, an estimated one in four children will live in areas with extreme water shortages . Water security is a major – and often growing –challenge for many countries today.

Climate change will worsen the situation by altering hydrological cycles, making water more unpredictable and increasing the frequency and intensity of floods and droughts. The roughly 1 billion people living in monsoonal basins and the 500 million people living in deltas are especially vulnerable.  Flood damages are estimated around $120 billion per year (only from property damage), and droughts pose, among others, constraints to the rural poor, highly dependent on rainfall variability for subsistence. 

The fragmentation of this resource also constrains water security. There are 276 transboundary basins, shared by 148 countries, which account for 60% of the global freshwater flow. Similarly, 300 aquifers systems are transboundary in nature, with 2.5 billion people worldwide are dependent on groundwater. The challenges of fragmentation are often replicated at the national scale, meaning cooperation is needed to achieve optimal water resources management and development solutions for all riparians. To deal with these complex and interlinked water challenges, countries will need to improve the way they manage their water resources and associated services.

To strengthen water security against this backdrop of increasing demand, water scarcity, growing uncertainty, greater extremes, and fragmentation challenges, clients will need to invest in institutional strengthening, information management, and (natural and man-made) infrastructure development. Institutional tools such as legal and regulatory frameworks, water pricing, and incentives are needed to better allocate, regulate, and conserve water resources. Information systems are needed for resource monitoring, decision making under uncertainty, systems analyses, and hydro-meteorological forecast and warning. Investments in innovative technologies for enhancing productivity, conserving and protecting resources, recycling storm water and wastewater, and developing non-conventional water sources should be explored in addition to seeking opportunities for enhanced water storage, including aquifer recharge and recovery. Ensuring the rapid dissemination and appropriate adaptation or application of these advances will be a key to strengthening global water security.

Last Updated: Oct 05, 2022

The World Bank is committed to assisting countries meet their economic growth and poverty reduction targets based on the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ).  Particularly, water resource management is tackled in SDG 6.5, but other SDGs and targets require water resource management for their achievement.  Accordingly, the Bank has a major interest in helping countries achieve water security through sound and robust water resource management.

Water security is the goal of water resources management . For a rapidly growing and urbanizing global population, against a backdrop of increasing climatic and non-climatic uncertainties, it is not possible to "predict and plan" a single path to water security. To strengthen water security we need to build capacity, adaptability, and resilience for the future planning and management of water resources.

Water Resources Management (WRM) is the process of planning, developing, and managing water resources, in terms of both water quantity and quality, across all water uses. It includes the institutions, infrastructure, incentives, and information systems that support and guide water management. Water resources management seeks to harness the benefits of water by ensuring there is sufficient water of adequate quality for drinking water and sanitation services, food production, energy generation, inland water transport, and water-based recreational, as well as sustaining healthy water-dependent ecosystems and protecting the aesthetic and spiritual values of lakes, rivers, and estuaries. Water resource management also entails managing water-related risks, including floods, drought, and contamination. The complexity of relationships between water and households, economies, and ecosystems, requires integrated management that accounts for the synergies and tradeoffs of water's great number uses and values.

Water security is achieved when water's productive potential is leveraged and its destructive potential is managed . Water security differs from concepts of food security or energy security because the challenge is not only one of securing adequate resource provision – but also of mitigating the hazards that water presents where it is not well managed. Water security reflects the actions that can or have been taken to ensure sustainable water resource use, to deliver reliable water services, and to manage and mitigate water-related risks. Water security suggests a dynamic construct that goes beyond single-issue goals such as water scarcity, pollution, or access to water and sanitation, to think more broadly about societies' expectations, choices, and achievements with respect to water management. It is a dynamic policy goal, which changes as societies' values and economic well-being evolve, and as exposure to and societies' tolerance of water-related risks change. It must contend with issues of equity.

The Water Security and Integrated Water Resources Management Global Solutions Group (GSG) supports the Bank's analytical, advisory, and operational engagements to help clients achieve their goals of water security.  Achieving water security in the context of growing water scarcity, greater unpredictability, degrading water quality and aquatic ecosystems, and more frequent droughts and floods, will require a more integrated and longer-term approach to water management. Key areas of focus will be ensuring sustainability of water resources, building climate resilience, and strengthening integrated management to achieve the Global Practice's (GP) goals and the SDGs. The GSG will work with a multiple GPs and Cross Cutting Solutions Areas (CCSAs) directly through water resources management or multi-sectoral projects and indirectly through agriculture, energy, environment, climate, or urban projects. 

Robust water resource management solutions to complex water issues incorporate cutting-edge knowledge and innovation, which are integrated into water projects to strengthen their impact. New knowledge that draws on the World Bank Group’s global experiences, as well as partner expertise, are filling global knowledge gaps and transforming the design of water investment projects to deliver results. Multi-year, programmatic engagements in strategic areas are designed to make dramatic economic improvements in the long term and improve the livelihoods of millions of the world’s poorest people.

The Water Security Diagnostic Initiative is an analytical framework that can be used to examine the status and trends related to water resources, water services, and water-related risks, including climate change, transboundary waters, and virtual water trade. The framework helps countries determine if and to what extent water-related factors impact people, the economy, and the environment, and determine if and to what extent water-related factors provide opportunities for development and well-being.

The World Bank is proactively working to address new global challenges, by adapting its operations to reach those that most need it today. Working across sectors is ensuring that water considerations are addressed in energy, the environment, agriculture, urban and rural development, and within new global challenges. The Bank also supports transformational engagements and initiatives, which seek to optimize spatial, green, and co-benefits among water and other infrastructure sectors. A large proportion of World Bank-funded water resources management projects include institutional and policy components.

Recent initiatives include:

• Through the Federal Integrated Water Sector Project (INTERÁGUAS) , Brazil's federal government sought to integrate the water sector by improving coordination among and strengthening the capacity of the sector’s key federal institutions. In an ambitious innovation, the World Bank supported the government by helping to bring together the most important federal water sector agencies while supporting ongoing water reforms and institutional strengthening.
• The integration of nature-based solutions in the Bank’s water infrastructure projects has helped place a spotlight on the world’s growing infrastructure crisis, driven by climate change and growing populations. Embedding nature-based solutions into project designs can help deliver infrastructure services with greater impact and lower cost, all the while reducing risks from disaster, boosting water security and enhancing climate resilience.
• The publication of a National Framework for Integrated Urban Water Management in Indonesia , focuses on the potential for IUWM to address the severe and interrelated water security challenges faced by Indonesian cities.
• The Second Public Employment for Sustainable Agriculture and Water Management Project (PAMP II) supported the Government of Tajikistan in improving water resource management at local, basin and national levels, and in increasing crop yields through improved irrigation management. Key to improved irrigation was rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage infrastructure and support to Water Users Associations, which are community-based organizations linking farmers with irrigation service provider.
• The Water Management and Development Project in Uganda improved the integration of water resources planning, management and development, as well as access to water and sanitation services in priority urban areas. More than 1.01 million people received access to improved water sources, and 25,000 piped household water connections were rehabilitated from 2012-2018.

With 263 international rivers in the world, support for cooperative transboundary water management can make an important contribution towards improving the efficient and equitable management of water resources. The Bank supports transboundary waters through Multi-Donor Trust Funds (MDTF), knowledge pieces, and its lending portfolio:

• Central Asia Water & Energy Program ( CAWEP ) is a MDTF administered by the World Bank and financed by the European Commission, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, UK AID, and DFID. The MDTF is building energy and water security by leveraging the benefits of enhanced cooperation in Central Asia, including all five Central Asian countries plus Afghanistan.
• The Cooperation for International Waters in Africa (CIWA) is a MDTF administered by the World Bank and financed by Denmark, European Commission, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The trust fund finances upstream work in African International Rivers, 75% of which go to four priority basins – Nile, Niger, Volta, and Zambezi.
•  The South Asia Water Initiative (SAWI) is a MDTF administered by the World Bank and financed by the governments of the United Kingdom, Australia, and Norway in South Asia. The trust fund provides recipient executed grants to initiatives in the major Himalayan River systems – the Indus, the Ganges, and the Brahmaputra.
• In the Mekong River Basin, the Bank is supporting riparian states such as Cambodia , the Lao People’s Democratic Republic , and Vietnam in strengthening their integrated water resource management and disaster risk management capacities, cooperating closely with the basin-wide Mekong River Commission.
• The Bank is also investing in knowledge pieces such as ROTI ( Retooling Operations with Transboundary Impacts ) to identify tools that promote riparian country coordination aimed at mitigating transboundary harm and leveraging benefits of investments in transboundary basins.

The Bank follows an integrated flood management agenda, which includes well-functioning early warning systems, infrastructure, and institutional arrangements for coordinated action to address increased variability and changes to runoff and flooding patterns.  In addition, a new perspective, referred to as an "EPIC Response," is offered to better manage hydro-climatic risks: This perspective looks at floods and droughts not as independent events but rather as different ends of the same hydro-climatic spectrum that are inextricably linked. The EPIC response provides a comprehensive framework to help national governments lead a whole-of-society effort to manage these risks.

Water scarcity is also addressed in:  

• The Water Scarce Cities Initiative , initially focusing on the Middle East and North Africa ( MENA ) region, seeking to bolster the adoption of integrated approaches to managing water resources and service delivery in water scarce cities as the basis for water security and climate resilience.
• Small Island States . The challenges and innovations of water management in small island states can be particularly vivid. These countries warrant particular attention not only because they are often neglected, but also because they provide an opportunity to focus on intensive reuse and non-conventional water resources development, which will be increasingly important knowledge for implementation in megacities and extremely water scarce settings. A scoping study is proposed on the state-of-the-art and the Bank’s portfolio.

Sustainable groundwater management is also a priority of the World Bank, and central to water security in many countries.

• Recognizing that groundwater is being depleted faster than it is replenished in many areas, the World Bank has collaborated with key global partners through years of consultations to develop a framework for groundwater governance. The 2030 Vision and Global Framework for Action represents a bold call for collectively responsible action among governments and the global community to ensure sustainable use of groundwater.

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Sustainably Forward

The Importance of Water Conservation: 16 Big Takeaways

Dive into the depths of the importance of water conservation through our latest post. Discover how preserving water today shapes a sustainable, healthy tomorrow.

Water Conservation Key Takeaways:

• The importance of water conservation lies in ensuring a sustainable supply of fresh water for present and future generations.
• It plays a pivotal role in promoting public health, reducing energy consumption,
• It supports ecological balance by minimizing the impacts of water scarcity on natural habitats.

Table of Contents

I. The Importance of Water Conservation

Discover how preserving water today shapes a sustainable, healthy tomorrow amidst growing concerns of water scarcity.

Water conservation is pivotal in safeguarding the finite freshwater resources on Earth.

Uncovering the essence of water conservation reveals a mission to safeguard our planet’s freshwater resources.

This endeavor transcends mere usage reduction, embedding itself in broader societal and environmental contexts.

Its importance stretches across various aspects of our lives and the environment, highlighting the need for collective efforts to preserve this precious resource for present and future generations.

2. Preservation of Freshwater Resources

The mantra of preserving freshwater resources echoes the urgency to mitigate water scarcity.

This proactive approach targets a sustainable equilibrium between human needs and ecological balance amidst an impending water crisis.

Aim to conserve the available freshwater resources on the planet :

Freshwater, a finite resource, is under continuous strain due to a burgeoning global population and escalating demands from agricultural, industrial, and domestic sectors.

The dire consequence of depletion accentuates the importance of conserving the available freshwater resources to thwart a looming water crisis.

Conservation Strategies: Safeguarding Water for Future Generations

Strategies towards conservation are not only a response to the immediate necessity but also include strategies towards conservation and sustainable water management practices to ensure the long-term availability of water for future generations.

In-depth discussions can be made on global water scarcity statistics, regions most affected, and the potential impacts if conservation measures are not adopted.

Strategies include beneficial reduction in water loss, use, and waste of resources :

A myriad of strategies exist to facilitate a beneficial reduction in water loss, use, and waste of resources.

These range from individual actions to systemic changes.

On a personal level, practices such as fixing leaks promptly, employing water-saving appliances, and mindful water usage in daily routines contribute significantly to conservation.

On a broader scale, policy implementations, improved water infrastructure, and promotion of water-efficient technologies play a crucial role.

Besides, education and awareness campaigns can foster a culture of conservation, enabling informed decisions and encouraging responsible water use. 

3. Health and Sanitation

Health and sanitation are indispensable facets of a thriving society, heavily reliant on water quality.

The synergy between water conservation and improved health outcomes is a narrative of survival and wellness.

Clean water is crucial for proper sanitation, which in turn prevents the spread of diseases :

The provision of clean water is a fundamental requirement for maintaining proper sanitation.

Clean water is imperative for a multitude of sanitary practices including hand washing, cleaning, and waste disposal which are instrumental in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

In settings where clean water is scarce, the risk of outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and diarrhea exponentially increases, highlighting the need for improved water management.

Clean Water: A Cornerstone of Healthcare and Public Health

Additionally, the availability of clean water in healthcare facilities is paramount to prevent healthcare-associated infections, ensuring the safety of both healthcare providers and patients.

The role of clean water in promoting hygiene and preventing the proliferation of waterborne diseases is an inextricable link between water conservation and public health.

Lack of clean water can lead to numerous water-borne diseases, affecting the quality of life and leading to mortality :

The absence of clean water is a precursor to a host of water-borne diseases.

These diseases, including cholera, dysentery, and typhoid, can have devastating effects on communities, particularly in vulnerable populations lacking the infrastructure for water treatment and healthcare.

Mortality rates can soar during outbreaks, and the quality of life deteriorates as individuals and families grapple with illness.

The prolonged impact extends to economic productivity and community well-being.

4. Energy and Resource Efficiency

The narrative of energy and resource efficiency unveils a scenario where water conservation is the protagonist.

It’s a tale of reduced energy consumption, minimized pollution, and optimized resource utilization.

By adopting water-saving technology and reducing our water footprint, we also minimize the energy required to process and deliver water.

Reducing water usage diminishes the energy required to process and deliver it, which in turn helps in reducing pollution and conserving fuel resources :

The interlink between water and energy is often dubbed as the “energy-water nexus.”

The process of treating, pumping, and delivering water to households and industries consumes a significant amount of energy.

Similarly, energy production itself, especially in thermal power plants, necessitates substantial water use.

By reducing water usage, the energy required for these processes is simultaneously decreased.

This cascading effect translates to lower greenhouse gas emissions, as less fossil fuel is burned to generate the energy associated with water services.

Water Conservation: Fueling Resource Efficiency

The conservation of water also paves the way for conserving other vital resources.

For instance, less water usage means less energy required for heating, pumping, and treating water, which in turn results in reduced demand for fuel resources such as coal, gas, and electricity.

This scenario paints a broader picture of resource efficiency, embodying a cyclical relationship where conserving one resource leads to the conservation of another.

Furthermore, the reduction in energy consumption and pollution contributes to a cleaner, healthier environment.

The lesser the pollution, the better the air and water quality, creating a more sustainable and livable habitat for all living organisms. 

5. Economic Implications

The economic implications of water conservation extend beyond mere cost-saving.

It’s a discourse on fostering economic resilience, reducing expenditures, and promoting a sustainable financial landscape.

The economic benefits of water conservation in terms of reducing costs associated with water treatment and delivery :

• Water conservation has a direct impact on reducing the costs associated with water treatment and delivery.

When water usage is minimized, less energy and resources are required to treat, heat, and transport water to various sectors including residential, industrial, and agricultural domains.

This reduction in operational costs can translate to lower water bills for consumers and reduced expenditures for municipalities and businesses.

Fueling Economic Efficiency and Resilience

• On a macroeconomic level, efficient water use can lead to significant cost savings for municipal water treatment facilities.

By reducing the load on these facilities, the costs associated with water purification, pumping, and distribution are substantially lowered.

This, in turn, can free up financial resources that can be redirected to other critical infrastructure projects or community development initiatives.

• Furthermore, water conservation measures such as the adoption of water-efficient technologies and the implementation of water reuse and recycling programs can lead to long-term economic benefits.

Investments in water-efficient appliances and fixtures, though they may have upfront costs, yield long-term savings by reducing water and energy bills, promoting water efficiency

Sparking Jobs and Economic Activity

• The economic ripple effect of water conservation extends to job creation as well.

The design, installation, and maintenance of water-efficient systems and technologies create new job opportunities in the green technology sector.

Moreover, the money saved from reduced water and energy bills can stimulate economic activity as consumers and businesses have more disposable income to spend or invest.

Saving Water : A Pillar of Economic Resilience

• Additionally, in regions where water scarcity is a pressing issue, water conservation can be a tool for economic resilience.

By ensuring a reliable water supply through conservation measures, businesses, and agricultural operations are safeguarded against the economic risks associated with water shortages.

6. Environmental Sustainability

Environmental sustainability and water conservation are intertwined in a delicate dance.

This relationship underscores the imperative of water conservation in nurturing a harmonious environment.

The U.S. population has doubled over the past 50 years, while our thirst for water has tripled. With at least 40 states anticipating water shortages by 2024, the need to conserve water is critical. https://www.epa.gov/greeningepa/water-conservation-epa

Conserving water contributes to environmental sustainability, including preserving habitats and combating climate change :

• Water is a life-sustaining resource, forming the crux of various ecosystems. The conservation of water plays a pivotal role in preserving diverse habitats, be it wetlands, rivers, or lakes.

These ecosystems are home to a myriad of plant and animal species, and their well-being is heavily reliant on the availability and quality of water.

By conserving water , we aid in maintaining the ecological balance and ensuring the survival and flourishing of these habitats.

Water Conservation: A Weapon Against Climate Change

• Furthermore, water conservation is a potent tool in the fight against climate change.

The energy saved from reduced water heating, treatment, and distribution translates to fewer greenhouse gas emissions, which is instrumental in mitigating climate change.

Moreover, healthy water systems can act as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, which helps in reducing the overall carbon levels in the atmosphere.

Water Conservation: Shielding Supply Amid Climate Shifts

• Water conservation also helps in reducing the stress on existing water sources, which is crucial in the face of changing climate patterns.

As climate change alters precipitation patterns and increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like droughts and floods, conserving water becomes even more essential to ensure a resilient and sustainable water supply.

Drought resistance is another benefit of water conservation, as it prepares communities for periods of water scarcity.

Conserving Water: Boosting Sustainability, Protecting Quality

• In addition, water conservation practices like water recycling and rainwater harvesting are part of sustainable water use that contributes to environmental sustainability.

These measures also help in reducing stormwater runoff, which can carry pollutants into water bodies, thereby protecting water quality.

7. Recreational and Aesthetic Value

Recreational and aesthetic values of water are chapters in the book of water conservation that enrich our life experience.

They underscore the lifestyle and cultural enhancements that conserved water resources bring to communities.

Conserved water avails resources for recreational purposes, enhancing the aesthetic value of our surroundings :

Water bodies are not just essential resources; they are places of joy, recreation, and aesthetic appeal.

Lakes, rivers, and oceans are venues for numerous recreational activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing.

Parks with ponds and water features provide serene spots for relaxation and leisure.

Water conservation ensures that these recreational spaces remain vibrant and accessible, enriching the quality of life in communities.

Employing sustainable practices like using drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation systems can create visually appealing spaces while promoting water efficiency.

The aesthetic value of water is undeniable. The sight and sound of water can significantly enhance the beauty and appeal of a locale, be it a city with a river running through it or a community park with a fountain.

Well-maintained water bodies add to the aesthetic charm, promoting a sense of peace and connection with nature.

Moreover, properties near water bodies often have higher aesthetic and monetary value.

Water Conservation: Beautifying Spaces, Preserving Heritage

Water conservation helps maintain the beauty and usability of these natural and man-made water features by ensuring a reliable water supply.

It also aids in preserving the clarity and cleanliness of water, which in turn enhances the aesthetic appeal.

Besides, conserving water in urban landscapes by employing sustainable practices like using drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation systems can create visually appealing spaces while promoting water efficiency.

The ripple effect of water conservation extends to cultural values as well.

Many cultures revere water bodies as sacred or historically significant sites.

Conserving water helps in preserving the integrity and historical significance of such sites, thus contributing to cultural preservation.

8. Community and Global Initiatives

Community and global initiatives in water conservation are the torchbearers in the dark alley of water scarcity.

They epitomize collective action and the global camaraderie necessary to navigate the water conservation journey.

Various community and global initiatives promoting water conservation

Across the globe, numerous initiatives, both at community and international levels, are making strides in promoting water conservation.

These initiatives range from local water-saving campaigns, and educational programs in schools and communities, to global projects aimed at improving water management practices and policies.

On a community level, local authorities, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups often spearhead water conservation campaigns.

These campaigns may include water-saving challenges, distribution of water-efficient fixtures, and educational workshops on water conservation techniques.

Participating in or supporting these local initiatives can be a significant step towards fostering a culture of water conservation within communities.

Global Unity in Water Conservation: Act Locally, Impact Globally

At a global scale, international organizations, governmental bodies, and collaborations between countries are driving water conservation efforts forward.

For instance, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6   is a testament to global efforts towards sustainable water management.

Other global initiatives focus on improving water governance, promoting water-efficient technologies, and advocating for sustainable water use in industries.

Readers can get involved in these initiatives in various ways. They can volunteer their time and skills to local water conservation projects, donate to organizations working on water issues, or advocate for water-saving policies at the community or national level.

Additionally, readers can take the initiative to educate themselves and others about water conservation and implement water-saving practices in their homes and workplaces.

9. Practical Tips for Water Conservation

Practical tips for water conservation are the stepping stones towards a water-efficient lifestyle.

They empower individuals and communities with actionable strategies to contribute to the larger cause of water conservation.

Practical tips and methods for individuals and communities to conserve water :

For individuals :.

• Check for Leaks : Regularly checking for and fixing leaks in taps, pipes, and toilets can save a significant amount of water.
• Install Water-Saving Fixtures : Use low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, and dual-flush toilets to reduce water usage.
• Collect Rainwater : Collecting rainwater for outdoor use, such as watering plants, can significantly conserve water.
• Mindful Water Usage : Practice turning off the tap while brushing teeth, washing hands, or doing dishes.
• Use a Broom, Not a Hose : Clean driveways, sidewalks, and steps with a broom instead of a hose to save water outside .

For Communities:

• Community Awareness Programs : Organize water conservation awareness programs to educate community members on the importance of water conservation and provide practical tips.
• Water-Saving Challenges : Host challenges to encourage community members to reduce water usage and reward those who achieve notable reductions.
• Invest in Water-Saving Technology : Community-wide investments in water-saving technologies like efficient irrigation systems and wastewater recycling facilities can make a significant impact.
• Promote Drought-Tolerant Landscaping : Encourage community members to adopt drought-tolerant landscaping techniques that require less watering.
• Establish Water Conservation Policies : Work with local authorities to establish and enforce water conservation policies, such as watering restrictions during droughts.

10. Understanding Water Consumption: A Closer Look

Gallons of water in daily use:.

Water is an indispensable part of our daily lives, yet its consumption varies significantly across different regions.

In the United States, an individual uses an average of about 80-100 gallons of water per day.

This figure starkly contrasts with the daily per capita water usage in many other parts of the world, where the numbers can be substantially lower due to various factors including availability and infrastructure.

One of the significant contributors to water consumption in households is the washing machine.

A traditional top-loading washing machine can use about 41 gallons of water per load.

In comparison, a front-loading washing machine, which is considered more water-efficient, uses about 28 gallons per load.

Other activities such as taking a bath, flushing the toilet, and even turning on the dishwasher also contribute to the daily water footprint.

The difference in water consumption rates often mirrors the level of awareness, the efficiency of water-using appliances, and the effectiveness of water conservation policies in place.

By understanding the quantum of water used in everyday activities and employing water-efficient appliances, individuals can play a crucial part in reducing water consumption, paving the way for a more sustainable and water-secure future.

The Cost of Water Waste:

Economically, water waste leads to higher costs in water treatment and delivery.

For instance, the cost of water has been rising in the United States, and water waste only exacerbates the financial burden on both individuals and the community at large.

Moreover, the process of treating and delivering clean water consumes a considerable amount of energy, which in turn contributes to higher utility bills.

Environmentally, water waste puts a strain on the already limited natural resources.

The excessive withdrawal of fresh water from natural sources leads to a depletion of surface water levels in lakes, rivers, and streams.

This depletion adversely affects aquatic life, disrupts the ecosystems, and can lead to a scarcity of water supplies over time.

Additionally, the excessive use of groundwater can lead to a decline in groundwater levels, making it a concerning issue in arid and semi-arid regions.

The environmental cost also extends to the loss of habitat for many aquatic and wetland species.

Moreover, water pollution is often exacerbated by higher water waste, as more contaminants are discharged into water bodies.

Addressing water waste by adopting water-efficient practices and technologies, and promoting water conservation awareness, is pivotal in mitigating these economic and environmental challenges.

It’s a step towards ensuring the sustainable management of water resources, which is essential for the well-being of both the economy and the environment.

11. Practical Steps Towards Reduced Water Consumption

Embarking on a journey towards reduced water consumption necessitates a blend of technological adaptation and behavioral modification.

These steps not only contribute to water conservation but also lead to substantial savings on water bills, making it a win-win scenario.

Adopting Water-Saving Appliances:

Water-saving appliances are designed to deliver the same or even better functionality while using less water.

For instance, a low-flow showerhead can drastically reduce the amount of water used in every shower, without compromising the shower experience.

It’s a simple switch that can save thousands of gallons of water annually in a typical household.

Fixing leaky faucets is another straightforward yet impactful step.

A single drip every second can waste over 3,000 gallons of water per year, which is enough water to take more than 180 showers.

Addressing such leaks promptly can prevent a significant amount of water waste.

When it comes to washing machines, running full loads is a smart practice.

It maximizes the efficiency of each water usage cycle, as opposed to running several smaller loads which would use more water cumulatively.

Modern washing machines also come with water-efficient cycles that can be leveraged to reduce water consumption further.

Employing water meters to monitor water consumption is a prudent approach.

A water meter provides precise data on water usage, helping to identify any abnormal consumption that might indicate leaks or overuse.

By regularly monitoring water consumption, individuals can better understand their water usage patterns and take steps to reduce unnecessary use.

Embracing Behavioral Changes:

Simple behavioral changes can go a long way in reducing water consumption.

For instance, cutting down shower time by just a few minutes can save dozens of gallons of water over the week.

It’s a small change that, when adopted widely, can have a significant impact.

Checking toilet tanks for leaks is another important step. A silent leak in the toilet can waste up to 7,000 gallons of water per month.

By simply placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank and observing if it seeps into the bowl, individuals can easily check for leaks.

Avoiding the use of garbage disposals can also contribute to water savings.

Garbage disposals require a considerable amount of water to operate effectively.

Composting kitchen waste instead of using the garbage disposal is an environmentally friendly alternative that also saves water.

Each of these steps, whether it involves adopting water-saving appliances or making small behavioral changes, contributes towards a culture of water conservation.

When embraced collectively, these steps can lead to a significant reduction in water consumption, promoting a sustainable and water-efficient lifestyle.

12. Water Conservation in Your Backyard

Your backyard is a canvas where the art of water conservation can be beautifully illustrated.

With mindful gardening and landscaping practices, it’s possible to create a serene and aesthetically pleasing outdoor space that is also water-efficient.

These practices not only conserve a significant amount of water but also reduce maintenance while promoting a healthy local ecosystem.

Sustainable Gardening Practices:

Sustainable gardening practices are fundamental to water conservation in your backyard. Here are a few impactful strategies:

• Native Plants: Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, which make them exceptionally resilient and require far less water than non-native species. By choosing native plants for your garden, you’re aligning with the natural ecosystem, which significantly reduces the need for extra watering and care.
• Drip Irrigation Systems: Drip irrigation is a highly efficient watering system that delivers water directly to the base of each plant, minimizing evaporation and runoff. By using a drip irrigation system, you can ensure that your plants receive the precise amount of water they need, reducing waste and promoting healthier plant growth.
• Reclaimed Water: Utilizing reclaimed water, or greywater, from your home is a resourceful way of watering your garden. This includes water from showers, washing machines, and sinks that can be rerouted to irrigate your garden, reducing the demand on freshwater supplies.
• Timing of Watering: Watering your plants during the early morning or late afternoon reduces evaporation loss, ensuring that more water reaches the roots. It’s a simple yet effective way to conserve water in your garden.

Artificial Turf and Other Alternatives:

For areas of your backyard traditionally covered in thirsty lawns, considering alternative landscaping can lead to substantial water savings.

• Artificial Turf: Artificial turf is a waterless alternative to traditional grass lawns. It provides a green, lush look year-round without requiring a drop of water. Additionally, artificial turf eliminates the need for mowing, fertilizing, and other maintenance associated with natural grass, saving both time and resources.
• Drought-Tolerant Landscaping: Drought-tolerant landscaping, also known as xeriscaping, incorporates plants and design principles that minimize water use. This includes using drought-resistant plants, mulching to retain soil moisture, and designing areas to capture rainwater.

Adopting these sustainable gardening practices and landscaping alternatives is a significant step toward reducing outdoor water use.

Not only do they contribute to water conservation, but they also create a resilient, low-maintenance backyard that reflects a commitment to environmental sustainability.

By integrating these practices, you’re embracing a water-wise approach to gardening and contributing to a broader culture of conservation.

13. Agricultural Water Use and Conservation

Agriculture is a sector where water is a critical component, influencing not just the yield but the very possibility of cultivation.

The importance of water conservation in agriculture cannot be overstated as it is directly tied to food security, livelihoods, and economic stability.

Efficient irrigation practices and adaptive strategies to weather patterns are among the cornerstones of water conservation in this sector.

Efficient Irrigation:

Efficient irrigation is pivotal in maximizing water use efficiency in agricultural landscapes.

It plays a strategic role in ensuring that crops receive adequate water while minimizing wastage. Here are some facets of efficient irrigation:

• Advanced Irrigation Systems: Upgrading to more efficient irrigation systems like drip or micro-spray irrigation can significantly reduce water consumption. These systems deliver water directly to the plant roots, minimizing evaporation and runoff losses.
• Irrigation Scheduling: Employing smart irrigation scheduling based on soil moisture levels, weather forecasts, and plant water needs can ensure water is only applied when and where it’s needed. This precision in irrigation scheduling can lead to substantial water savings.
• Irrigation Technology: Leveraging technology, such as soil moisture sensors and automated irrigation controllers, can optimize irrigation efficiency. These technologies can provide real-time data and automate watering schedules to avoid over-irrigation and conserve water.
• Water Recycling and Reuse: Implementing systems to capture, treat, and reuse agricultural runoff can provide a sustainable water source for irrigation, reducing the demand on freshwater resources.

Weather Patterns and Food Production:

The intricate relationship between weather patterns and agriculture underscores the significance of water conservation in ensuring food security:

• Impact of Droughts and Floods: Extreme weather events like droughts and floods can severely impact water availability for agriculture. Droughts can lead to water shortages, affecting crop yields, while floods can damage irrigation infrastructure and contaminate water sources.
• Climate Resilient Farming Practices: Adopting climate-resilient farming practices, such as drought-tolerant crop varieties, rainwater harvesting, and water storage solutions, can help mitigate the impacts of changing weather patterns on water resources.
• Food Shortages: Water scarcity, exacerbated by erratic weather patterns, can lead to reduced agricultural productivity and potential food shortages. Ensuring efficient water use in agriculture is crucial to safeguard against food shortages and maintain food security.
• Policy and Planning: Comprehensive water management policies and planning at the regional and national levels can help mitigate the risks associated with changing weather patterns. This includes investing in resilient agricultural water infrastructure and promoting water conservation practices among farmers.

Through a combination of efficient irrigation practices and adaptive strategies to changing weather patterns, the agricultural sector can significantly contribute to water conservation.

These measures not only safeguard against the adverse impacts of water scarcity but also pave the way for a sustainable and resilient agricultural sector that can meet the growing demand for food amidst a changing climate.

14. Industrial Water Conservation

Industries are among the significant consumers of water, utilizing it for a plethora of processes including cooling, cleaning, and manufacturing.

The extent of industrial water use, coupled with the potential for pollution, accentuates the necessity for water conservation and sustainable management practices within this sector.

By adopting water conservation plans and utilizing reclaimed water, industries can play a pivotal role in alleviating water scarcity and promoting environmental sustainability.

Water Use in Industrial Processes:

The industrial sector’s water footprint is substantial, often leading to notable water consumption and pollution. Here are some insights into water use in industrial processes and how conservation plans can mitigate these issues:

• Water Consumption: Industries consume vast amounts of water for various processes such as cooling systems, boiler feedwater, and product processing. The magnitude of water used can strain local water supplies, especially in water-scarce regions.
• Water Pollution: Industrial activities can lead to water pollution if not properly managed. The discharge of untreated industrial effluents into water bodies can contaminate water supplies and harm aquatic ecosystems.
• Water Audits: Conducting water audits to identify areas of excessive water use and leakages.
• Recycling and Reuse: Establishing systems for recycling and reusing water within industrial processes.
• Waste Management: Adopting waste management practices to treat industrial effluents before discharge, thereby mitigating water pollution.
• Technology Adoption: Utilizing water-efficient technologies and process optimizations to reduce water consumption.
• Engagement and Training: Engaging employees and stakeholders on the importance of water conservation and providing training on water-saving practices can foster a culture of conservation within the industry.

Reclaimed Water in Industries:

Utilizing reclaimed water is a pragmatic approach to reducing freshwater demand in the industrial sector.

Here are some points on how reclaimed water can be incorporated into industrial processes:

• Source of Alternative Water Supply: Reclaimed water serves as an alternative water supply, alleviating the pressure on freshwater resources. It’s particularly beneficial in regions grappling with water scarcity.
• Applications: Industries can use reclaimed water for various non-potable purposes including cooling, boiler feedwater, and even process water in certain cases.
• Cost Efficiency: Utilizing reclaimed water can be cost-effective in the long run as it reduces the dependency on external water supplies and can lower water treatment costs.
• Regulatory Compliance: Employing reclaimed water can help industries comply with local water management regulations and contribute to regional water conservation goals.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborative initiatives between public authorities and industries can facilitate the infrastructure and regulatory framework necessary for reclaimed water use.

By integrating water conservation plans and embracing the use of reclaimed water, industries can significantly contribute towards water conservation, setting a precedent for sustainable industrial practices.

Through collective efforts within the industrial sector, we inch closer to a scenario of efficient water use that bodes well for both the economy and the environment.

15. The Future of Water Conservation

Water conservation is not merely a present-day endeavor but a long-term commitment toward securing a sustainable water future.

The scenarios of escalating population growth and the burgeoning demand for safe drinking water underscore the urgency of proactive water conservation measures.

The trajectory of water conservation is intertwined with global health, economic vitality, and environmental sustainability.

As we navigate through the intricacies of global water risk and human health, the narrative of water conservation emerges as a cornerstone for fostering a resilient and water-secure future.

Addressing the Growing Demand:

The nexus between population growth and water demand is a significant facet of the global water narrative.

Here’s a closer look at how water conservation addresses the growing demand for safe drinking water:

• Population Growth: The burgeoning global population is synonymous with escalating demand for water. As more individuals rely on finite water resources, the strain on these resources intensifies, thus amplifying the importance of water conservation.
• Increasing Demand for Safe Drinking Water: Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone for public health. The growing demand accentuates the need for efficient water management practices to ensure a reliable supply of clean water.
• Water Conservation as a Means of Supply Security: Water conservation strategies, both on individual and communal levels, are instrumental in curbing excessive water use and promoting efficient use of available water resources. This conservation ethos aims at ensuring that adequate water is available to meet the needs of the growing global population in the coming years.
• Technological Innovations: The advent of water-saving technologies and the promotion of water-efficient practices are crucial for navigating the rising demand for water. Innovations in water treatment, recycling, and efficient usage can significantly contribute to water conservation efforts.

Global Water Risk and Human Health:

The global water risk narrative is a reflection of the intrinsic link between water scarcity, human health, and societal well-being.

Here’s an exploration of how water conservation plays a pivotal role in mitigating water risks and fostering human health:

• Water Scarcity as a Health Risk: Water scarcity exacerbates the risk of waterborne diseases, malnutrition, and other health issues. Inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities can lead to the proliferation of waterborne diseases and other health hazards.
• Water Conservation as a Health Promotion Tool: By ensuring enough water through conservation measures, the risks associated with water scarcity can be significantly mitigated. Water conservation promotes access to clean water, which in turn fosters improved hygiene and reduces the incidence of waterborne diseases.
• Community Resilience: Communities endowed with robust water conservation practices are better positioned to withstand the adversities of water scarcity. These practices contribute to building a resilient community capable of navigating the health and economic challenges posed by water scarcity.
• Policy Framework and Global Cooperation: Establishing a conducive policy framework and fostering global cooperation are essential for advancing water conservation goals. Through collaborative efforts, global standards, and shared knowledge, the journey toward water conservation and a healthier future can be significantly bolstered.

The endeavor towards water conservation is a collective journey.

By adopting water-saving practices, advocating for sustainable water policies, and supporting technological innovations, we pave the way for a water-secure and healthier future.

Through these concerted efforts, the narrative of water conservation continues to evolve, anchoring itself firmly in the global discourse on sustainability and public health.

16. Community Involvement and Education

The path toward successful water conservation is paved with informed decisions and collective action.

Community involvement and education are the linchpins of fostering a culture of water conservation.

By engaging communities and providing pragmatic water-saving tips, the journey towards reducing water waste and promoting water efficiency becomes a communal endeavor.

The synthesis of individual actions and community initiatives can significantly drive down water consumption, contribute to safeguarding water resources, and cultivate a sustainable living ethos.

Water-Saving Tips:

Empowering individuals with practical water-saving tips is a cornerstone for promoting indoor water efficiency.

Here’s a curated list of water-saving tips that can be seamlessly integrated into daily lives, making a profound impact over time:

• Monitor Water Usage: Install a water meter to keep track of daily water usage. Identifying patterns can help in implementing strategies to reduce consumption.
• Fix Leaks Promptly: A small leak can waste a substantial amount of water over time. Regularly check for and fix leaks in taps, pipes, and toilet tanks.
• Use Water-Saving Appliances: Opt for appliances with better water efficiency ratings. For instance, using a low-flow showerhead can significantly reduce water use.
• Practice Mindful Water Usage: Small actions like turning off the tap while brushing teeth or washing hands, and using a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways can make a big difference.
• Run Full Loads: Ensure washing machines and dishwashers are fully loaded before running them to maximize water efficiency.
• Collect Rainwater: Harvest rainwater for outdoor use such as watering plants.

These simple yet effective water-saving tips are a testament to how every drop counts and how the average person can play a significant role in conserving water in their daily lives.

Community Water Conservation Initiatives:

Community-driven initiatives are instrumental in amplifying the impact of water conservation efforts.

A community well-versed in water conservation strategies is a formidable force against water wastage.

Here’s a glimpse into how community initiatives can propel water conservation:

• Water Conservation Workshops: Hosting workshops to educate community members on the importance of water conservation and providing practical tips can foster a culture of mindful water usage.
• Distribution of Water-Saving Appliances: Local authorities or water companies can distribute water-saving appliances like low-flow showerheads or faucet aerators to community members, thus promoting water efficiency.
• Community Challenges: Initiating water-saving challenges can ignite a communal spirit of conservation. Rewarding individuals or neighborhoods for notable reductions in water usage can encourage more people to participate.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Utilizing various platforms to disseminate water-saving tips and information about local water conservation initiatives can reach a broader audience.
• Local Water Company Initiatives: Water companies can play a crucial role by offering educational resources, conducting water audits, and promoting water-saving technologies.
• School Education Programs: Integrating water conservation education in school curriculums can instill water-saving habits in children from a young age.

These community-centered initiatives not only contribute to reducing water consumption but also foster a sense of communal responsibility toward safeguarding this essential resource.

Through education and collaborative action, communities can significantly contribute to the broader water conservation narrative, ensuring a water-secure future for all.

The journey towards water conservation is a collective endeavor.

Implementing mindful practices, supporting community initiatives, and advocating for sustainable policies are steps in the right direction.

Through these efforts, we can ensure a secure water future, promoting a healthier and more sustainable living environment for all.

Nurturing a Culture of Conservation

Water conservation is a pressing endeavor that resonates through the veils of individual actions, community initiatives, and global strategies.

As elucidated throughout this post, the imperative to conserve water stems from a confluence of critical concerns encompassing public health, economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and cultural preservation.

Addressing Population Growth and Climate Change

With the looming shadow of escalating population growth and changing climate patterns, the urgency to adopt water-saving practices and foster a culture of conservation is palpably clear.

This expedition towards a water-efficient lifestyle is not only a proactive response to the immediate challenges of water scarcity but a visionary leap toward ensuring a reliable water supply for future generations.

Embracing Collective Efforts

By embarking on this collective journey of education, awareness, and actionable strategies, we sow the seeds of a sustainable, water-secure future.

Engaging in local water conservation initiatives, employing water-efficient technologies , and imbibing water-saving habits in our daily routines are pragmatic steps each one of us can take.

Sketching a Sustainable Blueprint

Together, these concerted efforts contribute to a global tapestry of solutions aimed at preserving this indispensable resource.

As we navigate the continuum of water conservation, the ripple effect of our actions today sketches a blueprint of a sustainable, thriving, and water-abundant world for the generations to come.

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Water Conservation — Importance of Water Conservation

Importance of Water Conservation

• Categories: Water Conservation

About this sample

Words: 880 |

Published: Jan 30, 2024

Words: 880 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, the significance of saving water, methods of saving water, case studies/examples, challenges in water conservation and protection efforts, a. water conservation practices at homes.

• Installing water-saving fixtures and appliances, such as low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets.
• Fixing leaks and reducing water wastage by taking shorter showers, turning off the tap while brushing, and fixing dripping taps.
• Implementing efficient water usage habits such as using a broom instead of a hose to clean outdoor areas and washing laundry and dishes only with full loads.

B. Agriculture Water Management

• Implementing efficient irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation and precision irrigation, which reduce water wastage by up to 30%.
• Crop selection and rotation to optimize water usage by selecting crops that require less water and reducing water-intensive crops, such as rice and cotton.
• Using precision farming methods such as soil moisture sensors, weather forecasts, and crop modeling to optimize water usage.

C. Industrial Water Conservation

• Recycling and reusing water in manufacturing processes by using closed-loop systems.
• Implementing water-efficient technologies such as water-efficient boilers, cooling towers, and dry lubrication processes.
• Promoting water stewardship among industries by adopting best practices and engaging in water conservation efforts.

D. Government Policies and Programs

• Providing incentives for water-saving practices such as tax credits, rebates, and grants for installing water-efficient appliances and fixtures.
• Implementing water regulations and enforceable laws such as water pricing, water rights, and zoning regulations to ensure efficient water use.
• Educating and creating awareness among citizens through campaigns such as the WaterSense program, which educates consumers on water-efficient products.
• United Nations. (2021, March 22). Water and Sanitation. https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/water-and-sanitation/
• WaterSense. (n.d.). Water-Efficient Products. https://www.epa.gov/watersense/water-efficient-products
• Valsecchi, G. B., & Faggian, R. (2019). The Alliance for Water Stewardship certification program in the Netherlands: measuring the performance of a water sustainability standard for industries. Water, 11(12), 2608. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11122608
• Maheshwari, B. L. (2019). Rainwater harvesting impacts on crop yield: a review with a case study of Tamil Nadu, India. Water, 11(5), 1018. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11051018

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Importance of Water Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on importance of water.

Water is the basic necessity for the functioning of all life forms that exist on earth . It is safe to say that water is the reason behind earth being the only planet to support life. This universal solvent is one of the major resources we have on this planet . It is impossible for life to function without water. After all, it makes for almost 70% of the earth.

However, despite its vast abundance, water is very much limited. It is a non-renewable resource . In addition, we need to realize the fact that although there is an abundance of water, not all of it is safe to consume. We derive some very essential uses from the water on a daily basis.

Significance of water

If we talk about our personal lives, water is the foundation of our existence. The human body needs water for the day to day survival. We may be able to survive without any food for a whole week but without water, we won’t even survive for 3 days. Moreover, our body itself comprises of 70% water. This, in turn, helps our body to function normally.

Thus, the lack of sufficient water or consumption of contaminated water can cause serious health problems for humans. Therefore, the amount and quality of water which we consume is essential for our physical health plus fitness.

Further, our daily activities are incomplete without water. Whether we talk about getting up in the morning to brush or cooking our food, it is equally important. This domestic use of water makes us very dependent on this transparent chemical.

In addition, on a large scale, the industries consume a lot of water. They need water for almost every step of their process. It essential for the production of the goods we use every day.

If we look beyond human uses, we will realize how water plays a major role in every living beings life. It is the home of aquatic animals. From a tiny insect to a whale, every organism needs water to survive.

Therefore, we see how not only human beings but plants and animals too require water. The earth depends on water to function. We cannot be selfish and use it up for our uses without caring about the environment.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

A world without water

Water is not only required for our survival but for a healthy and happy life as well. Everyone has seen the scenario of water-deprived countries like Africa, where citizens are leading a miserable life. It is time for everyone to wake up and realize the urgency of conserving water.

In other words, a world without water would make the human race impossible to last. The same can be said for all the animals and plants. In fact, the whole earth will suffer without water.

Firstly, the greenery will soon diminish. When earth won’t get water, all the vegetation will die and turn into barren land. The occurrence of different seasons will soon cease. The earth will be caught in one big endless summer.

Furthermore, the home of aquatic animals will be taken from them. That means no fishes and whales for us to see. Most importantly, all forms of living organisms will go extinct if we do not conserve water right away.

In conclusion, unnecessary usage of water must be stopped at once. Every single person must work to conserve water and restore the balance. If not, we all know what the consequences are going to be.

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [{ “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Why is water important?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Water is essential for survival for all living organisms. We need it to lead a healthy and happy life.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What will happen to earth without water?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”:”Without water, the earth will turn barren. The vegetation will die and so will the living organisms including humans, plants and animals.”} }] }

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The Role of Water Information and Data Bases in Water Resources Management

• First Online: 26 May 2021

Cite this chapter

• Mahsa Jahanddideh-Tehrani 3 ,
• Omid Bozorg-Haddad 4 &
• Ioannis N. Daliakopoulos 5  

Part of the book series: Springer Water ((SPWA))

854 Accesses

3 Citations

Water information and data bases are used for addressing environmental, physical, social, political, economic, and ecological issues of water supply, consumption, availability, and accessibility. Different disciplines of water resources management, such as flood risk assessment, water supply management, reservoir operation, and water sanitation require incorporation of different types of water information for efficient planning and decision making. Therefore, this chapter aims to investigate the main features of water information, data sources, water data challenges, water data processing, analysis and dissemination which also play a key role in integrated and sustainable water resources management. This chapter begins with an introduction to the importance of data and information in various water disciplines as well as indication of data life cycle. Thereafter, different types of water data and sources (measurements, models, remote sensing, and administrative institutes) are proposed. Additionally, the challenges and limitation of water data, such as poor data quality, lack of integrated water portals, limited funds, and big data problems are discussed. This section is followed by indication of water data processing key points and steps of water data dissemination. Additionally, the World Hydrological Cyclone Observing System (WHYCOS), Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC), and Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) are introduced as examples of important water data systems which improve development in delivery and use of water data, and evaluation of environmental impacts and risks. Finally, the chapter revealed recommendations to improve water data information and portals for the purpose of efficient water resources planning and management.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Iran’s National Science Foundation (INSF) for the support of this research.

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School of Engineering and Built Environment, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia

Mahsa Jahanddideh-Tehrani

Department of Irrigation and Reclamation Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Tehran, Iran

Omid Bozorg-Haddad

School of Agriculture, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Heraklion, 74140, Greece

Ioannis N. Daliakopoulos

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Correspondence to Omid Bozorg-Haddad .

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Jahanddideh-Tehrani, M., Bozorg-Haddad, O., Daliakopoulos, I.N. (2021). The Role of Water Information and Data Bases in Water Resources Management. In: Bozorg-Haddad, O. (eds) Essential Tools for Water Resources Analysis, Planning, and Management. Springer Water. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4295-8_3

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4295-8_3

Published : 26 May 2021

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