Integrated water management

Integrated Water Resource Management is defined by the Global Water Partnership - opens in new window as a process that promotes the coordinated development of water, land and related resources, in order to maximise the resulting economic and social welfare in an equitable manner, without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.

Integrated Water Resource Management is about recognising the fundamental dependence of human livelihoods on the natural environment for resources, protection and the treatment of wastes. The catchment or river basin is treated as a unit for examining water consumption and pollution and attempting to balance the needs of man and nature.

The integrated approach considers the effects of changing land use as well as water consumption and pollution of surface waters. Groundwater resources are also taken into account since underground aquifers store 97% of the Earth's unfrozen freshwater.