Better tools for water use management
Properly managed water resources are vital to any urban environment in which water is limited. Doing so requires a multi-directional study that involves not only all interested parties, but also covers new areas of concern in which previous studies may not have been involved. Water use patterns, strategies and even philosophies differ greatly from region to region. They are further dependant on such considerations as topography, annual rainfall, spatial topology and even urban catchments. Even urban expansion and land use management have direct impacts on water use, and making the best of it requires effective simulation modelling with dynamic assessment tools. For example, in Holland, there is an exceptionally high level of water management integration, requiring every activity having an impact on water to be registered and controlled. By comparison, in France, there is no urban run off policy at a national level. Whatever the modelling requirements, part and parcel of the procedure lies in the decision making process, and herein the project identified three framework areas to best suit the end-user. The three perspectives - legal framework, stakeholders and phasing places a great deal of emphasis on adaptive water management. The legal framework helps determine who is responsible for water use and who gets to pay for it. It then supports the stakeholder by providing them with the constraints and resources present. The phasing stage determines what action is necessary and when it will be needed. It is important to note that the adaptive decision support system encourages a non-linear approach to water management with a variety of tools such as simulation models, assessment tools, databases, guidance documents and road maps. While each region could implement its own strategies on water management using the adaptive decision support system, it could implement more effective water retention on a global scale. The developers are looking for further research and development support.
