## (2) Comprehensive and integrated water management

There have been movements toward comprehensive and integrated water management for effective utilization of limited water resources, through cooperation among countries in each region and coordination among countries in each hydrographic basin. The Johannesburg Summit in 2002 called upon each government to "develop integrated water resources management (IWRM) and water efficiency plans," and such plans are internationally recognized as effective methods to solve water and sanitation problems. In March 2009, in order to encourage countries to develop such plans, UNESCO coordinated efforts to work out "The Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Guidelines at River Basin Level."

## a) Example of Europe

In Europe, as a method of integrated water resources management, the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) has been introduced. The WFD is designed to achieve, through unified water management, protection of human health by the supply of drinking water and bath water with adequate quality, building of sustainable water management system, protection of aquatic ecosystems and related regional ecosystems, and mitigation of the effects of floods and droughts. To that effect, measures called for under the WFD are characterized by integrated efforts by various water-related sectors, participatory approaches involving various interested parties and river basin management plans developed on the basis of respective river basins instead of administrative areas. What should be implemented to achieve the goals are primarily the following four points:

• Establish a framework for protection to manage water resources such as inland surface waters, estuary waters, wetlands, brackish waters, coastal waters and groundwater, etc. along circulations in nature;

• Prevent environmental deterioration in river basin water systems as a whole and improve them;

• Progressively reduce or cease discharges and consumption of priority substances, and preserve and improve the aquatic environment; and

• Progressively improve the quality and quantity of groundwater.

The WFD also requires EU members to develop river basin management plans for all river basins throughout the EU territory by 2009 to push forward with management efforts (Figure 4-2-6). The WFD implementation process is as follows:

By December 2003 EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) comes into effect; transposition

of WDF into national legislation

By December 2006 Development of operational monitoring programs as the basis for water management

By December 2008 Development of river basin management plans (draft)

By December 2009 Development of river basin management plans (approval by the European Commission (EC))

By December 2015 Implementation, evaluation and adjustment of river basin management plans

## b) Example of Australia

In Australia, irrigation and other measures have been taken in the Murray-Darling river system as broad-based water management (Figure 4-2-7). The governments of relevant states have been managing water resources in the river basin over more than 100 years. In recent years, however, droughts have taken serious proportions due to decreased precipitation since 2000, causing sharp drops in yields of wheat and other crops due to water shortages and poor growth of pasture grass that is having an adverse impact on cattle rearing. As precipitation continued to decline, river flows are likely to decrease further going forward. Despite these poor conditions, the relevant state and territory governments responsible for water resources management continued to grant water