Abstract
The establishment of water governance in emergency situations supports timely and effective reaction with regard to the risk and impact of natural disasters on drinking-water supplies and populations. Under such governance, emergency activities of governmental authorities, rescue and aid teams, water stakeholders, local communities and individuals are coordinated with the objective to prevent and/or mitigate disaster impact on water supplies, to reduce human suffering due to drinking-water failure during and in the post-disaster period, and to manage drinking-water services in emergency situations in an equitable manner. The availability of low-vulnerability groundwater resources that have been proven safe and protected by geological features, and with long residence time, can make water-related relief and rehabilitation activities during and after an emergency more rapid and effective. Such groundwater resources have to be included in water governance and their exploration must be coordinated with overall management of drinking-water services in emergencies. This paper discusses institutional and technical capacities needed for building effective groundwater governance policy and drinking-water risk and demand management in emergencies. Disaster-risk mitigation plans are described, along with relief measures and post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction activities, which support gradual renewal of drinking-water services on the level prior to the disaster. The role of groundwater governance in emergencies differs in individual phases of disaster (preparedness, warning, impact/relief, rehabilitation). Suggested activities and actions associated with these phases are summarized and analysed, and a mode of their implementation is proposed.
Résumé
La mise en place d’une gouvernance de l’eau dans les situations d’urgence soutient la réaction rapide et efficace en ce qui concerne le risque et l’impact des catastrophes naturelles sur l’approvisionnement en eau et sur les populations. Sous une telle gouvernance, les activités d’urgence des autorités gouvernementales, les équipes de secours et d’aide, les acteurs de l’eau, les collectivités locales et les particuliers sont coordonnés avec l’objectif de prévenir et/ou atténuer l’impact de la catastrophe sur les approvisionnements en eau, afin de réduire la souffrance humaine due à une défaillance de l’eau potable au cours et dans la période post-catastrophe, et de gérer les services d’eau potable dans les situations d’urgence, de manière équitable. La disponibilité des ressources en eaux souterraines à faible vulnérabilité qui ont été révélés sûrs et protégés par les caractéristiques géologiques, et avec de longs temps de séjour, peut rendre les activités de secours et de réhabilitation liés à l’eau pendant et après une urgence plus rapides et efficaces. De telles ressources en eaux souterraines doivent être incluses dans la gouvernance de l’eau et leur exploration doit être coordonnée avec la gestion globale des services d’eau potable en cas d’urgence. Cet article présente les capacités institutionnelles et techniques nécessaires à la construction d’une politique de gouvernance efficace de l’eau souterraine, du risque visà- vis de l’eau potable et de la gestion de la demande en cas d’urgence. Des plans d’atténuation des risques de catastrophes naturelles sont décrits, ainsi que les mesures de secours et de réhabilitation post-catastrophe, qui soutiennent le renouvellement progressif des services d’eau potable au niveau d’avant la catastrophe. Le rôle de la gouvernance des eaux souterraines dans les situations d’urgence diffère dans les différentes phases de la catastrophe (préparation, alerte, impact/secours, réhabilitation). Les activités et actions associées à ces phases, suggérées sont résumées et analysées, et les modalités de leur mise en oeuvre sont proposées.
Resumen
El establecimiento de la gobernanza del agua en situaciones de emergencia apoya la reacción oportuna y efictiva en relación con el riesgo y el impacto de los desastres naturales en el suministro de agua potable y las poblaciones. Bajo tal gobernanza, las actividades de emergencia de las autoridades gubernamentales, los equipos de rescate y de ayuda, los beneficiarios del agua, las comunidades locales y los individuos se coordinan con el objetivo de prevenir y/o mitigar el impacto de los desastres en los suministros de agua, para reducir el sufrimiento humano debido a la falta de agua potable durante el desastre y durante el período posterior, y para administrar los servicios de agua potable en situaciones de emergencia de una manera equitativa. La disponibilidad de recursos de agua subterránea de baja vulnerabilidad que han demostrado ser seguros y estar protegidos por las características geológicas, y con el largo tiempo de residencia, puede hacer que las actividades de ayuda y rehabilitación relacionadas con el agua durante y después de una emergencia sean más rápidas y efectivas. Tales recursos de agua subterránea tienen que ser incluidos en la gobernanza del agua y su exploración debe estar coordinada con la gestión general de los servicios de agua potable en emergencias. Este trabajo discute las capacidades institucionales y técnicas necesarias para construir una política efectiva de gobernanza del agua subterránea y del riesgo del agua potable y de la demanda de gestión en situaciones de emergencia. Se describen los planes de mitigación del riesgo de desastres, conjuntamente con medidas de ayuda y de las actividades de rehabilitación después de los desastres, los cuales apoyan una renovación gradual de los servicios de agua potable en el nivel previo al desastre. El papel de la gobernanza del agua subterránea en situaciones de emergencia difiere en cada fase individual del desastre (preparación, alerta, impacto / ayuda, rehabilitación). Se resumen y analizan las actividades y acciones sugeridas asociadas a estas fases, y se propone un modo para su aplicación.
摘要
针对自然灾害的风险及其对饮用水供应和人口的影响, 紧急情况下地下水管理的建立可以 提供及时有效的支撑。在这样的管理下, 政府机关的紧急行动、救援队、水利益相关者, 当地社区及个人应该协调起来, 预防灾害及/或者减轻灾害对水供应的影响, 减少由于灾 后期间饮用水停水给人们造成的苦难, 以公平的方式管理紧急情况下的饮用水供水装置。 已经证明安全及受到地质特性保护的, 具有长滞留时间的, 低脆弱性地下水资源的可利用 性可以使紧急情况期间及以后与水相关的救灾和恢复行动更加迅速和有效。 这样的水资源 必须包括在水管理中, 水资源的勘查必须与紧急情况下饮用水供水的总体管理相协调。 文 章论述了紧急情况下制定有效地下水管理政策及饮用水风险和需求管理制度上和技术上的 能力。 描述了灾害风险消减计划以及救济措施和灾后恢复行动, 这些措施和行动支撑灾前 水平的饮用水装备逐步更新。 紧急情况下地下水管理的作用在不灾害的每个阶段 (做好准 备, 预警、影响/救援和恢复) 各不相同。 总结和分析了与这些阶段相关的所建议的行 动, 并提出了实施模式。
Resumo
O estabelecimento da governança da água em situações de emergência suporta reação atempada e eficaz no que diz respeito ao risco e impacto dos desastres naturais sobre abastecimento de água potável e populações. Sob tal governança, as atividades de emergência das autoridades governamentais, as equipes de resgate e auxílio, as partes interessadas em assuntos hídricos, comunidades locais e indivíduos são coordenadas com o objetivo de evitar e/ou mitigar os impactos de desastres no abastecimento de água, para reduzir o sofrimento humano devido a uma falha no suprimento de água potável durante e no período pós-desastre, e para gerir os serviços de água potável em situações de emergência de forma equitativa. A disponibilidade de recursos hídricos subterrâneos de baixa vulnerabilidade que seja comprovadamente seguro e protegido por características geológicas, e com longo tempo de residência, pode fazer atividades relacionadas ao socorro e reabilitação com a água durante e depois de uma emergência mais rápidas e eficazes. Tais recursos de águas subterrâneas têm de ser incluídos na governança da água e sua exploração deve ser coordenada com a gestão global dos serviços de água potável em caso de emergência. O artigo discute as capacidades institucionais e técnicas necessárias para a construção efetiva de políticas de governança das águas subterrâneas e risco de água potável e demanda gestão em casos de emergência. Planos de mitigação de desastres de risco são descritos, juntamente com medidas de socorro e atividades de reabilitação pós-desastre, que suportam renovação gradual dos serviços de abastecimento de água potável no nível antes do desastre. O papel da governança das águas subterrâneas em situações de emergência difere em fases individuais de desastre (preparação, os alertas, impacto/alívio, reabilitação). Ações e atividades associadas com estas fases sugeridas são resumidas e analisadas, e proposto o modo da sua implementação.
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Acknowledgements
This paper follows the outcomes of the project “Identification and management of strategic groundwater bodies to be used for emergency situations as a result of extreme events and in cases of conflicts” (also known as GWES – Groundwater for Emergency Situations) implemented under the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme. The author would like to thank Dr Alice Aureli, Chief of the Groundwater Systems and Settlements Section, UNESCO – Division of Water Sciences, for technical and administrative support of the GWES project. Gratitude is expressed also to the colleagues of UNESCO International Working Group, who cooperated jointly with the author of this paper on implementation of GWES project activities. The author is grateful to anonymous reviewers and the Hydrogeology Journal editors for their constructive remarks and valuable suggestions.
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Vrba, J. The role of groundwater governance in emergencies during different phases of natural disasters. Hydrogeol J 24, 287–302 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-015-1353-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-015-1353-z