Jordan Times
Thursday, June 3, 2004
Water demand management
principles announced
By Rami Abdelrahman
DEAD SEA — Jordan announced 10 internationally
approved water demand management principles on Wednesday, to be used as a
reference for policy makers in finding solutions to water challenges worldwide.
Minister of Water and Irrigation Hazem Nasser told a press conference yesterday
the document, entitled “Jordan 2025: Principles on Water Demand Management,”
commits countries to utilise Best Management Practices to enhance the efficiency
of their water systems.
The principles stress that Water Demand Management (WDM) is a key to
conservation and sustainability, and that an emergence of a culture to that end
is essential in water institutions and water users.
The document says WDM is critical to effective Integrated Water Resources
Management, which administers the supply of water.
“According to the principles the Middle East and North Africa countries will
cooperate to develop key guidelines standards and tools to support the
implementation of WDM activities in the region,” said Nasser, adding that basin
sharing countries will encourage the development of these activities.
He added that the principles take priorities of different users into
consideration, and governments in the region will employ all means to ensure
social and economic development and equity.
The principles encourage the creation of a receptive regulatory environment for
WDM while providing economic incentives that facilitate enforcement. The
minister said this article is essential “to ensure the success” of WDM
programmes.
“Also, water institutions will develop awareness and educational programmes to
create an enabling environment for WDM, while governments and stakeholders will
consider all facets of water economics in water sector planning, with due
consideration of social and political constraints,” Nasser added.
The last principle focuses on environmental and ecological demands, which are
considered an “important factor” in WDM programmes.
The document was an outcome of talks between the Ministry of Water and
Irrigation, the World Bank, international officials and organisations
participating in the five-day International Water Demand Management Conference,
which concludes today.
International participants and organisers asked the ministry to hold a similar
conference every two years, Nasser announced yesterday.
WDM is an alternative to finding new water resources that have become less
cost-effective, according to water experts at the conference. It stresses on
better utilisation of current resources, achieving increased water conservation
and better distribution among the sectors of each country.