Transcript World Water day 2007 - IDSP Pakistan's Blog

Water Crisis and How to Cope with it
By
Dr Abdul Majeed
National Water Expert and Head Balochistan
Programme,
IUCN Pakistan


Global
 1950 – 16,800 cubic meters per annum
 2000 – 6,800 cubic meters per annum
 Reduction:
60 % in 50 years
Pakistan


1947 – 5,800 cubic meters per annum
2000 – 1,200 cubic meters per annum !!!!
Reduction:
Balochistan



1947 – 6,000 cubic meters per annum
2000 – 2,000 cubic meter per annum

Reduction:


79 % in 53 years
66 % in 53 years
Critical limit 1,000 cubic meters per person per annum





Pakistan’s agrarian economy with stress on water
(25% of GDP - 95% water used by this sector)
Severe water availability constraints (Additional
water requirements by 2011 estimated at 48 BCM)
No major water development project since Tarbela
Groundwater exploitation has risen to almost 90%
of potential in Indus Basin raising problems of
water quality and depletion
In Balochistan groundwater in many river basins
over-exploited with disastrous consequences

Demands on water increase because of 3
reasons:




Population increase (Would cause greater
demand for agriculture and drinking
Industrialization
Urbanization
Solutions tried:
•
Development of groundwater
•
Higher investment in water supplies
In Balochistan problems of water supply particularly
during summer and greater vulnerability to drought
continue

Water conservation

Definition: “the socially beneficial reduction of
water use or water loss” – A cost-benefit framework

Implication of “Socially beneficial”:
Trade-off
between the benefits and costs of water management
action.
 Example in Balochistan Context:
Water management
action leading to trickle irrigation to conserve water.
 The question is whether the benefit of water saved by
the action outweighs the cost of trickle irrigation.

Difficult to answer as water has no cost at present in
monetary terms

Blueprint for action for global sustainable
development into the twenty-first century set
out by UNCED of 1992:

"Water is needed in all aspects of life. The general
objective is to make certain that adequate supplies of water
of good quality are maintained for the entire population of
this planet, while preserving the hydrological, biological
and chemical functions of ecosystems, adapting human
activities within the capacity limits of nature and
combating vectors of water-related diseases".

The Dublin statement on water and
sustainable development:

“Scarcity and misuse of fresh water pose a serious and
growing threat to sustainable development and protection
of the environment. Human health and welfare, food
security, industrial development and the ecosystems on
which they depend, are all at risk, unless water and land
resources are managed more effectively in the present
decade and beyond than they have been in the past.”



Water management is basically wise choice of
appropriate actions from a set of different options and
alternatives available to meet water demands
An analysis of world experience in water management
and conservation leads us to the conclusion that
“demand management” is the most viable option of
water management aimed at achieving water
conservation and consequently sustainable
development
Advantages of demand management summed up by
Postel: “only by managing water demand, rather
than ceaselessly striving to meet it, is there hope for a
truly secure and sustainable water future.”

Economic Instruments:

Put a value to water and let users pay for what they
use. Sends a signal to consumers and producers of water
about economic value of water

Apply monetary incentives and disincentives like:
 Rebates /subsidies on technology adoption
 Tax credits/soft loans for better seeds
 Spiraling pricing structure for water rates
 Penalties and fines for overuse and
stealing/selling water for other purposes than
originally licensed

In Pakistan/Balochistan economic instruments,
though very powerful, are not being effectively used

Technical and operational Instruments

Technical/Engineering:
Bring about changes in
existing practices/structures to achieve better
control over demand.
 Examples:
Installing meters, control valves, recycling,
irrigation application methods, cropping patterns, etc.

Operational: Action by users to modify existing
water use procedures aimed at control demand.
 Examples:
Leakage detection, repairs, rationing on
water use, etc.

In Pakistan technological instruments are being
extensively used. In Balochistan, the pace on
adopting these is slowly picking up.

Socio-political Instruments:

Aim at obtaining public cooperation and include
policy and related measures for public agencies to
promote water conservation.
 Examples: Mass awareness programmes, laws
and regulations, economic and fiscal policies, and
public education.

Much effort has been made in these instruments but
much more is required to be done particularly on
implementation side.

What are the win-win approaches?? Ideas in
Balochistan scenario
Reducing irrigation water use! But will it be
acceptable to large farmers as a social obligation or
as an unnecessary activity?
 Rationalizing water and electricity charges! But will
it be acceptable and change water use patterns?
 Ensure equitable distribution! How and can village
communities on their own ensure equitable
distribution of water?
 Implement groundwater use regulation! How can
these be better implemented?


“Successful efforts to curb per capita water demand
invariably include some combination of water-saving
technologies, economic incentives, regulation, and
consumer education. These measures are mutually
reinforcing and are most effective when implemented
jointly. Higher water rates for example encourage
consumers to install water saving devices in their homes
and (or agricultural fields) apartments and to opt for
native landscaping w when purchasing a new home.
Education is crucial to gain support for conservation
and to make people aware of the easy and cost effective
ways they can save water” (Postel 1985).