GOALS FOR GUIDING SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Understanding these characteristics of water resources has helped water planners to begin rethinking long-term goals and approaches. It is now widely accepted that criteria for sustainable water use and management must include more than simply measuring traditional biological or physical indicators. They must also provide guidance for the individuals and institutions that use and manage water, resolve conflicts over water, and deal with the unavoidable uncertainties and risks in decision-making. Accordingly, sustainability goals for water must apply to the role of public, private, governmental and non-governmental parties. Gleick (1996) provided a broad definition of sustainable water use:
 
"the use of water that supports the ability of human society to endure and flourish into the indefinite future without undermining the integrity of the hydrological cycle or the ecological systems that depend on it".
 
Table - Sustainability goals for water planning
  

1.	A basic water requirement will be guaranteed to all humans to maintain human health.
2.	A basic water requirement will be guaranteed to restore and maintain the health of ecosystems.
3.	Water quality will be maintained to meet certain minimum standards. These standards will vary depending on location and how the water is to be used.
4.	Human actions should not be allowed to impair the long-term renewability of freshwater stocks and flows.
5.	Data on water resources availability, use and quality will be collected and made accessible to all parties.
6.	Institutional mechanisms will be developed to prevent and resolve conflicts over water.
7.	Water planning and decision-making will be democratic; ensuring representation of all affected parties and fostering direct participation of affected interests.

Source: Gleick (1996)