Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Efficient Use of Water Resources for Sustainability

  • Chapter
Sustainability of Integrated Water Resources Management

Abstract

Strategies to achieve sustainable water management throughout the world are urgently needed as different regions are already experiencing high water stress with serious negative consequences on human health and ecosystems. Acknowledging the difference between efficiency and sustainability in water management, this paper considers the need of implementing actions that take into account future demand as well as the integrity of ecosystems. Consequently, recommendations are made regarding the investments that should be made on (1) access to clean water for human consumption, (2) ecosystem conservation and restoration, (3) watershed management, (4) collection and dissemination of data to the general public and decision makers, (5) finding ways to prevent and solve conflicts over water, and (6) encouraging community participation through local leadership, control over water resources, a fair allocation of benefits, and effective funding mechanisms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 149.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agrawal A, Gibson CC (1999) Enchantment and disenchantment: the role of community in natural resource conservation. World Dev 27(4):629–649

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks DB, Brandes OM (2011) Why a water soft path, why now and what then? Int J Water Resour Dev 27(2):315–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Comisión Nacional del Agua (2005) Estadísticas del agua en México. Síntesis. Comisión Nacional del Agua, México

    Google Scholar 

  • Conca K (2006) The new face of water conflict. Navigating peace. Woodrow Wilson Int Center Scholars 3:1–3

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook S, Fisher M, Tiemann T, Vidal A (2011) Water, food and poverty: global- and basin-scale analysis. Water Int 36(1):1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Environment and Health Protection (2013) http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/water/monitoring/assessment/water_quality_indicators.html. Accessed 1 Aug 2013

  • Environmental Protection Agency (2013) http://www.epa.gov/sustainability/basicinfo.htm. Accessed 1 Aug 2013

  • Fisher KT, Urich PB (1999) Information dissemination and communication in stakeholder participation: the Bohol-Cebu water supply project. Asia Pacific Viewpoint 40(3):251–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gleick PH (1998) Water in crisis: paths to sustainable water use. Ecol Appl 8(3):571–579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gross AC (1986) Water quality management worldwide. Environ Manage 10(1):25–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haddad HF, Al Zoubi R, Alaween M, Shraideh F (2007) Local community participation for sustainable water resource management. MEDA WATER international conference on Sustainable Water Management, Tunis, 21–24 Mar 2007

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffet N, Daoud I, Tourrand JF, Alay V, Moselhy N (2012). Participation, power and sustainable water resource management. A case study of the Rainfed Desert Region of Matruh, Egypt. Communication IFSA/International Farming Systems Association, Denmark, July 2012

    Google Scholar 

  • Juwana I, Muttil N, Perera BJC (2012) Indicator-based water sustainability assessment – a review. Sci Tot Environ 438:357–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kjellén M, Mcgranahan G (1997) Comprehensive assessment of freshwater resources of the world. Urban water: towards health and sustainability. Stockholm Environmental Institute, Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence P, Meigh J, Sullivan C (2002) The water poverty index: an international comparison. Keele Economics Research Papers. Centre for Economic Research, Research Institute for Public Policy and Management, Keele University, Staffordshire

    Google Scholar 

  • Loucks D (2008) Water resource management models. Bridge 38(3):24–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Lund JR, Palmer RN (1997) Water resources system modeling for conflict resolution. Water Resour Update 3(108):70–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Mays LW (2006) Water resources sustainability. McGraw-Hill Professional

    Google Scholar 

  • Mylavarapu R, Hines K, Obreza T, Means G (2012) Watersheds of Florida: understanding a watershed. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Accessed 28 July 2013

  • Miller M (2008) Climate change and water resources: the challenges ahead. J Int Aff 61(2):35–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Molden D (2007) Water for food, water for life. A comprehensive assessment of water management in agriculture. International Water Management Institute, Sterling

    Google Scholar 

  • Nandalal KDW, Simonovic S (2003) Conflict resolution support system: a software for the resolution of conflicts in water resource management. Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO, Paris, 134 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Observatoire Départemental de Vendée. http://observatoire-eau.vendee.fr. Accessed 6 Aug 2013

  • Observatoire de l’eau en Bretagne. http://www.observatoire-eau-bretagne.fr. Accessed 6 Aug 2013

  • PEER EurAqua Network of Hydrological Observatories. http://www.euraqua.org/content/activities/hydrologicalobservatories.4.3cd20f1b1243376c116800033.html. Accessed 6 Aug 2013

  • Observatorio Ciudadano del Agua. http://www.h2observa.net/. Accessed 6 Aug 2013

  • Observatorio del Agua Universidad Nacional de Patagonia San Juan del Bosco. http://observatoriodelagua.org.ar. Accessed 6 Aug 2013

  • Peters NE, Meybech M (2000) Water quality degradation effects on freshwater. Water Int 25(2):185–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poff NL, Richter BD, Arthington AH, Bunn SE, Naiman RJ, Kendy E, Acreman M, Apse C, Bledsoe BP, Freeman MC, Henriksen J, Jacobson RB, Kennen JG, Merritt DB, O’Keeffe JK, Olden JK, Rogers J, Tharme RE, Warner A (2010) The Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration (ELOHA): a new framework for developing regional environmental flow standards. Freshw Biol 55:147–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raskin P, Gleick P, Kirshen P, Pontius RG, Strzepek K (1997) Water futures: assessment of long-range patterns and problems, comprehensive assessment of the freshwater resources of the world. Stockholm Environment Institute, Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter BD, Mathews R, Harrison DL, Wigington R (2003) Ecologically sustainable water management: managing river flows for ecological integrity. Ecol Appl 13(1):206–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • River Foundation (2013) http://www.riverfoundation.org.au/images/stories.pdfs/bnedeclaration.pdf. Accessed 29 July 2013

  • Rosegrant MW (1997) Water resources in the twenty-first century: challenges and implications for action, food, agriculture, and the environment. Discussion Paper 20. International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Scanlon J, Cassar A, Nemes N (2004) Water as a human right? IUCN, Gland

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Shear H, Bertram P, Forst C, Horvatin P (2005) Development and application of ecosystem health indicators for the North American Great Lakes Basin. In: Jorgensen SE, Constanza R, Xu FL (eds) Handbook of ecological indicators for assessment of ecosystem health. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Strange T, Bayley A (2008) Sustainable development: linking economy, society, environment. OECD insights. OECD Publishing, Paris

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Tandia CT (2006) Involvement/community participation in hygiene and water in Central and Western Africa. In: International conference on community health in African region. World Bank, World Health Organization, UNICEF. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 20–22 November 2006

    Google Scholar 

  • Tir J (2012) Weathering climate change: can institutions mitigate international water conflict? J Peace Res 49(1):211–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations (2010) United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division: World urbanization prospects, the 2009 revision: highlights. United Nations, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations (2013) Millennium development goals report. New York

    Google Scholar 

  • United States Geological Survey. Chicago waterway observatory http://il.water.usgs.gov/data/cwo/. Accessed 6 Aug 2013

  • Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Observatorio del Agua de la UNAM. http://www.agua.unam.mx/observatorio/. Accessed 6 Aug 2013

  • Von Korff YP, d’Aquino P, Daniell KA, Bijlsma R (2010) Designing participation processes for water management and beyond. Ecol Soc 15(3):1

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X (2001) Integrating water-quality management and land-use planning in a watershed context. J Environ Manage 65:25–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2013) Water resources management overview. http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/waterresourcesmanagement/overview. Accessed 28 July 2013

  • World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) Our common future. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1997) Health and environment in sustainable development: five years after the earth summit. World Health Organization, Geneva, pp 54–55

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2012) Public health information and geographical information systems. http://gamapserver.who.int/mapLibrary/Files/Maps/phe_Global_sanitation_2010.png

  • World Health Organization (2010) World water day report. http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/takingcharge.html. Accessed 30 July 2013

  • World Meteorological Organization (2012) Technical material for water resources assessment. World Meteorological Organization, Généve

    Google Scholar 

  • World Resources Institute (1999) Water: critical shortages ahead? World Resources 1998–99. Washington

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programme for Management, Use and Reuse of Water (PUMAGUA), National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

    Cecilia Lartigue

Authors
  1. Cecilia Lartigue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cecilia Lartigue .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Global Water for Sustainability Program (GLOWS), Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA

    Shimelis Gebriye Setegn

  2. Global Water for Sustainability Program, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA

    Maria Concepcion Donoso

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Lartigue, C. (2015). Efficient Use of Water Resources for Sustainability. In: Setegn, S., Donoso, M. (eds) Sustainability of Integrated Water Resources Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12194-9_26

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation