Water resource policy

Water resource policy, sometimes called water resource management or water management, encompasses the policy-making processes and legislation that affect the collection, preparation, use, disposal, and protection of water resources.[1] The long-term viability of water supply systems poses a significant challenge as a result of water resource depletion, climate change, and population expansion.[2]

Water is a necessity for all forms of life as well as industries on which humans are reliant, like technology development and agriculture.[3][4] This global need for clean water access necessitates water resource policy to determine the means of supplying and protecting water resources. Water resource policy varies by region and is dependent on water availability or scarcity, the condition of aquatic systems, and regional needs for water.[5] Since water basins do not align with national borders, water resource policy is also determined by international agreements, also known as hydropolitics.[6] Water quality protection also falls under the umbrella of water resource policy; laws protecting the chemistry, biology, and ecology of aquatic systems by reducing and eliminating pollution, regulating its usage, and improving the quality are considered water resource policy.[1] When developing water resource policies, many different stakeholders, environmental variables, and considerations have to be taken to ensure the health of people and ecosystems are maintained or improved. Finally, ocean zoning, coastal, and environmental resource management are also encompassed by water resource management, like in the instance of offshore wind land leasing.[7]

As water scarcity increases with climate change, the need for robust water resource policies will become more prevalent. An estimated 57% of the world's population will experience water scarcity at least one month out of the year by 2050.[8] Mitigation and updated water resource policies will require interdisciplinary and international collaboration, including government officials, environmental scientists, sociologists, economists, climate modelers, and activists.[9][10]

World water availability
  1. ^ a b Tripp, James T. B. "Tensions and Conflicts in Federal Pollution Control and Water Resource Policy." Harvard Journal on Legislation, vol. 14, no. 2, February 1977, p. 225–280. via HeinOnline.
  2. ^ Momeni, Marzieh; Behzadian, Kourosh; Yousefi, Hossein; Zahedi, Sina (2021-09-01). "A Scenario-Based Management of Water Resources and Supply Systems Using a Combined System Dynamics and Compromise Programming Approach". Water Resources Management. 35 (12): 4233–4250. Bibcode:2021WatRM..35.4233M. doi:10.1007/s11269-021-02942-z. ISSN 1573-1650.
  3. ^ Williams, Eric D (2004-08-02). "Environmental impacts of microchip manufacture". Thin Solid Films. Proceedings of Symposium on Semiconducting Silicides: Science and Future Technology of the 8th IUMRS International Conference on Advanced Materials. 461 (1): 2–6. Bibcode:2004TSF...461....2W. doi:10.1016/j.tsf.2004.02.049. ISSN 0040-6090.
  4. ^ Rost, Stefanie; Gerten, Dieter; Bondeau, Alberte; Lucht, Wolfgang; Rohwer, Janine; Schaphoff, Sibyll (2008). "Agricultural green and blue water consumption and its influence on the global water system". Water Resources Research. 44 (9). Bibcode:2008WRR....44.9405R. doi:10.1029/2007WR006331. ISSN 1944-7973. S2CID 29780416.
  5. ^ Momeni, Marzieh; Behzadian, Kourosh; Yousefi, Hossein; Zahedi, Sina (2021-09-01). "A Scenario-Based Management of Water Resources and Supply Systems Using a Combined System Dynamics and Compromise Programming Approach". Water Resources Management. 35 (12): 4233–4250. Bibcode:2021WatRM..35.4233M. doi:10.1007/s11269-021-02942-z. ISSN 1573-1650.
  6. ^ Grandi, Mattia (2020-09-28). "Hydropolitics". Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Environmental Science. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199389414.013.644. ISBN 978-0-19-938941-4. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  7. ^ Söderholm, Patrik; Pettersson, Maria (2011-02-01). "Offshore wind power policy and planning in Sweden". Energy Policy. Special Section on Offshore wind power planning, economics and environment. 39 (2): 518–525. Bibcode:2011EnPol..39..518S. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2010.05.065. ISSN 0301-4215.
  8. ^ Boretti, Alberto; Rosa, Lorenzo (2019-07-31). "Reassessing the projections of the World Water Development Report". npj Clean Water. 2 (1): 15. Bibcode:2019npjCW...2...15B. doi:10.1038/s41545-019-0039-9. hdl:11380/1198301. ISSN 2059-7037.
  9. ^ Cosgrove, William J.; Loucks, Daniel P. (2015). "Water management: Current and future challenges and research directions". Water Resources Research. 51 (6): 4823–4839. Bibcode:2015WRR....51.4823C. doi:10.1002/2014WR016869. ISSN 1944-7973.
  10. ^ Carter, Neil (2007). The politics of the environment : ideas, activism, policy (2 ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-86802-0. OCLC 76141452.