Water Resources Institutions: Some Principles and Practices World Bank Technical Paper Number 191)

Major regions of the world are moving from  a phase where water development dominated activities in the water sector to one where sophisticated water management and facilities maintenance dominate. Demands already are straining the resources. In many countries they will pit the needs of a doubling population against the existing demands in a mere twenty years. The rate and magnitude of changes affecting the water resources sector will force major new initiatives in the near future. Sound solutions may require substantial modifications in laws, policies and procedures and in the role of the government and the public. There is little time for debate, and indecision will be costly. Almost every country is grappling with the endless number of issues involved -- economic, environmental, social, technical, administrative and financial. They wish to devise new institutions to better deal with these issues and facilitate an orderly change. For it is the adequacy and appropriateness of institutions that will determine success or failure. Indeed, as countries around the world have addressed their ever more pressing needs in water management, several basic institutional principles have evolved. The administration of resources allocation, organizational structure, long-term and real-time management and the financing of essential activities follow similar paths in these countries. Examples in this paper illustrate the variations in application as influenced by the particular situations, including their history and stage of resources development.

This paper presents some institutional principles found to be effective for the succesful management of water resources. These principles are drawn from a range of physical and institutional settings where countries have shown positive results in addressing difficult water management issues. The paper is not intended as an indepth treatment of the subject, but rather constitute a synopsis that can serve as background for consideration by individuals and agencies grappling with this complex matter.

Table of Contents:

I. Introduction

II. The Water Situation and Institutional Deficiencies
- The Situation
- Institutional Deficiencies

III. Some Principles for Sound Water Resources Institutions
- Considerations when Examining Institutional Principles
- Resource Ownership, Allocation and Rights
- Standards, Regulations and Administrative Rules
- Government and Non-Governmental Responsibilities
- Financial

IV. The Application of Principles
- General
- Countries Surveyed
- Resources Ownership and Allocation
- Interstate and International Water Agreements
- Organization and Responsibilities
- Water Charges and Financing
- Observations from Developing Countries

Bibliography

Figure 1 - Relative Government Effort by Function

Post Date : 24 Juli 2009