World views on water and hydric policies

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

National Irrigation Program (PRONAR)

Part of Water Resources Planning

Spanish version: Visiones mundiales sobre el agua y políticas hídricas

La Paz, Bolivia 2003

Document Prepared by Rocio R. Bustamante Zenteno under the Consulting Agreement No. CC 58/02, Loan Contract No. 963 / SF -BO between the Government of Bolivia and the IDB. This is not an official CONIAG document so the responsibility for the opinions expressed rests entirely with the author. For the same reason is not allowed to copy, photocopy, cite or refer to the text, without prior consent.

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CONTENT

INTRODUCTION
PART I
WORLD VIEWS ON WATER

 
 

FROM STOCKHOLM TO JOHANNESBURG: AN ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS ON WATER

MAIN REGIONAL MEETINGS

THE FORMATION OF GLOBAL WATER ORGANIZATIONS

WORLD WATER COUNCIL:

GLOBAL WATER PARTNERSHIP, GWP

GLOBAL FORUMS ABOUT WATER

FIRST WORLD WATER FORUM (MARRAKECH, MOROCCO MARCH 1997)

The process of building a Global Water Vision

SECOND WORLD WATER FORUM (THE HAGUE 2000)

The World Vision about Water, Life and the Environment in 2025

“Towards water security: a framework for action”

Ministerial Declaration on Water Security in the XXI Century

The Vision of the Americas

THIRD WORLD WATER FORUM (KYOTO – JAPAN, MARCH 2003)

ALTERNATIVE VIEWS ABOUT WATER

WATER MANIFEST AND WORLD WATER CONTRACT

BLUE PLANET PROJECT VISION

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM OF PORTO ALEGRE VISION

WORLD ASSOCIATION OF MOUNTAIN VILLAGE VISION

THE WATER PASTORAL LETTER

CENTRAL ELEMENTS AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WATER VIEWS

PART II
EXPRESSION OF VISIONS IN POLICY DOCUMENTS ABOUT WATER

WORLD BANK POLICY ABOUT WATER RESOURCES

IDB POLICY ABOUT WATER RESOURCES

NATIONAL POLICY ABOUT WATER

CHILE

BRASIL

MEXICO

SPAIN

SOUTH AFRICA

ARGENTINA

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ANNEXES

ANNEX 1: MARRAKECH’S STATEMENT (1997)

ANNEX 2: PANAMA’S STATEMENT ABOUT ON WATER

ANNEX 3: THE HAGUE’S STATEMENT (2000)

ANNEX 4: MINISTERIAL DECLARATION OF BONN (2001)

ANNEX 5: INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES (IDB)

ANNEX 6: INITIATIVE FOR THE SIGNING OF AN AGREEMENT TO SHARE AND PROTECT WATER AS AN INTERNATIONAL NATURAL PATRIMONY

ANNEX 7: PORTO ALEGRE’S STATEMENT (2002)

ANNEX 8: ACHOCALLA’S DECLARATION (LA PAZ, 2002)

 
 

LIST OF TABLES

Table No.1: International Meetings since 1972

Table No.2: Main International Meeting on Water

Table No.3: World Water Forums

Table No.4: Core elements of the Water Visions

Table No.5: Differences Between Visions

Table No.6: Fundamental Principles and Objectives for a new Water Law in South Africa

Table No.7: Summary of National Policy on Water Resources

Table No.8: Summary of National Policy on Water Resources

INDEX OF BOXES

Box 1: Water Initiatives related to Plan of Action for the Sustainable Development of the Americas

Box 2: Chronology of the Constitution World Water Council

Box 3: Goals of the “Vision for Water, Life and the Environment in the XXI Century”

Box 4: Key Actions Needed

Box 5: Towards Water Security: General Guidelines

Box 6: Ministerial Declaration of The Hague (2000)

Box 8: Water for the XXI Century: From Vision to Action: The Vision of South America

Box 9: Water for the XXI Century: From Vision to Action: The Framework for Action in South America

Box 10: Priority Goals of the World Water Contract

Box 11: Initiative to promote the signing of a treaty to share and provide water as an international natural heritage

Box 12: Fundamental Principles of the Pastoral Letter of Water

Box 13: Core Elements of POLICY World Bank Water Resources

Box 14: The central elements of the Strategy of the World Bank Water Resources

Box 15: Guiding Principles IDB Policy

TABLE OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Development of Inter Plan. Share on American Water Resources Management

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INTRODUCTION

The growing conviction that water is becoming more a scarce resource, both in quantity and in quality, has motivated the international community to hold various forums where this problem could be treated in order to find global solutions. Approximately since the 70s are been organizing, events to discuss directly or indirectly – the global problem of water to try to find solutions.

At first, tried mainly to solve the problem of access of populations to drinking water and sanitation, later donned a more environmental emphasis that not only cared for the provision of a service but also for the preservation and conservation of a nature element, based on what was called the Integrated Management of Water Resources, whose basic principles were agreed in Dublin (1992) and expressed in public policy approaches in Rio de Janeiro through the so-called 21 Agenda (Chapter 18). In fact the Dublin Declaration began the broad production of documents and proposals that unlike the ones posed in earlier times put more emphasis on institutional reforms than in investments in specific use projects. The reform proposals were assumed by many countries during the nineties are going to make significant changes in water policies of many of them, in fact are to initiate processes of defining these policies in most. To support and sometimes to start these processes international organizations such as FAO and ECLAC, as well as international financial institutions such as the IDB and the World Bank also began to develop its position and raise it as part of their action in all countries.

Concern about the subject increased during recent years and this motivated that in 1996 two world entities were organized on the subject of water: the World Water Council (WWC) and the Global Water Partnership (GWP). The WWC will shall establish the realization of World Water Forum as a space for discussion and proposal and in 1997 the first one in Marrakech, Morocco was made. This event was for  instruct the WWC to work on the Global Vision on Water and the Environment for the XXI Century, which was finally presented at the Second World Forum in The Hague, Holland in 2000. Based on the a paper presented at The Hague is expected to achieve the approach of concrete actions by countries in the next World Water Forum to be held in March next year (2003) in Kyoto – Japan.

This entire process sustained by the concern about the growing shortage of water is still seen by some organizations and social movements as only a discourse that is developing globally on an alleged “water crisis” that would lead even to a third world war for this element which is fundamental to life and existence on the planet. They argue against this position indicating that creating a sense of urgency, especially “serves to justify a new series of reforms and build support for these reforms” (Western and Warner, 2001), without detracting from the merits of truth that exists around the world water problems.

The Vision constructed from the process led by the WWC, is then not a fully worldwide shared vision and has motivated in reaction to its postulates alternative visions, including the World Water Contract which seems to be the one with the higher weight.

The following document has been developed into two parties for better systematization of its contents, a first containing the description of the process of formulating concepts and principles which later formed part of the World Water Vision and the alternatives to this that will emerge with an increasing force. A second part in which are reviewed how some of these concepts will be incorporated into policies from international financial institutions like the World Bank and the IDB and in the water policies of certain countries.

This work was conducted as part of the activities of the Technical Secretariat of the Inter Institutional Council for Water (CONIAG), and is intended as an input to the process initiated in the country in the the building of a future policy and regulations on Water. The work scheme developed to work in the definition of policy guidelines for water management in our country, precisely consider the reference to existing international experience as well as forms of local management, by the importance of linking both aspects in consistent guidelines with our reality and with future projections of our country. In that sense we hope that this will be an effective contribution and an input for the analysis of such fundamental issues.

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PART I

World Views on Water

From Stockholm to Johannesburg: an analysis of the major international meetings on Water

Although the idea of making a World Water Vision was recently (from the 1st World Water Forum held in 1997), the conferences, summits and international meetings on water specifically or on issues related to the environment, Population, Women, Food, etc. will lay the foundation, define the concepts and give inputs of what will be its content. Therefore we can say that the pillars for the construction of the vision were generated in a longer process in which we can mention the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm in 1972 as one of the initial moments.

In the following table major international meetings since the 70’s to the present (including some that are scheduled for the future) are described in which the theme of water was treated directly or among other more general topics.

Table No.1: International Meetings since 1972

Source: UNESCO (2002)

Of the analysis of topics of these meetings you may say that it can be observed a  change in the approach in which were considered so is passed the emphasis on improving water supply and sanitation that was the main theme from the 70 ‘to 90’ (International Decade of Potable Water and Sanitation 1981-1990); to a greater concern for the management itself with emphasis on environmental issues and water conservation as part of ecological systems, therefore emphasizing its sustainable use, from the Dublin Conference and the Earth Summit in 1992. in recent years, although these concerns still remain, in discussions has been considering the principles of what should be considered an Integrated Water Resources management (IWRM). Three issues have become central to these approaches:

• The recognition of the economic value of water and all that this implies (“Full recovery costs”, markets, commercial character of the resource, transferability, private participation in needed investments, etc.)
• The water management at watershed level and;
• The  social participation issue linked to governance

On the other hand, not only you can see a change in approach but also in the intervention strategy since it has moved from the investment proposals in infrastructure projects to the investment in institutional solutions (changes in policies, legislation, plans and programs) with a strong base in information, capacities development and knowledge.

In relation to water issues, the most important international meetings were:

1. The UN Conference on Water (Mar de Plata, Argentina 14 al 25 March 1977
2. The International Conference on Water and the Environment, Dublin 1992
3. The UN Summit on Environment and Development (Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro, 1992)
4. International Conference on Water and Sustainable Development (Paris 1998)
5. World Water Forum:
   • 1st Forum of Marrakech (1996)
   • The 2nd Forum of The Hague (2000)
   • 3rd Forum of Japan (2003)

6. Dublin + 10, the Bonn Conference (2001)

Table 2: Major International Meetings on Water

Source : ECLAC, Recommendations of the International Meeting on Water: Mar de Plata to Paris, Division of Environment and Development, mimeo, Restricted Distr. October 1998

A regional monitoring of the established on Freshwater (Chapter 18) in the 21 Agenda, was made through the Inter American Dialogues about water management, which were intended as a means for discussion and the sharing of experiences. For this it was developed, an American Inter Action Plan for Water Resources Management 1992 – 1999 (See Figure # 1):

In compliance with this Plan and under the auspices of the Organization of American States, held in Miami Inter American American Dialogue Prime in 1993, the second in Buenos Aires in 1996 and the third in Panama in 1999; as well as other number of technical  meetings on specific topics. As part of this process is created in 1994 the Inter American American Water Resources Network (IWRN).

During the Third Dialogue held in the city Panama in 1999, begins the discussion of the document  Water Vision for the Americas that would be presented at the 2nd World Water Forum and a Declaration on Water and Children is issued (See the text in Annex 2).

Another regional events which in their discussions included the water issue was the Summit of the Americas in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia 1996. In this event was defined the Action Plan for the Sustainable Development of the Americas. In this Action Plan 12 water-related initiatives (initiatives 47 to 58) are defined to achieve sustainable management of water resources within, the sea and coasts. These 12 initiatives were discussed by four working groups that are:

 These initiatives were evaluated at the Workshop on Integrated Management of Water Resources in South America (Gramado, Brazil 8 and 9 October 1998) and the Inter American American Technical Meeting on Water, to make recommendations to help guide future actions from international funding organizations, international technical organizations, cooperation agencies, governmental and nongovernmental organizations in its implementation.

To continue with the initiatives proposed is done in Brazil the Fourth Inter-American Dialogue in September 2001, under the title “In the search for solutions.” This event tried to identify specific actions that can improve the management of water resources at the regional level, based on lessons learned in several countries. Also, the meeting is used to deepen discussions on the document that exposes “The Water Vision for the Americas” that was presented at the 2nd World Water Forum conducted in March 2000 in The Hague. The results of IV Dialogue discussions are also part of the inputs considered at the International Conference on Water and Environment (“Dublin + 10), the UN Conference on Environment and Development (” Rio + 10) and the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto.

The conformation of Water World Organizations

The idea of forming a global water organization has been  promoted since it was launched in the Dublin Conference in 1992 and reinforced at the Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro (September 1992). The forming process took some time but finally in 1996 two global organizations were established around water:

• The World Water Council, and
• The Global Water Partnership.

The World Water Council:

By his own definition, the World Water Council is “the Group of Decision on Water Policy^[2] (International Water Policy Think Tank) dedicated to strengthening the world water movement for better management of global water resources”, which was established in Marseilles, France in 1996 as a nonprofit organization.

The mission of the World Water Council is:

“Promote awareness and build political compromises on crucial issues around water at all levels, including the highest decision-making to facilitate the efficient conservation, protection, development, planning, management and use of water in all its dimensions on a sustained environmental basis for the benefit of all life forms on the planet earth. “

Its specific objectives are:

• Identify critical issues on water, of local, regional and global importance, based on ongoing assessments of the status of water in the world.
• Generate awareness of the crucial issues concerning water at all decision levels.
• Provide a platform to reach a common strategic vision on integrated water resources on a sustainable basis and to promote the implementation of effective policies and management strategies.
• Provide advice and information relevant to institutions and policymakers about the development and implementation of policies and comprehensive strategies for integrated and sustainable management of water resources, with consideration to the environment and social and gender equity.
• Contribute to solving issues related to transboundary waters.

To fulfill its mission and objectives it has promoted the creation of the World Water Forum, which accompanied by a Ministerial Conference is an important event on water organized every three years in close collaboration with the authorities of the host country.

Other activities of the World Water Council include organizing and sponsoring international and regional conferences, events aimed at raising awareness, joint reviews and articles publications, participation in the establishment of dialogues on inter-sectorial issues, facilitation of the creation of committees and expert panels to find constructive solutions on key issues and to influence the change of water policies.

During the First World Water Forum in March 1997 organized jointly with the Government of Morocco in Marrakech, the Council was given the mandate to “launch a study initiative, consultation and analysis of three years, which would route towards a Global Water Vision, Life and the Environment”. This work resulted in a paper on “World Water Vision, Life and the Environment” which was presented and adopted at the Second World Water Forum, held in The Hague in March 2000. This work is conducted through its Vision Management Unit In the Third World Forum in Kyoto, Japan in March 2003 where is expected to approve the document entitled “Global Action”, to guide the implementation of the guidelines defined on paper on the vision.

The three new initiatives of the World Water Council launched recently include:

1. The establishment of monitoring systems on the World Water Vision in Action.
2. Encourage policies for the Financing of Development and Water Protection.
3. Creation of the World Commission, Peace and Security.

The Global Water Partnership (GWP)

The need for institutional mechanisms to facilitate broad participation in relation to a water issues motivates that also in 1996 the Global Water Partnership (GWP) is established a World Bank initiative, the UN development Programme (UNDP) and the Swedish development Agency (SIDA), as an international network open to all organizations involved in water resources management: government institutions in developed and developing countries, UN agencies, banks for bilateral and multilateral development, professional associations, research institutions, NGOs, the private sector and others committed to the principles defined in Dublin and Rio de Janeiro in 1992. the authorities of the Association include the Technical Advisory Committee (Tecnical Advisory Committee TAC) and Technical Committees Regional Councils (Regional Advisory Tecnical ComITT, RTACs) around the world.

The GWP was created to speed up the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), seeking to ensure coordination of development and water administration, land and related resources, maximize economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of vital environmental systems. Currently this Association supports by identifying needs for knowledge at global, regional and national levels, helps in the design of programs to obtain this knowledge and serves as a mechanism for building partnerships and exchange of information about integrated water resources management.

GWP’s mission is “to support countries in the sustainable management of water resources”. In that sense its objectives are:

• Clearly establish the principles of sustainable management of water resources.
• Identify gaps and encourage partners to meet critical needs in the context of human and financial resources.
• Support actions that follows the principles of sustainable management of water resources at local, national, regional and watershed level.
• Help make the needs consistent with available resources.

Between the activities of GWP for the achievement of these objectives is the creation of forums at global, national and regional levels, designed to support the interest in the practical application of IWRM.

The GWP, through its Regional Technical Councils, supported the work of developing the Vision on Water. During the first phase, were formed committees that became coordinators and facilitators of regional vision consultations. During the second phase, in which is proposed to develop the Framework for Action, were assumed the initiative in some regions and started to prepare action plans for realizing the Vision through a process called from Vision to Action.

The work program for the GWP management 2001 – 2003, established under Framework for Action presented at the Second World Water Forum, divides its activities into four main areas:

• The incorporation of societies to take action to introduce and implement integrated water resources management.
• Ensure that the GWP Associated Programs provide the strategic support required to regions and countries.
• Fill the “IWRM Toolbox” (IWRM ToolBox) as a source of lessons learned from real life on the implementation of IWRM.
• Build a Regional Actions Portfolio on IWRM for its presentation at the Third World Water Forum to be held in Kyoto, Japan in 2003.

The World Water Forums

The idea of making a World Water Forum was promoted by the World Water Council, as an initiative to raise awareness and the start of a process of global collaboration on water issues. Organized by the World Water Council, World Forum is the largest international event on this subject, whose objectives are:

• Emphasise the water on the political agenda.
• Support the deepening of discussions towards the solution of international water issues in the XXI century.
• Formulating concrete proposals and attract global attention to their importance.
• Generate political commitments.

The Forum is organized every three years and provides not only a space to express the views of each individual sector but also for discussions between sectors and regions.

The first World Water Forum (Marrakech, Morocco March 1997)

During the First World Water Forum were analyzed existing global perspectives on water, the process of achieving a  long term Global Water Vision and challenges posed by XXI Century on the subject. Besides was held the celebration of World Water Day (March 22) and the first General Assembly of World Water Council members in which the Board of Directors is elected.

The most important result of this forum was the mandate given to the World Water Council to develop a Long Term Vision on Water, Life and the Environment for the XXI century. This work should be done by launching an study initiative, consultation and a three years analysis, which eventually would route to a final document to be presented at the Second World Water Forum.

The process of building a Global Water Vision

Under the slogan “a vision now for the water of the future” in 1998 began the process of building the Global Water Vision, through workshops in all regions of the world. This process is based on the following principles:

1. A participatory rapprochement with extensive consultation.
2. Innovative thinking.
3. Central analysis to ensure the integration and coordination.
4. Emphasis on communication with groups outside the water sector.

To prepare the final document on the World Water Vision, three main types of queries were made:

1. Sectoral consultations on Water for People, Water for Food and Rural Development and Water for Nature;
2. Regional consultations to 10-15 regions in the world; and
3. Consultations of the network through various planned meetings as well as membership information of the network of organizations.

The sectoral consultations departed of the rescue of accumulated experience in the water sector in relation to the issues already mentioned.

The regional consultations included the Arab countries, Australia and New Zealand, Baltic States, Canada, Central America and Caribbean, Central Asia, China, the Danube Basin, the Mediterranean, the Nile Basin, North America, the Rhine, south America, South Asia, south East Asia, South Africa and West Africa.

Additionally, there were special projects on Interbasin Water Transfers; River Basin Management; the Social Water Letter, Water, Education; and Training, Water and Tourism; and Place in the mainstream Gender Issues.

According to documents from the World Water Council^[3] in the process of building the World Vision, have involved some 15,000 women and men at local, district, national, regional and global levels since 1998, sharing their aspirations and developing strategies for sustainable use and development of water resources.

Interim results of the World Water Vision project were discussed during the Water Symposium which was held in Stockholm in 1999, and the final results were presented at the Second Global Water Forum and Ministerial Conference that was held during the World Water Day – March 17 to 22, 2000, in The Hague, Netherlands.

Participatory consultations continued in the Second World Water Forum, held in The Hague in March 2000. In the months and years ahead Forum participants worked in developing action plans to implement the recommendations of the World Commission on water and the suggested strategies.

The second World Water Forum (The Hague 2000)

The 2nd World Water Forum was held in The Hague (Netherlands) in March 2000, with the participation of 5700 people, including 114 ministers and state officials from 130 countries and 500 journalists from around the world. This event captured the world’s attention during the days of its completion and put back into a priority on the global agenda the water problem.

With the slogan that “Water is everybody’s business”, were presented, analyzed and produced the following documents:

• World Vision for Water, Life and the Environment.
• “Towards water security: a framework for action”.
• Ministerial Declaration on Water Security in the XXI Century.

The World Water Vision, Life and the Environment in 2025

The argument that there is a growing water scarcity at local level which could soon spread to regional or global scale, due to the industrial and private demmand that have grown to exceed the natural reserves in many parts of the world; motivates the World Water Council to propose a Global Vision on the changes that are necessary to perform in the current practices of water management to prevent future crises.

This Vision includes, according to its proponents a world

“Where everyone has access to enough safe water to meet their needs including agricultural needs in the context of management plans that maintain the integrity of freshwater ecosystems”.

The “Vision on Water, Life and the Environment in the XXI Century” has identified three main goals for the integrated water resources management  over the next 25 years into the future.

By 2025 we will have achieved the three primary objectives of integrated water resources management:

Fulfilled these goals imagine that in 2025 the world will be a place where

• Almost all women and men, girls and children in cities and towns in the world know the importance of sanitation and will have good and adequate water and sanitation.
• People at a local level will work closely with governments and nongovernmental organizations in the management of water and sanitation systems that meet basic needs without degrading the environment.
• People will contribute to these services according to the level of service they want and that are willing to pay.
• People everywhere live in clean and healthy environments in such a way that communities and governments will benefit from stronger economic development and better health.

Ultimately we want to achieve:

• Less diseases.
• Better nutrition.
• More reasonable management.
• Communities with more power.
• Larger harvests.
• Better management of water resources.
• Accelerated innovation.
• More investment in cleaner water and less use.

To achieve this according to the Vision document should be consider the following key aspects:

1. Limiting the expansion of irrigated agriculture.
2. Increasing water productivity.
   • Improved crop varieties with the help of biotechnology,
   • Replace crops, for those who consume less water and have greater economic and physical productivity.
   • Improving cultural practices, better soil management, fertilization and pest and weed control.
   • Improve water management  for irrigation, improved scheduling of water supplies.
   • Using more deficit, complementary and precision irrigation.
   • Water Reallocation lower-value uses to higher-value, from agriculture to municipal and industrial uses, or low-value crops to high, can increase economic productivity or water value.

3. Increase storage.

Instead of relying primarily on large dam projects that enable storage, demand should be satisfied by a combination of:

• Large and small dams.
• Surface water recharge.
• Traditional small-scale storage techniques and rainwater recollection.
• Storing water in wetlands.

4. Reforming institutions that manage water resources.
   • Charge the full cost of water services, including, for all users, all costs associated with the operation and maintenance and investment costs for at least domestic and industrial users. The satisfaction of basic needs for water, however, should be available to everyone, and collect water services does not mean that governments renounce to provide transparent subsidies to well-defined poor groups.
   • Service-oriented management, managers must be sensitive to the users needs. The needs and expectations of services will be influenced by the price you have to pay for them, especially when you have to pay the full cost.
   • Allowing communities, women and men acquire power, initiative and the ability of people to be self-sufficient should be the center of all planning and action regarding water supply and sanitation.

5. Increasing cooperation in international basins.

A large part of the countries of the world are located in around 250-300 international river basins that cross national boundaries. The experiences gathered show that shared water resources can be a source of cooperation rather than conflict. This cooperation may follow a process:

• Development of trust, with a low level technical cooperation that focuses on the exchange of data or jointly gathered.
• Cooperation through joint actions and resource allocation.
• International, bilateral or regional agreements.
• International law and alternative dispute resolution.

6. Valuing ecosystem functions.
7. Support innovation.
8. Mobilize financial resources.

It is estimated that for the World Water Vision become real, investments will have to reach $ 180 billion. Private, domestic and international companies will be the main source of financing, and local communities will contribute much in cash  and in kind. Government resources will be a smaller share in direct capital investment and maintenance costs for traditional water supply projects. This will free public resources (and soft loans and grants) for water-related projects that provide public goods (such as flood management and environmental protection) and for grants to men and women of low income and disadvantaged so they can pay the cost of their minimum water and sanitation needs.

To address these critical challenges on the the Vision document raised five key actions that should begin assumed immediately:

“Towards water security: a framework for action”

A second major input to the Forum was the report of the Global Water Partnership “Towards water security: a framework for action”. The framework for action is based on the Vision that combines the work of regional groups, sectoral groups and expert panels of specialists. This was prepared as an input to the Forum, to specify the question “To where we want to go from here?”. The suggestions made in the framework document were modified during and after the Forum to take into account comments and criticisms. The framework sets out the following priorities:

1. Generate water wisdom (basic and applied research, as well as documentation of indigenous knowledge),
2. Expand and deepen the dialogue between the different sectors of interest (stakeholders),
3. Strengthen the capacities of organization involved in water management, and
4. Ensure adequate financial resources to pay the various actions required.

The actions proposed should consider the following general guidelines:

The way forward in implementing this Action Plan of Action requires:

1. Agree goals for water security.
2. Fulfill the mandate of the Framework for Action.
3. Prepare National and Regional Action Programmes.
4. Agents for the implementation of the Action Programmes.

Ministerial Declaration on Water Security on the XXI Century

The Ministerial Conference held as part of World Water Forum, the Declaration on Water Security on the XXI Century was elaborated, which was subscribed as part of the celebrations of the World Water Day on 22 March 2000. In this Declaration^[4] are posed the seven challenges that must be confronted to achieve comprehensive and sustainable water management, which will constitute the evaluation parameters of actions and initiatives on global water management resources.

The Vision of the Americas

The Water Vision for the Americas, was built by different but parallel processes in North America, Canada, Central America and the Caribbean and South America. In the case of South America which is what interests us for the purposes of this document, the work of developing the Vision and Framework for Action was in charge of the South America Technical Advisory Committee of the Global Water parternship (GWP), following the general guidelines established by the “Management Unit of the Vision” and “the Framework for Action Unit” of the World Water Council.

The process of developing the document began in 1999, with several working meetings (Cali, 1999, Panama 1999; Santiago, 1999) and the formation of an Advisory Coordinator Group responsible for drafting the initial text. Discussion of the draft document was from July 1999 to February 2000 in several regional events with the participation of professionals involved in the field, stakeholders and consultants. Finally the final text was approved at a meeting held in the city of Buenos Aires in February 2000.

According to the document finally approved the South America Vision America covers

“Getting better societies, with progressive improvements in the quality of life for all people, through economic growth with social equity, in open societies  that develop in democracy, solidarity and participation of all.”

This Vision is developed based on the following general guidelines:

As regards the Framework for Action the Document proposes that measures discussed below should be followed:

The Third World Water Forum (Kyoto – Japan, March 2003)

To continue the dialogue about the prospects for solutions to water management problems that confront different regions of the world, is scheduled to conduct the Third World Water Forum in March 2003 in the city of Kyoto, Japan. Preparatory activities to the realization of this event include:

• The Virtual Water Forum.
• Speaker of Water Project.
• Thematic and Regional Dialogues.
• Report on Global Action on Water.
• Preparation of the Ministerial Conference.

According to documents issued by the organizers is hoped that this World Water Forum is not a platform for the presentation of technical papers defining theoretical concepts, or discussing research designs, but rather a space which invites participants to “share their experience with proven actions and good practices – supported by research, science and relevant theory that have facilitated sustainable solutions to water problems.” In that sense it has been established that

“will be a priority to promote dialogue and interaction between various sectors of interest in the integration of knowledge and experience gained so far, appealing to the world through potential solutions and providing crucial information to achieve commitments to support these actions and solutions.”

The strategy will define sustainable solutions in terms of good policies involving comprehensive actions. The idea is to define not just “what needs to be done” but “WHO needs to do WHAT, HOW and WHEN”. To do this, will be analyzed at this event the Document “Global Action on Water” (World Water Actions) that according to its authors is a review of a range of recent actions that are being taken around the world to improve water management. These stories of successes and failures on water management have been written by this growing body of professionals and organizations concerned about water management, who have joined more and more under the umbrella of the series of conferences on water and environment in the past decade. Since the presentation of the World Water Vision in the Second World Water Forum in The Hague in 2000 have been taken many actions around the water sector and in all the countries that begin to realize about the Vision.

The actions that are reviewed in this document (the latest version dating back October 2002) have been compiled by the Water Action Unit of the World Water Council and have been reviewed and analyzed in the framework given by the seven challenges identified in the Ministerial Conference that accompanied the Second Global Forum 2000. Finally, it has been defined that the Fourth World Water Forum will be held in Montreal, Canada in March 2006.

Table 3: World Water Forums

Event	Location and Date	Documents	Content
First World Water Forum	Marrakech, Morocco 1997	Marrakech Statement	The World Water Council is mandated to develop a Long Term Vision for Water, Life and the Environment for the XXI century.
Second World Water Forum	The Hague, The Netherlands, 2000	World Water Vision	OBJECTIVES Empower women, men and communities to decide on the level of access to safe water and sanitary living conditions and the types of economic activities of water users that they want and how to get organized to obtain them. Producing more food and create more sustainable means of life per unit of water used (more crops and jobs per drop) and ensure access for all of the required nutrition for a healthy and productive life. Manage water use to conserve the quantity and quality of freshwater to terrestrial ecosystems that provide services to humans and all living things. The Vision defines five key actions to achieve these goals: Involve all sectors of interest (stakeholders) in integrated management. Go to the full charge of the costs (full cost pricing) for all water services. Increase public funding for research and innovation in the public interest.. Increasing cooperation in international river basins. Massively increase investments in water.
		Global Water Partnership Report “Towards Water Security: A Framework for Action”.	The framework sets out the following priorities: Generate water wisdom (basic and applied research, as well as documentation of indigenous knowledge), Expand and deepen the dialogue between the different sectors of interest (stakeholders), Strengthen the capacities of organization involved in water management, and Ensure adequate financial resources to pay the various actions required.
		Ministerial Declaration on Water Security on the XXI Century	The seven challenges: Satisfy basic needs. Ensuring food supply. Protect ecosystems. Sharing water resources. Manage risks. Valuing Water. Manage water wisely.
Third World Water Forum	Kyoto, Japan, 2002	World Water Actions (3rd Draft October 2002)	Preparatory Activities: The Virtual Water Forum, _ Project Spokeperson of Water and Theme Regional Dialogues, Report on the Global Action on Water and Preparation of the Ministerial Conference
Fourth World Water Forum	Montreal, Canada March 2006

 

Alternative Visions on Water

The Water Manifesto and the World Water Contract

The Manifesto was written by Ricardo Petrella^[5], from the international NGO Global Water Contract (World Water Contract). According Petrella the water problem currently involves three critical situations:

1. No access to enough safe water for 1.4 billion people and to water of sufficient quality to more than 2 billion people.
2. The destruction / degradation of water as a fundamental resource of the Earth ecosystem and human life.
3. Absence of rules worldwide, and people who hold water policies based on solidarity, the same time as stunning structural weaknesses and defects in local water authorities.

Among the reasons for this we have mainly:

• The principle of state sovereignty in possession (ownership) and use of water resources – a principle that has been the root of most water wars between countries in its extreme form of absolute territorial sovereignty.
• The deterioration of public finances, especially at local councils, where debt is becoming a major obstacle to their ability to manage public property.
• The increasing abdication of responsibility by public authorities (government, parliament) in favor of private subjects (especially multinational corporations and international financial organizations) regarding resource allocation and distribution of the wealth created;
• Successful pressure to water privatization.

According Petrella from this situation arises the need for a Global Agreement on the theme of Water. This Contract would propose as a foundational principle that water is a common and comprehensive vital heritage. The Water Contract is an instrument designed with the idea of giving the global community the right to exist, to affirm the absolute necessity of a global policy of solidarity among all human beings on the planet around the use of a key resource as water.

The role of the World Water Contract would be to launch a process for the next 15-20 years which should allow, on the basis of cooperation and solidarity the elimination of the causes of the three major critical situations that make the water problem worldwide.

Main Objectives

1. Achieving basic access to water for every human being and every human community for this basic access should be recognized individually and collectively at the same time as a political, social and economic inalienable and fundamental right. In that sense, at least in terms of the legislative provisions will be necessary to sensitize and mobilize public opinion through national and international campaigns for the following purposes:
   • The formulation and adoption of a World Water Convention legally compulsory, integrating the political, economic and social rights to individual and collective access to water in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
   • Modification of national constitutions or water laws existing or approval of a new Water Act in order to build recognition as a vital common heritage and the right of individuals and communities to have a basic water access.
2. The integrated and sustainable management of water keeping the principles of solidarity.

This implies a triple, individual and collective duty in the use and conservation and protection of water.

The priority goals

In the light of what has been said above, the implementation of the Global Water Contract should start around four priority goals:

The action proposals assume the support, commitment and cooperation of four categories of social actors:

• Parliamentarians;
• Community movements and civil society;
• Scientists, intellectuals and the media;
• Trade associations.

These four actors should:

• Exert pressure on governments and key economic structures (especially large corporations).
• Alert and mobilize public opinion (especially in education, in the workplace, among consumers and in small business network);
• Promote innovations in the formulation of laws, values and social and economic practices.

Finally in the Water Manifesto are posed as priority actions:

1. The creation of a global collective for the “Water for Humanity”.

This network would be constituted primarily of community movements and civil society (including associations in the business world) and would have the task of promoting the definitions, organize and implement two global campaigns for the “Water for Humanity”:

• Three million batteries.
• Living in cities.

For this last campaign, intends to ensure the participation and commitment of the world of banking and finance (banks, savings banks cooperatives), by establishing a fund for 600 cities with the 0.01 percent tax obtained by banks and insurance companies from their daily international financial transactions.

2. The establishment of a network of “parliamentarians by water”.

Initially would focus  a sector of representative parliamentarians from various countries around the world, this network – in close connection with the Globe- parliamentary network should take the following immediate steps:

• Post a “letter to the world” (a summary of two pages of the World Water Contract) signed by 10 or 12 MPs.
• Organize a Conference of Parliaments by the “Peace Through Water” (Valencia).
• Launch a campaign to establish a World Water Parliament, its members would be initially appointed by national parliaments.
• Promote the creation of parliamentary assemblies at interstate watershed, of which there are about 215 worldwide.
• Support the creation of a World Water Tribunal and with the active participation of trade associations, also create a forum / institute on economic and social rights related to water.

The vision of the Blue Planet Project

The Blue Planet Project (Blue Planet Project), is an initiative of the civil organization called the Canadian Council (Council of Canadians), whose purpose is to support an international network of opposition to privatization and commercialization of the world’s freshwater.

His first task was to bring together groups and like-minded activists during the Second World Water Forum; over 2000 activists from Canada and a dozen countries met in The Hague to oppose the agenda of commercialization and privatization of the Second World Water Forum and initiate an international network to protect water as a common resource and a basic human right.

In order to establish links between activists and experts, it was decided to organize a forum in which it was possible to exchange information and strategies to combat the impact of water globalization. So in July 2001, Blue Planet organized the event^[6] “Water for People and Nature: A Forum on Conservation and Human Rights”, which was held in Vancouver, Canada. At this forum were gathered about 1,000 activists and experts from over 40 countries, who proposed a new future for water on the basis of respect for the planet and human rights.

Common concerns include:

• the damage done by mega dams and crossing roads of water harvesting,
• the emptying of groundwater and aquifers,
• the privatization of municipal water,
• the rising prices of tariffs and “water poverty”,
• the abuse of water by agriculture business,
• the awakening of the green revolution against irrigation,
• global warming and drying,
• worsening of droughts and floods,
• scarcity and waste, and
• the extension to the protection of the statements of corporate rights to water through the General Agreement on Tradable Services (GATS) and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (NAFTA).

The most important outcome of the Forum was the establishment of a well-connected global network, with the participation of key sectors of society and international organizations dedicated to the protection of environment and human rights. At the closing plenary of the Forum, participants unanimously endorsed an initiative to create an international treaty to protect the Water “as the common patrimony, indivisible by private sector and inseparable from the communities and ecosystems that depend on it” in attempting to start building a future in which the right of everyone to have clean and sufficient water is based on sustainable development from an environmental point of view.

In this way Blue Planet promotes a radical manifesto and a global Treaty^[7] as germinal documents in the international defense. The Manifesto (based on Petrella’s work ) emphasizes the essential nature of water to the integrity of life and the ecosystem, and identify the cultural resonances and sense of the sacred associated with water in various spiritual traditions.

In the Forum also established that the process should be carried out at five scales of water struggles: the local communities, national governments, global policy forums, global rules sites as NAFTA and the Bretton Woods Institution.

The vision of the Porto Alegre World Social Forum Porto Alegre

According to its definition the World Social Forum is:

“A space for a democratic debate of ideas, reflective thinking, formulation of proposals, exchange of experience and articulation of social movements, networks, NGOs and other civil society organizations opposed to neoliberalism and to domination of the world by capital and any form of imperialism, and are in search for the building of a planetary society that has the human being as the center”.

The World Social Forum proposes alternative discourses to build a “solidarity globalization, regarding to universal human rights”, supported by democratic international systems and institutions at the service of social justice, equality and people sovereignty.

The first two editions of the World Social Forum was held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, for the same dates in which was done the World Economic Forum in Davos. Besides the annual meeting of the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, are being organized Regional and Thematic Social Forums. These events aim to deepen the discussion of specific issues identified as priorities in the global context by the WSF International Council – its political decision instance.

The Porto Alegre Social Forum has become one of the most important meeting places of the anti-globalization movement worldwide (organizations from different countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America involved in different sectors of  societies and citizens participation).

At the last Forum held in early 2002 ( February 1 to 15), the issue of water was treated also through a conference entitled “Water for the common good.” At this conference a ‘Initiative for a Common Waters Treaty “was discussed, in which is requested that the intrinsic value of water as a common resource is protected by all political, commercial and social institutions.

This initiative includes creating a World Water Parliament, composed of representatives of civil society, with the mandate of ensuring that all people have access to water in sufficient quantity and quality  to meet their basic social and economic needs. Participants at the conference also requested  the March 14 of each year to be a global day of action against water privatization.

A Declaration on Water^[8] was also developed, the main points are:

• Water should not be considered as a commodity since it’s the common heritage of mankind.
• Water is fundamental right for humans and every living creature.
• The water should be used sustainably.
• The water should be kept in the public domain not be privatized.
• Policies should ensure equity and participation.
• Privatized Water services must return to the public domain.

Additionally it was proposed to train and promote “The Global Coalition of citizen organizations against privatization and commodification of water”, which main goal would be strengthen cooperation of members to a) disseminate information, communication and research, b) coordinate activities and conduct c) common actions.

The vision of the World Mountain People Association

The decision to create a worldwide organization of mountain people was taken in the First World Mountain Forum (which brought together 70 countries and 900 participants) conducted in Chambéry in June 2000, as “a response to the challenge of going beyond the differences in mountainous regions and its situations to bring mountain people in a shared project based on a strong solidarity and common vision of the place of the mountainous regions in contemporary society “.

The Association is made up of three groups:

• Representatives from organizations or communities or other forms of local political organization in mountain regions.
• Representatives of civil society organizations working with mountain people, NGOs, social groups and professionals, etc.
• Scientists, researchers or experts working alongside mountain people.

The central objective of the World Mountain People Association is “fighting for equitable and sustainable development that also ensure a lasting identity of mountain populations”. For this, proposes the following means:

• Economic development limited to the controlled exploitation of resources by the population;
• Recognition of the rights of mountain people to manage their territories with particular concern for maintaining high quality mountain environment;
• More equitable access to social goods, services and facilities;
• Respect and recognition of identities, cultures and specificities of mountain regions; and
• A local government capable of lead our territorial government of the mountain region.

The 2nd World Meeting of Mountain People was held in Quito from 17 to 22 September 2002, having as one of its objectives the analysis of the “Project for Equitable and Sustainable Mountain Development to ensure the survival of their identity”. As part of the preparatory activities for this event regional meetings of analyzes were performed. In the Andes regional meeting the water issue was very important and gave rise to a specific Declaration^[9] whose core elements are:

• Reaffirmation of the right to territories, including natural resources  within them;
• Collective ownership of resources and its own legal system to regulate rights;
• The problem of pollution, resource degradation and privatization;
• Rejection of the attempts of privatization and commercialization;
• Participation, authorization and consent of the indigenous populations of any resource allocation;
• Administration and management of water taking into account the vision, diversity and culture of the mountain villages;
• Recognition of authorities and local forms of management.

The Pastoral Letter of Water

At the national level an important document is the Pastoral Letter of water in which the Vision of the Catholic Church on this subject is reflected. This Pastoral Letter, after several revisions and consultations, was finally approved during the last Bolivian Bishops’ Conference held in Cochabamba in November 2002. This document states that the crux of the Church message about the water issue is:

“Undoubtedly the need to build solidarity to ensure that water, principle of life, serve primarily to the life of all”.

Based on this postulate and to three main components analysis (water, God’s gift to everyone, the Water source for life, water, Challenge to Solidarity), the following principles are established:

The core elements and differences between Visions on Water

As we have seen throughout the text above is possible to identify two types of approach to the water at an international level:

One promoted by international organizations such as the WWC and WGP, whose core elements are given by the established in the Dublin Declaration (1992), World Vision on Water and Environment for the XXI Century, The Framework for Action: towards the Water Security and the Ministerial Declaration of The Hague (2000), with the strengthening of the Declarations of Bonn (2001) and the Rio + 10 (Johannesburg, 2002). These core elements can be summarized in:

• Meeting basic water needs.
• More efficient use of water without affecting food security.
• More equitable distribution of the resource usages with higher value and more efficient.
• Protection of aquatic ecosystems, sustainable management of water resources management (IWRM).
• Promoting cooperation between countries in border trans basins;
• Consideration and risk management;
• Water valuation, recognition of the total cost;
• Management based on information and scientific knowledge, technological innovations;
• Participation and dialogue of different stakeholders;
• Private participation in the necessary investments;
• Strengthening of the capacities of the state as a market regulator entity.

A central concept in this approach is “water security”, which according to its promoters brings within a temporal dimension of intergenerational equity to consider future water as a part of the current planning.

Table 4: Key Elements of Visions on Water

The other approach arises from the anti-globalization movement, and the generation of has its highest expression in the Water Manifesto. The core elements of this approach are:

• Water should not be considered as a commodity since it’s the common heritage of mankind;
• Water is a fundamental right for humans and every living creature;
• The water should be used in a sustainable manner;
• Resistance to treat water as a commodity and therefore its privatization;
• The water should be kept in the public domain;
• Policies should ensure equity and participation;
• Privatized water services must return to the public domain.

A central concept in this approach is that of solidarity and equity in the use of a resource that is the common heritage of mankind and therefore should be shared.

Both approaches in their analysis on the global water situation arrive at a similar conclusion in sense that there is a water crisis, pose different causes of the reasons that cause it and in some cases may even question the very existence of such a crisis, because they see it more as a tool to justify intervention in the management of one of the last major natural resources in the world.

The solution approaches also have similar elements in the sense that they are necessary to establish networks or coalitions of international cooperation, going beyond the regional and the national and the generation of international mechanisms and rules, but the basis for these proposals are different in each case:

• At the first approach, the primary goal is to ensure water security, based on the management of water as a scarce commodity with mostly economic value.
• In the second case, the goal is to share in solidarity a resource that is the heritage of humanity.

Obviously this is expressed in different emphasis on resource management proposals whose core elements are detailed in the following table:

Cuadro 5: Diferencias entre las Visiones

 

PART II

The expression of Visions on Water Policy Documents

The World Bank policy on water resources

Since three decades ago one of the most important areas of World Bank loans has been to water resources. These loans were mainly aimed at supporting the work in the sector and investment in irrigation, water supply, sanitation, flood control and hydropower. The investment for this category is approximately $ 3 billion per year in water-related sectors, representing about 5% of the total investment of the Bank in developing countries^[10].

During this time working in the sector, several of the projects supported by the Bank have faced difficulties linked to the management of water resources, some of which are analyzed in the World Bank Report: Development and Environment (1992d), which has indicated three issues to consider:

• The fragmented programation of public investment and management fragmentation of the sector, which have failed to take into account interdependencies among agencies, jurisdictions and sectors.
• Over-reliance on overextended government agencies who have denied the need for economic position, financial accountability and user involvement and have not provided services effectively to the poor.
• Investments and public regulations that have refused concerns about water quality, health and the environment.

In response to these problems, a new approach is proposed to manage water resources, whose main approach is the adoption of a comprehensive political structure, the treatment of water as an economic resource, combined with decentralized management and allocation structures, greater reliance on the pricing and broad participation of stakeholders. This approach would be consistent with the Dublin Declaration (1992) of the International Conference on Water and Environment and the 21 Agenda of the UN Conference on Environment and Development in 1992.

Precisely to develop their approach the World Bank in 1993 approved the Policy Paper on Managing Water Resources (WRMPP). At this document and in the implementation strategy defined later, the water management involves the institutional structure (legal, regulatory and organizational roles), management instruments (regulatory and financial) and the development, maintenance and operation of infrastructure (including water storage structures and transportation, wastewater treatment and watershed protection). Some years later, in 2001 an evaluation of the experiences obtained with the implementation of this water policy is made, which serves as the basis for preparing the document “A Bridge Over Troubled Waters” by the Operation Evaluation Department (OED), in which it is concluded that the water policy document continues valid and relevant, but that the scope and pace of implementation should be adjusted to the wide variety of circumstances found in countries that receive World Bank loans.

More recently it has also developed the “Strategy of Water Resources, Sector Strategic Directions for World Bank Involvement”, in whose Draft for discussion of March 25, 2002 established two main conclusions, which together form the basis for the definition of the Strategy. First, it is clear that the dichotomy between “management or infrastructure” is false, since both are needed. The second is that is equally clear that the development and management of water resources is a slow and highly political process. It is based on these two premises that the main guidelines of the Bank’s strategy in relation to water resources are defined (see Box 14). It only should be added taht for the following years the World Bank has a portfolio of water resources management of about $ 9 billion, of which 80% are intended for water infrastructure and about 20% to building institutional capacities. The portfolio of the World Bank for water services- water supply irrigation and hydropower which is co treated with sectoral strategies also adds about 14 billion additional dollars.

World Bank Policy

The document prepared in 1993 states that the World Bank policy on water issues is aimed at:

“Support the provision of facilities for potable water and sanitation, flood control and water for productive activities in an economically viable, environmentally sustainable and socially equitable manner.”

The Bank gives priority to countries where water is scarce or where problems of allocation, service efficiency or environmental degradation are serious. In these countries, through its economic work and of sector, loan and international initiatives participations, the bank promotes political, institutional adaptation and capacity building, environmental protection and restoration, and demand cooperation in the management of international watercourses.

Because of the crucial interdependencies between water and other sectors, the Bank incorporates water resources policy and management issues in its national policy dialogues as well as in the formulation of country assistance strategies where water issues are considered as significant.

Objectives of water policy

The objective is to achieve over time the following improvements:

• For industry, extensive conservation and protection of groundwater aquifers. Substantially reduce the amount of water used per unit of industrial product.
• For the provision of water and sanitation, more efficient and accessible services of water and sewage, treatment and disposal, with the ultimate goal of providing universal coverage. This will be achieved through the extension of existing supplies through conservation and water reuse and by using other sustainable methods. Greater involvement of the private sector, nongovernmental organizations and groups, as well as cost recovery will be required to ensure financial viability while gradual rates apply to support the poor.
• For irrigation and hydropower, modernize irrigation practices, greater attention to cost recovery, drainage and salinity control measures to reduce pollution from agricultural activities, improvements in the operation and maintenance of existing systems and investments in small-scale irrigation and various methods of rainwater harvesting. This involves the development of institutions and technologies that meet the needs of farmers for higher quality services, including greater participation of community groups and associations of users, while the efficient demand management is strengthened. Particular attention should be given to managing other energy identifying small-scale alternatives and renewable energy, promoting conservation practices for watersheds and readjusting and improving dams factilities.
• For the environment and poverty relief, More rigorous attention to minimize resettlement, maintaining biodiversity and protecting ecosystems in the design and implementation of water projects. Water and energy reserves earned through conservation and improved efficiency can be used instead of develop new provisions to extend the service to the poor and maintaining water-dependent ecosystems. The intention is to have  inexpensive and environmentally benign methods to develop new water supplies for agriculture, rural potable water and industrial the requirements of water supply from rivers, wetlands and fish centers will be considered in decisions concerning the operation of reservoirs and water allocation.

 

Bank policy on water resources

The called operational policies of the Inter American American Development Bank (IDB) are organized in a General Policy and several Sectorial policies related to specific areas of activity such as environment, agriculture, women in the development, energy, etc.

In addition to the policies the Bank’s operation are also guided by strategies which are general statements that seek to operationalize the “mandates”^[11] given to the institution by their executives. These mandates are the most comprehensive and simple postulates about the Bank’s priorities (poverty reduction and social equity, modernization and integration, environment and support the private sector).

Another instrument used by the Bank are the documents on “Best Practices” (best practices), used in the development or project design of the Bank and other institutions around the world, which have been prepared based on case studies and texts that incorporate the “lessons learned”

Related to the water theme the Bank has no specific policy document only includes references in some of its sectoral policies (Environment, Utilities, Sanitation, etc.) However, the issue is not absent from his work and since several years ago are being produced a variety of paperwork. In 1998, a strategy was elaborated for Integrated Water Resources Management in guiding the Bank’s involvement in the sector, based on technical studies on water management in Latin America and the Caribbean and a consultation process with the Bank team, international organizations, government officials and NGOs.

The IDB strategy for Integrated Management of Water Resources

The paper presents the strategic guidelines of the Bank for their involvement in Integrated Water Resources Management in Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing the flexible application of instruments based on an analysis of each case and the incorporation of elements to change orientation of actions in the sector from an approach based in projects designed to increasing the supply to a more integrated approach that considers both the supply and demand.

The Strategy has been developed in response to the mandates of the Eighth General Increase in the Bank Resources  (IDB-8)^[12] which specifically indicated that should be:

“Develop and implement guidelines on integrated water resources to support an approach on integrated watershed management based on consideration of all resources and water uses in a particular basin”

In this mandate the request for assistance is also included to support the borrowing countries in the development of their resources and freshwater systems through a variety of initiatives, such as developing and implementing guidelines, devising and employing integrated approaches that with time converge at lower cost solutions for investments in the development of water resources, identifying and preparing projects and project components, including water conservation programs, and promoting better use of water resources, as well as technological advances.

Goal

The goal of the Strategy is to support water conservation through a process of change in relation to issues of water resources, specifically:

A change from development to management and from a sectoral approach to an integrated approach following the accepted principles of the Dublin Statement, 21 Agenda, the  San José Statement and the Declaration and Action Plan approved by the heads of state in the Summit of the Americas on Sustainable Development held in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia in December 1996

These changes aim to achieve:

• Conserve water through more efficient ways of resource allocation giving due consideration to the issue of social equity;
• Finding better ways to resolve conflicts between uses and competitive users including environmental uses and functions and services of water ecosystems;
• Consider the social, economic and environmental value of water in the process of sustainable development; and
• Increase communities participation and the private sector in decision-making and financing.

Bank Instruments

The Bank has many tools that can be used to assist countries members to achieve improvements in the management of water resources. Among these are:

• Dialogue with the country during the missions of pre programming and programming.
• Technical cooperation of the country and the region.
• Capital funds.
• Loans to sector and hybrids.
• Specific projects.
• Credits to the private sector and small projects.
• Co financing.

The strategy proposes that the Bank, using all available instruments to support the development of integral strategies, policies and master plans about water resources, support capacity building and institutions strengthening; and look to the needs both the urgent short-term population as well as the medium- and long-term institutional modernization of water resources.

National Policy on Water

Chile

The Chile’s National Water Policy was formulated in 1998 and is based on the following fundamental principles:

1. Water is legally defined as a National Asset of Public Use.
2. The use of the resource should be done in a sustainable manner and ensuring the protection of the associated environment.
3. Water is an economic good, are applicable to water the principles of the market economy.
4. Water policy should strive to ensure user participation, social organizations and common citizens in the management of water resources,
5. Water policy should recognize this complexity and specificity of hydrological processes, for which its proposals must be solidly based on technical and scientific knowledge of them.

Main objectives:

Based on these principles, the document states that the objectives of the policy are:

1. Ensure as regards to the water availability, the satisfaction of the population’s basic needs.
2. Improving the efficiency of use, at watershed level, within a framework of economic feasibility, considering his condition scarce resource throughout much of the territory.
3. Achieve localization of water resources in those demands which have the greatest economic, social and environmental benefit for the country.
4. Maximize the contribution of water resources, to the growth of the country, through the development of unused sources and reuse.
5. Reduce the impact of hydrological variability in the activity of the country.
6. Retrieve the existing environmental passives in the country, in relation to water resources and ensure their development without implying a deterioration for the medium.
7. Minimize the levels of water-related conflict and thus contribute to social peace.

Posed measures:

To achieve these objectives the implementation of measures proposed in the following topics:

1. Legal nature of the rights of exploitation and conditioning of the legal framework

In this topic is proposed:

• Original allocation of rights.
• Establishment of payment of a patent for constituted water rights whose owners do not use them
• Justification of requests to new harvesting rights
• Obligation to reserve minimum ecological flows in the constitution of new rights.
• Externalities management.
• Regularization of harvesting rights and the role of water communities about it

2. Institutional structure, integrated management and planning.
3. Environment and pollution.
4. Utilization of water resources.
5. Water administration and user organizations
6. Evaluation and knowledge of water resources and information systems
7. Technical training and education to the public.
8. State functions  and individuals in relation to Water Resources

Brazil

The Brazilian National Water Resources Policy approved by the Federal Law No. 9.4333, 1997, was prepared by the Ministry of Environment, through the Secretary of Water Resources of this country.

The basic principles of this policy state that:

1. The Water is a commodity of public domain.
2. Water is a limited natural resource that has economic value.
3. In situations of scarcity the priority use of water resources, is human consumption and animal watering hole.
4. The water management resources should always seek the multiple use of water.
5. The watershed is the territorial unit to implement the National Water Resources Policy and the acting of the National System of Water Resources Management.
6. The water resource management must be decentralized and involve participation of the Public Power, users and communities.

Objectives

It is established that the central objectives of the policy are:

1. Asegurar a la actual y futuras generaciones la disponibilidad necesaria de agua, en parámetros de calidad adecuados a los respectivos usos,
2. Ensure to the current and future generations the necessary water availability in parameters of appropriate quality to the respective uses;
3. Prevention and defense against critical hydrological events or naturally occurring streams of inappropriate use of natural resources.

General guidelines for action.

To achieve the above objectives, the following general guidelines are established:

1. The systematic water resource management without dissociation of the aspects of quality and quantity.
2. The adequacy of the water resources management, to physical, biotic, demographic, economic, social and cultural of the various regions diversities.
3. The integration of water management, with environmental management.
4. The articulation of the planning of water resources with user sectors and with regional, state and national planning.
5. The articulation of the water resource management as a single use (?).
6. The integrated watersheds management with estuaries and coastal systems.

Instruments

As instruments that facilitate the implementation of the guidelines are:

1. The Water Resources Plans.
2. The classification of water bodies, according the predominant water uses.
3. The granting of rights of use of water resources.
   1. Is intended to ensure the quantitative and qualitative control of water uses and the effective exercise of rights of access to water.
4. The charge for the use of water resources.
5. Compensation to Municipalities.
6. The information system on Water Resources.

Mexico

Mexico has more recently developed its National Water Program 2001-2006 (PNH), through an extensive process which included the participation of users, local authorities, NGOs and citizens in general. In this establishes that the “Water sector vision in in 2025,” considering the current problem and the transcendence of the resource in the welfare and development of the country, is expected to be:

“A nation that has a safe water supply required for its development, which is used efficiently, acknowledges its strategic and economic value, protect water bodies and preserve the environment for future generations”

The above vision considers the essential value of water as an indispensable resource for social welfare, its importance as a strategic element in the development of the different productive activities agriculture, industry, power generation, fishing, boating and tourism, the right of future generations to have the water they require for their welfare and development, as well as recognition of the environment as a water user.

Principles basic premises:

As basic premises of the Program are defined as follows:

1. The country’s development should take place in a framework of sustainability.
2. Water is a strategic and national security resource.
3. The basic unit for water management is the watershed, as it is the natural form of occurrence of the hydrological cycle.
4. The management of natural must be integrated.
5. Decisions are made with the participation of users at the local level, depending on the problem to be solved.

Policy Guidelines for 2001-2006

Policy guidelines consider mechanisms and strategies:

1. Regulatory mechanisms.
2. Economic and financial mechanisms.
3. Mechanisms for technology development.
4. Social participation mechanisms.

National Strategies

1st. Objective. Promote the efficient use of water in agricultural production.

2nd. Objective. Promote the expansion of coverage and quality of potable water and wastewater services.

3rd. Objective. Achieving integrated and sustainable water management in watersheds and aquifers.

4th. Objective. Promote technical, administrative and financial development of the water sector

5th. Objective. To consolidate the participation of users and organized society in water management and promote the culture of their proper use.

6th. Objective. To prevent risks and address the effects of floods and droughts.

Spain

In 1985 the Spanish Water Code, established the need for water planning in this country. After a long process of about 10 years, in 1997 the specific management plans for each of the watersheds were completed. The information on water resources in Spain was compiled, analyzed and described in the “White Book of Water in Spain” published in 1998.

Some time later in July 2001, was approved trough a law the National Hydrological Plan. This Plan is according to its content  a general framework for water policy in Spain and also a coordination tool for water management in different watersheds. This long planning process is resulting in a deep discussion not only about what should be the role of the different agencies in water policy, or what are the most appropriate policies to be implemented but also in the definition of the goals of water planning itself.

Already in 1993, the proposals of the Draft Law of the NHP prepared by the MOPTMA produced intense controversy, due, firstly, to the generalization of inter-basin water transfers that in him were collected and the relatively high water volumes involved and the other, to the own rejection that any transfer originates.

The decision adopted by the Congress of Deputies on March 22, 1994 also showed significant technical deficiencies in the documentation submitted and demanded the incorporation of new studies (Agricultural Irrigation Plan, among others) to properly substantiate the appropriate proposals. All this, together with the rejection of users within the National Water Council, caused the blocking of the hydrological planning process in Spain.

Contents of the National Hydrological Plan (NHP)

In this plan are posed the necessary measures “for the coordination of different Basin Water Plans“, based on the following guidelines:

• Establishment of a single operating system in each Plan.
• Identification and delineation of the shared Hydrogeological Units by two or more basins.
• Fixing consolidated demands demands and resources balance, with homogeneous criteria.

It also indicates that in the current state of the work performed to the Plan, have additionally been identified other relevant issues that could be grouped under the following headings: Protection the natural surroundings, basic infrastructure and extreme hydrological situations.

On the other hand are also discussed the forecast and conditions for the transfer of water resources between territorial areas of different Basin Water Plans, topic that has been the subject of considerable controversy because of the implications it might have in the future.

In addition is also made reference to the changes that are expected in the planning of resource use that affect current exploitations to supply population  or irrigation.

Finally among other proposals for a New Water Policy the following are reviewed:

1. The provision of water services a shared responsibility, regarding the powers of the different territorial governments on supply.
2. Private participation in infrastructure funding.
3. A reform on the Water Law.
4. A reform on the hidraulyc administration.
5. A reform on the control procedures and registration rights.

South Africa

Under the slogan that “Everyone has the right of access to sufficient water” (Bill of Rights, Constitution of South Africa, Section 27 (1) (b)) was developed  in South Africa the called White Paper (White Paper) establishing the water policy for this country as a result of two years of hard work and extensive consultation.

The first result of the process was the production of Fundamental Principles and Objectives for a new water law in South Africa, which were approved by the Chamber (Cabinet) in November 1996. These principles have as well led to an intensive program of work involving the Minister and other political leaders, officials of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and other government departments, organized groups of users and South Africans from everywhere and from all provinces in a process of consultation, research and synthesis.

At the same time, building on the foundations laid in 1994 have been outlined the White Book of Potable Water and Sanitation, in close consultation with organized local organized government, a new decree (Bill) about Water Services, which regulates the provision of potable water and sanitation services.

The process of policy development has been assisted by the support and involvement of officials and experts from other countries and international organizations. The White Book is the result of two years of hard work and extensive consultation, beginning with the distribution on May 1995 of the brochure “You and your Water Rights” for public opinion. A review panel of the Water Law then produced a set of principles for a new Water Law taking into account the  public’s opinion. These principles were refined and released on April 17, 1996 as the basis for a wider public consultation.

The consultations ended in a National Consultative Conference to review the Water Law held in East London in October 1996, which discussed practical approaches for the implementation and principles that will guide the development of the law. The Principles and Fundamental Objectives for a new water law in South Africa were finally approved by the Chamber in November 1996.

The Vision

The Vision of South Africa to the future is:

A country where people have opportunities, opportunities to develop their skills and opportunities to use them productively working and earning an income with which they can at least meet their basic needs. It is a Vision of a country where there are these opportunities, people can live in peace one with another with dignity and security, where because of our wise management, the environment in which we live, work, entertain ourselves is healthy and pleasant and can be maintained like this.

In that spirit in relation to the specific issue of water management:

The challenge in the twenty-first century is to ensure that society is developed in a way that can  successfully operate within the limitations of its resource base. Is to treat the development, use and protection of our water as a common issue in the interest of all, in the spirit of a new patriotism rather than a series of conflicts between different groups.

Objective:

The objective of the new policy is not only to promote equitable access and benefits of using water resources for the nation for all South Africans, but also ensure that the needs and challenges of South Africa in the twenty-first century can be identified. Forward as has been clarified in the Principles that guide the review of the Law the most important objective is to promote the present and future welfare of all South Africans. Water is valued for the many ways in which it serves human needs and this is as indicated on the principles, which guide water policy. Specifically Principle 7 states:

The objective of managing the quantity, quality and reliability of water resources of the nation is to achieve optimum  economic and social benefit in the long term, environmentally sustainable     of its uses to society.

Principles:

Politics and new Water Legislation in South Africa is based on the following principles:

Table 6.

 

Key proposals

Based on the previous principles have been defined some key proposals to guide water management in South Africa in the future:

• The status of water resources of the nation as an indivisible national asset will be confirmed and formalized.
• The Government will act as the guardian of the water resources of the nation and its powers in this regard will be exercised as a public custodian (public trust).
• All waters in the hydrological cycle whether surface, underground or surface channels, falling, flowing or infiltrate between these systems will be treated as part of the common resource and to the degree required to achieve the broad objectives of the water management will be subject to common approaches.
• Only the water required to meet basic human needs and maintain environmental sustainability will be guaranteed as a right. This will be known as Reserve.
• In shared river basins, the Government shall be empowered giving priority over other uses and ensuring that legitimate requirements of neighboring countries can be achieved.
• All other uses of water will be recognized only if they are beneficial to the public interest.
• These other water uses will be subjected to an allocation system that promotes optimal use for achieving economic and social, equitable and sustainable development.
• The new allocation system would take into account the investments made by users on the water infrastructure.
• The new allocation system will be implemented in phases, beginning in the areas of water management that are currently under pressure. This allocation system will use water pricing, temporary assignments and other administrative mechanisms to achieve balance between supply and demand in a way that is beneficial to the public interest.
• The coastal allocation system, in which the right to use water is tied to the ownership of land that lies on the banks of rivers shall be effectively abolished. Transitional arrangements may eventually in a safe and orderly way, efficient and gradually change the assignments of use of water  when necessary.
• Allocations for water use will no longer be permanent, but will be given for a reasonable period, and a provision be issued to allow the transfer or sale of these rights among users, with Ministerial consent.
• To promote efficient water use, policy will be to charge users by the total financial costs of providing access to water, including infrastructure development and management activities in the upper basin. This will be done on an equitable basis and according to a realistic and reasonable program which has already been started.
• All water use, that occurs in any phase / time of the hydrological cycle will be subject to a fee for managing the high basin which cover the costs that are incurred.
• All water use, that occurs in any phase / time of the hydrological cycle, will be subjected to charge by resource conservation, where there are competitive beneficial uses for such use and / or such use significantly affect other users.
• Promote equitable access to water for disadvantaged groups, for productive purposes such as agriculture, some or all of these charges should not be applied for a specified period that is necessary for them to be able to start using the resource.
• Promote equitable access to water for basic human needs, also will be issued a provision for some or all of those not applied charges.
• All major sectors of water  should develop a policy of use, conservation and protection of water, and regulations will be introduced to ensure compliance with the policy in key areas.
• In the long term, since water does not recognize political boundaries whether national or international, management will be conducted in areas of regional management or watershed (which coincide with watershed natural catchment, watershed groups, sub-basins or areas with provision systems interconnected with common socioeconomic interests) recognizing that the conflicting interests intensify the need for management and national supervision and that the subsidiarity policy does not interfere with the need for a national and international perspective on water use.
• A provision for the establishment phased agencies catchment management, subject to a national authority shall be issued, to assume the management of water resources in these areas of water management.
• A provision will be issued that allows that the development functions and operation of the national water infrastructure that links catchment basins and regional systems are transferred to a public entity (utility)  established for this purpose.

Based on the principles and key proposals outlined above is being implemented in South Africa a reform to the water resources management  which is intended to ensure the national goal that there will always be some water, for those who need it, helping to a growing prosperity and equity. This goal is captured in the slogan from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, whose staff is committed to ensure: “A little bit for everyone forever”, which summarizes the goals of:

• Access to a limited resource (a little / somewhat).
• On the basis of equity (for everyone).
• In a sustainable way, now and in the future (forever).

Argentina

Currently Argentina is also developing its policyin a process that already have six working papers (the sixth draft is from August 12, 2002). This process started from the realization of workshops to disseminate the study entitled “Argentina – Water Resource Management: Elements of Policy for its Development in the XXI Century” (August 30, 2000), from which the Argentinan water community becomes fully aware of the serious deterioration of the water resources management, and decides to initiate a process to correct the current course of the water management in this country. It was further agreed that the first step in this direction is to create solid legal bases that support a modern and efficient water resources management.

In that sense, the provinces convened the sectors linked to the use and management of water resources seeking to establish the vision stating “what is water for us”, and point the way to use it as an “engine of sustainable development”. This vision is being compiled by the Sub Secretariat for Water Resources of the Nation from the contributions made by each of the provinces that have so far participated in this effortof consultation with experts in the areas of planning and water resource management, and the contribution of organizations and national and international forums on the subject.

Objective

The Argentinian water community understands that:

The use of water resources must be made to harmonize the “social”, “economic” and “environmental” values that our society ascribes to water.

It is recognized that this is not a simple task since, as often occurs, the actions that promote these three values when considered in isolation may be antagonistic or mutually exclusive. It is concluded, that the only way to use water for the benefit of the whole society will come from find the right balance in the application of these three headlights to guide our water policy; only possible to achieve through effective citizen participation in water management.

The main guidelines treated in the process of formulating the policy are:

Table # 7

To implement this guidance towards an efficient management has been established that the tools would be:

• Awareness at all levels.
• Legal-administrative update.
• Systematic monitoring.
• Integrated water information system.
• Optimization of water systems.
• Environmental management instruments.
• Capacity building.
• Network of water extension and communication.

Table 8: Summary of National Policy on Water Resources

Country / Year	Guidelines/Vision	Principles	Objectives	Guidelines and Instruments / Strategies
Chile 1998		Water is legally defined as a National Asset of Public Use The use of the resource should be done in a sustainable manner and ensuring the protection of the associated environment. Water is an economic good, are applicable to water resources the principles of market economy, Water policy should be strive to ensure participation of users, social organizations and ordinary citizens in the management of water resources, Water policy should recognize this complexity and specificity of hydrological processes, for which its proposals must be solidly based on technical and scientific knowledge of them.	Ensure, with regard to the availability of water, the provision of the basic needs of the population. Improving the efficiency of use, watershed level, within a framework of economic feasibility, considering his condition rather scarce in much of the territory. Achieve localization of water resources in those demands which have the greatest economic, social and environmental profit for the country. Maximize the contribution of the water resources to the country’s growth, through the development of unused sources and reuse. Reduce the impact of hydrological variability in the country’s activity. Recover the existing environmental passive in the country, in relation to water resources and ensure their development without implying a deterioration for the medium. Minimize the levels of water-related conflicts and thereby contributing to social peace.	Legal nature of the rights of use and legal framework conditioning. Propositions Original allocation of rights. Establishment of payment of a patent for water constituted rights and whose owners do not use them. Justification of applications for new usage rights. Obligation of discretion for minimum ecological flows in the establishment of new rights. Externalities management. Regularization of usage rights and the role of water communities about it. Institutional structure, integrated management and planning. Environment and pollution. Utilization of water resources. Water administration and user organizations. Evaluation and knowledge of water resources and information systems. Technical training and education to the public. Functions of the State and individuals in relation to Water.
Brazilian Federal Law No. 1997 9.4333		The water is a good of public domain. Water is a limited natural resource that has economic value. In situations of scarcity the priority use of the water resources is human consumption and animal watering hole. The management of water resources should always seek the multiple use of water. The watershed is the territorial unit to implement the National Water Resources Policy and the acting of the National System of Water Resources Management. The water resources management  must be decentralized and include the participation of the Public Power, users and communities.	Ensure to the current and future generations the necessary water availability in appropriate quality parameters to the respective uses, The rational and integrated usage of water resources, including water transport for sustainable development. Prevention and defense against critical hydrological events of natural origin or streams of inappropriate use of natural resources.	The systematic water resources management  without dissociation of the aspects of quality and quantity. The adequacy of the water resources management to physical, biotic, demographic, economic, social and cultural diversities of the various regions. The integration of the water resources management and environmental management. The articulation of the water resources planning with user sectors and with regional, state and national planning. The articulation of the water resources management  as a single use (?). The integration of the watersheds management to estuaries and coastal systems. Strategic Instruments: Los Planes de Recursos Hídricos. The classification of water bodies, according to the predominant uses of the water. The granting of rights of use for water resources. Is intended to ensure the quantitative and qualitative control of water uses and the effective exercise of the rights to water access. The charge for the use for water resources. Compensation to Municipalities. The information system on Water Resources.
Mexico National Water Program 2001-2006	We aspire to be: “A nation that has security in the water supply required for its development, which its used in a efficient way, acknowledges its strategic and economic value, protect water bodies and preserve the environment for future generations” The guidelines will be in the following areas: Regulatory mechanisms. Economic and financial mechanisms. Mechanisms for technology development. Social participation mechanisms.	The country’s development should take place in a framework of sustainability. Water is a strategic and national security resource. The basic unit for water management is the watershed, as it is the natural form of occurrence of the hydrological cycle. The management of natural must be integrated. Decisions are made with the participation of users at the local level, depending on the problem to be solved.	1st. Objective. Promote the efficient use of water in agricultural production.2nd. Objective. Promote the expansion of coverage and quality of potable water and wastewater services.3rd. Objective. Achieving integrated and sustainable water management in watersheds and aquifers.4th. Objective. Promote technical, administrative and financial development of the water sector5th. Objective. To consolidate the participation of users and organized society in water management and promote the culture of their proper use.6th. Objective. To prevent risks and address the effects of floods and droughts.
Spain “White Book on Water” in Spain, 1998 National Hydrological Plan, 2001			In this plan are posed the necessary measures “for the coordination of different Basin Water Plans“, based on the following guidelines: Establishment of a single operating system in each Plan. Identification and delineation of the shared Hydrogeological Units by two or more basins. Fixing consolidated demands demands and resources balance, with homogeneous criteria. It also indicates that in the current state of the work performed to the Plan, have additionally been identified other relevant issues that could be grouped under the following headings: Protection the natural surroundings, basic infrastructure and extreme hydrological situations. On the other hand are also discussed the forecast and conditions for the transfer of water resources between territorial areas of different Basin Water Plans	Finally among other proposals for a New Water Policy the following are reviewed: The provision of water services a shared responsibility, regarding the powers of the different territorial governments on supply. Private participation in infrastructure funding. A reform on the Water Law. A reform on the hidraulyc administration. A reform on the control procedures and registration rights.
South African White Book November 1996	Everyone has the right of access to sufficient water. (Bill of Rights, Constitution of South Africa, Section 27 (1) (b) ) The Vision of South Africa to the future is: A country where people have opportunities, opportunities to develop their skills and opportunities to use them productively working and earning an income with which they can at least meet their basic needs. It is a Vision of a country where there are these opportunities, people can live in peace one with another with dignity and security, where because of our wise management, the environment in which we live, work, entertain ourselves is healthy and pleasant and can be maintained like this. The challenge in the twenty-first century is to ensure that society is developed in a way that can successfully operate within the limitations of its resource base. Is to treat the development, use and protection of our water as a common issue in the interest of all, in the spirit of a new patriotism rather than a series of conflicts between different groups. It is in this spirit that the new water law should be be written.	LEGAL ASPECTS OF WATER1st Principle Water Law must be subject to and be consistent with the Constitution on all issues including the determination of public interest and the rights and obligations of all sectors involved public and private in relation to water. While taking knowledge of existing uses, the Water Law should actively promote the values recognized by the Charter of Rights.2nd Principle All the water, no matter where it is in the hydrological cycle, is a common resource for all, the use of which should be subject to national control. All water should have a consistent status in the law wherever it is. (it OCCURS). 3rd Principle There should be no ownership of water but only a right (for environmental and basic human needs) or an authorization for use. Any permission to use the water in terms of the Water Law should not be made in perpetuity. 4th Principle The localization of water resources in relation to the earth should not give itself preferential use rights. The coastal principle does not apply THE HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE 5th. Principle In a relatively arid country as South Africa, we must recognize the unity of the hydrological cycle and the interdependence of its elements, where evaporation, clouds and rain are related to aquifers, rivers, lakes, wetlands and sea, and where the basic hydrological unit is the basin. 6th. Principle The variable, uneven and unpredictable distribution of water in the hydrological cycle should be recognized. PRIORITIES OF WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 7th. Principle The objective of managing the quantity, quality and reliability of water resources of the Nation, is to achieve a long-term optimal social and economic benefit, environmentally sustainable of its use for society. 8th. Principle Should be reserved the water required to ensure that all people have enough access to water. 9th. Principle The quantity, quality and reliability of water required to maintain the ecological functions on which humans depend should be reserved so that human use of water does not individually or cumulatively compromise (cumulatively) long-term sustainability of aquatic ecosystems and partners. 10th. Principle The water required to meet basic human needs referred on the 8th. Principle and the needs of the environment  must be identified as “The Reserve” and should have priority of use by right. Water use for all other purposes should be subject to authorization. 11th.Principle International water resources, specifically shared river systems should be managed in a way that benefits are optimized for all parties in a spirit of mutual cooperation. The allocations agreed for the countries in the lower part of the basin must be respected. APPROACHES TO WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 12th. Principle The National Government is the custodian of the water resources of the Nation, as an indivisible national asset. Guided by its responsibility to promote the public interest, the national government has the ultimate responsibility for and authority over the management of water resources allocation and equitable water use, and transfer of water between basins and international affairs on water. 13th. Principle As custodian of the Nation’s water resources, the Government should ensure that the development, allocation, management and use of these resources is carried out using the criteria of public interest, sustainability, equity and efficiency of use in a way that reflects their obligations to the public interest and the value of water to society while ensuring that basic domestic needs, environmental requirements and international obligations are met. 14th. Principle Water resources should be developed, assigned and managed in a manner  to allow all user sectors have equitable and reliable access to the quantity, quality and safety of water desired. Conservation and other measures to manage demand should be actively promoted as a priority option to achieve these objectives. 15th. Principle The quality and quantity of water are interdependent and should be managed in an integrated way, which shall be consistent with broader approaches to environmental management. 16th. Principle management options of water quality should include the use of economic incentives and penalties to reduce pollution and the possibility of irreversible environmental degradation as a result of pollution should be prevented. 17th. Principle The development of water resources and provisioning activities must be managed in a consistent manner with the broader national environmental management approaches. 18th. Principle As more land uses have a significant impact on the hydrological cycle, the land regulation where it is appropriate, should be used as a tool to manage water resources in an wider integrated framework for the land use administration. 19th. Principle Any authorized use of water should be given promptly and in a form that is clear, safe and predictable with respect to ensuring the availability, extent and duration of use. To this end water may be used and should not be restricted arbitrarily. 20th. Principle The conditions on which an authorization is granted to use water must take into account the investment made by the user in the infrastructure development that allow the water use. 21th. Principle The development and management of water resources should be conducted in a way that limits to an acceptable minimum the danger to life and property caused by natural or human motivated disasters. WATER INSTITUTIONS 22th. Principle The institutional framework for water management should as far as possible be simple and pragmatic and understandable. This should be autonomous and minimize the need for state intervention. Administrative decisions should be appealable. 23th. Principle The responsibility for the development, distribution and management of water resources should be where possible and appropriate delegate basin or regional level so that stakeholders are involved. 24th. Principle The beneficiaries of the water management system should contribute to the costs of establishing and maintaining on an equitable basis. WATER SERVICES 25th. Principle The right of all citizens to have access to basic water services (supply of potable water, and the removal and disposal of sewage and waste water) necessary to enable a healthy environment on the basis of equity and economic sustainability and environment should be supported. 26th. Principle Water services should be be regulated in ways that are consistent with and tend toward goals and the broader framework approach of local government. 27th. Principle Although the provision of water services is an activity different from the development and management, water services must be provided in a consistent way with the goals of the water resources management. 28th. Principle Where water services are provided in a monopoly situation, the individual consumer interest in the general public must be protected and the wider goals of public policy promoted.	The objective of managing the quantity, quality and reliability of water resources of the nation is to achieve optimum  economic and social benefit in the long term, environmentally sustainable of its uses to society.	The status of water resources of the nation as an indivisible national asset will be confirmed and formalized. The Government will act as the guardian of the water resources of the nation and its powers in this regard will be exercised as a public custodian (public trust). All waters in the hydrological cycle whether surface, underground or surface channels, falling, flowing or infiltrate between these systems will be treated as part of the common resource and to the degree required to achieve the broad objectives of the water management will be subject to common approaches. Only the water required to meet basic human needs and maintain environmental sustainability will be guaranteed as a right. This will be known as Reserve. In shared river basins, the Government shall be empowered giving priority over other uses and ensuring that legitimate requirements of neighboring countries can be achieved. All other uses of water will be recognized only if they are beneficial to the public interest. These other water uses will be subjected to an allocation system that promotes optimal use for achieving economic and social, equitable and sustainable development. The new allocation system would take into account the investments made by users on the water infrastructure. The new allocation system will be implemented in phases, beginning in the areas of water management that are currently under pressure. This allocation system will use water pricing, temporary assignments and other administrative mechanisms to achieve balance between supply and demand in a way that is beneficial to the public interest. The coastal allocation system, in which the right to use water is tied to the ownership of land that lies on the banks of rivers shall be effectively abolished. Transitional arrangements may eventually in a safe and orderly way, efficient and gradually change the assignments of use of water  when necessary. Allocations for water use will no longer be permanent, but will be given for a reasonable period, and a provision be issued to allow the transfer or sale of these rights among users, with Ministerial consent. To promote efficient water use, policy will be to charge users by the total financial costs of providing access to water, including infrastructure development and management activities in the upper basin. This will be done on an equitable basis and according to a realistic and reasonable program which has already been started. All water use, that occurs in any phase / time of the hydrological cycle will be subject to a fee for managing the high basin which cover the costs that are incurred. All water use, that occurs in any phase / time of the hydrological cycle, will be subjected to charge by resource conservation, where there are competitive beneficial uses for such use and / or such use significantly affect other users. Promote equitable access to water for disadvantaged groups, for productive purposes such as agriculture, some or all of these charges should not be applied for a specified period that is necessary for them to be able to start using the resource. Promote equitable access to water for basic human needs, also will be issued a provision for some or all of those not applied charges. All major sectors of water  should develop a policy of use, conservation and protection of water, and regulations will be introduced to ensure compliance with the policy in key areas. In the long term, since water does not recognize political boundaries whether national or international, management will be conducted in areas of regional management or watershed (which coincide with watershed natural catchment, watershed groups, sub-basins or areas with provision systems interconnected with common socioeconomic interests) recognizing that the conflicting interests intensify the need for management and national supervision and that the subsidiarity policy does not interfere with the need for a national and international perspective on water use. A provision for the establishment phased agencies catchment management, subject to a national authority shall be issued, to assume the management of water resources in these areas of water management. A provision will be issued that allows that the development functions and operation of the national water infrastructure that links catchment basins and regional systems are transferred to a public entity (utility)  established for this purpose.
Argentina Sixth Draft, August 12, 2002 Last Revision	It seeks to establish the vision stating “what is water for us“, and point the way to use it as an “engine of sustainable development“.Guidelines:Water and its cycle Preservation of water sources. The Water we use has a single origin. Water and society  State responsibilities that cannot be delegated. Equitable water use. Water as a risk factor. Decentralized and participatory management. Water and Environment Water and management Integrated Water Resource Management. Multipurpose water and priorities. Unit of planning and management. Inter-jurisdictional waters. Externalities for the use or water management. Non-structural measures. Water and Institutions Single water management. Basin organizations. User organizations. Roles of the National Government. Water management with neighboring countries. Water and law Water is a public good. Assignment of rights for water use. Reserve of water rights by the state. The right to information. Water and economy Water as the engine of sustainable development. The economic value of water. Payment for the use and disposal of water. Collection and reinvestment in the water sector. Infrastructure financing. State subsidies.	The use of water must be made to harmonize the “social”, “economic” and “environmental” values that our society ascribes to water.		Tools for Efficient Management: Awareness at all levels. Legal-administrative update. Systematic monitoring. Integrated water information system. Optimization of water systems. Environmental management instruments. Capacity building. Network of water extension and communication.

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Programa Mundial de Evaluación de los Recursos hídricos, 2001 “La Seguridad del Agua: Evaluación Preliminar de los Avances en Materia de Políticas desde Río”, Preparado por el Programa Mundial de Evaluación de los Recursos hídricos en calidad de contribución a la Conferencia Internacional sobre el Agua Dulce (Bonn, Diciembre de 2001) y al Informe Mundial sobre el Desarrollo de los Recursos hídricos.

Republica de Chile, “Política Nacional de Recursos Hídricos”; Ministerio de Obras Publicas, Dirección General de Aguas, Santiago 1999

Scheumann, W y Klaphake, 2001 “Challenging issues for Agenda RIO + 10”, Deutsches Institut Fur Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Bonn

UNESCO, 2002 “Milestones 1972 – 2003. Stockholm to Kyoto”, UNESCO Water Portal

United Nations, 2000 “United Nations Millennium Declaration”, Resolution adopted by the General Assembly, Fifty – fifth session, Agenda item 60 (b), A/ RES/ 55/2, 18 September 2000

Wester & Warner, 2001, “River Basin Management Reconsidered”, Book Chapter accepted for publication in Anthony Turton (ed.) Hydropolitics in the Developing World: A Southern African Perspective. AWIRU, Pretoria, South Africa Pre-Publication Draft for Review

World Bank, 1993 “Water resources Management”, The World Bank, Washington, D.C. Third Printing August 1995

Referencias a sitios Web

CEPAL, http://www.wwc.org/
Consejo Mundial del Agua, http://www.wwc.org/
Global Water Partnership, www.gwp.org
Foro mundial del Agua; http://www.worldwaterforum.net/.
Blue Planet Project, http://www.canadians.org/blueplanet.html
Banco Mundial, http://www.wwc.org/
Banco Inter. Americano de Desarrollo, http://www.iadb.org/

ANNEXES

Annex 1: The Marrakech Declaration (1997)

MARRAKECH DECLARATION

1997 Saturday, March 22

We, the participants of the First World Water Forum, held on the occasion of World Water Day in Marrakesh on March 21-22 1997, acknowledge the generous support of His Majesty King Hassan II for his visionary patronage of this historic meeting. Motivated by his leadership and dedication to water issues, we are further inspired by the ideas contained in his far-seeing Message to this First World Water Forum.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco for organizing this Forum, and thank its people and this great city of Marrakesh for their extraordinary hospitality.

We recognize and note the urgent need for a better understanding of all the complex issues- quantitative and qualitative, political and economic legal and institutional, social and financial, educational and environmental- that must go into shaping a water policy for the next millennium.

The Forum calls on governments, international organizations, NGO’s and the peoples of the World to work together in a renewed partnership to put into practice the Mar del Plata and Dublin Principles and Chapter 18 of the Rio Summit to initiate a « Blue Revolution» to ensure sustainability of the Earth’s water resources.

In particular the Forum recommends action to recognize the basic human needs to have access to clean water and sanitation, to establish an effective mechanism for management of shared waters, to support and preserve ecosystems, to encourage the efficient use of water, to address gender equity issues in water use and to encourage partnership between the members of Civil Society and Governments.

In response to demonstrated needs and recommended actions, we hereby mandate the World Water Council to launch a 3-year initiative of study, consultation and analysis that will lead to a global Vision for Water, Life and the Environment in the next century. Building on past international efforts and relying on the collective wisdom and resources of the international water community, the process leading to a Vision will include research, consultations, workshops, print and electronic publications and many other means for absorbing, synthesizing and disseminating knowledge. At the conclusion of this process, fully aware of the complexities and pitfalls along the way, the Vision wi11 offer a policy-re1evant conclusions and recommendations for action to be taken by the world’s leaders to meet the needs of future generations.

Resolution

• We the participants in the First World Water Forum, held in Marrakesh on March 21 and 22 1997, take note of and approve the Declaration of Marrakesh issued this World Water Day of 1997. We hereby urge our respective governments and organizations to adopt the language and the principles of the Declaration of Marrakesh as official policy.
• We also hereby request the Government of Morocco to table the Declaration of Marrakesh on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly to be held in June 1997.

Annex 2: Panama Declaration on Water

First Children and Water Festival

March 22 and 23, 1999

Panamá

We, the Children of all countries of America, gathered in the Clubhouse of the “Parque Recreativo y Cultural Omar” in the city of Panama for the First Children and Water Festival, consider that:

Water is the most important resource for life on our planet.

Water is essential for everybody and everything: for agriculture, for the generation of electricity, recreation, human consumption, etc.

Without water, many projects would not function, for example, it is the vital source for the management of the Panama Canal.

Water is life, but at the same time it can be the cause of diseases and death.

We, human beings are the main culprits of contamination of water and the most affected by it.

If we continue to use water resources in an inadequate and excessive manner, we run the risk of leaving our future generations without enough water quantity and quality to subsist.

In consideration of the former points, we children commit ourselves to:

First: Realize for the people informative campaigns related to water management, conservation, and use of this natural resource.

Second: Pay attention during the activities that we carry our with water, maintaining positive thoughts and avoiding its contamination.

Third: Develop in all our countries activities to clean-up our rivers, lakes, and beaches.

Four: Ask authorities and companies to facilitate the required spaces to diffuse programs for hildren, promoting the conservation of water.

Fifth: Ask our countries’ authorities to legislate and enforce laws for the conservation of water.

Sixth: Ask our governors to execute programs for the adequate treatment of residual waters.

Seventh: Ask authorities for tighter control on the passage of ships with radioactive cargo and toxic substances that may alter the environment.

Eight: Promote children’s participation in reforestation projects in hydrographic basins.

Ninth: Work together as family and community to achieve the commitments proposed in this Declaration.

Given in the city of Panama on March 23, 1999.

Annex 3: The Hague Declaration (2000)

Ministerial Declaration of The Hague on Water Security in the 21st Century

1. Water is vital for the life and health of people and ecosystems and a basic requirement for the development of countries, but around the world women, men and children lack access to adequate and safe water to meet their most basic needs. Water resources, and the related ecosystems that provide and sustain them, are under threat from pollution, unsustainable use, land-use changes, climate change and many other forces. The link between these threats and poverty is clear, for it is the poor who are hit first and hardest. This leads to one simple conclusion: business as usual is not an option. There is, of course, a huge diversity of needs and situations around the globe, but together we have one common goal: to provide water security in the 21st Century. This means ensuring that freshwater, coastal and related ecosystems are protected and improved; that sustainable development and political stability are promoted, that every person has access to enough safe water at an affordable cost to lead a healthy and productive life and that the vulnerable are protected from the risks of water-related hazards.
2. These threats are not new. Nor are attempts to address them. Discussions and actions started in Mar del Plata in 1977, continued through Dublin and were consolidated into Chapter 18 of Agenda 21 in Rio in 1992. They were reaffirmed in Paris 1998, CSD-6 and in the Second World Water Forum and Ministerial Conference. The process will continue in the meeting in Bonn in 2002 (“Dublin+10”), through the 10-year review of implementation of Agenda 21, and beyond. These and other international meetings have produced a number of agreements and principles that are the basis upon which this and future statements should be built. The goal of providing water security in the 21st Century is reflected in the unprecedented process of broad participation and discussion by experts, stakeholders and government officials in many regions of the world. This process has profited from the important contributions of the World Water Council, who launched the World Water Vision process at the First World Water Forum in Marrakech, from the formation of the World Commission on Water in the 21st Century and from the development of the Framework for Action by the Global Water Partnership.

The Main Challenges

3. To achieve water security, we face the following main challenges:

Meeting basic needs: to recognise that access to safe and sufficient water and sanitation are basic human needs and are essential to health and well-being, and to empower people, especially women, through a participatory process of water management.

Securing the food supply: to enhance food security, particularly of the poor and vulnerable, through the more efficient mobilisation and use, and the more equitable allocation of water for food production.

Protecting ecosystems: to ensure the integrity of ecosystems through sustainable water resources management.

Sharing water resources: to promote peaceful co-operation and develop synergies between different uses of water at all levels, whenever possible, within and, in the case of boundary and trans-boundary water resources, between states concerned, through sustainable river basin management or other appropriate approaches.

Managing risks: to provide security from floods, droughts, pollution and other water-related hazards.

Valuing water: to manage water in a way that reflects its economic, social, environmental and cultural values for all its uses, and to move towards pricing water services to reflect the cost of their provision. This approach should take account of the need for equity and the basic needs of the poor and the vulnerable.

Governing water wisely: to ensure good governance, so that the involvement of the public and the interests of all stakeholders are included in the management of water resources.

Meeting the Challenges

4. We, the Ministers and Heads of Delegation, recognise that our gathering and this Declaration are part of a wider process, and are linked to a wide range of initiatives at all levels. We acknowledge the pivotal role that governments play in realising actions to meet the challenges. We recognise the need for institutional, technological and financial innovations in order to move beyond “business as usual” and we resolve to rise to meet these challenges.
5. The actions advocated here are based on integrated water resources management, that includes the planning and management of water resources, both conventional and non-conventional, and land. This takes account of social, economic and environmental factors and integrates surface water, groundwater and the ecosystems through which they flow. It recognises the importance of water quality issues. In this, special attention should be paid to the poor, to the role, skills and needs of women and to vulnerable areas such as small island states, landlocked countries and desertified areas.
6. Integrated water resources management depends on collaboration and partnerships at all levels, from individual citizens to international organisations, based on a political commitment to, and wider societal awareness of, the need for water security and the sustainable management of water resources. To achieve integrated water resources management, there is a need for coherent national and, where appropriate, regional and international policies to overcome fragmentation, and for transparent and accountable institutions at all levels.
7. We will further advance the process of collaboration in order to turn agreed principles into action, based on partnerships and synergies among the government, citizens and other stakeholders. To this end:
   1. We will establish targets and strategies, as appropriate, to meet the challenges of achieving water security. As part of this effort, we support the development of indicators of progress at the national and sub-national level. In carrying this forward, we will take account of the valuable work done for the Second World Water Forum.
   2. We will continue to support the UN system to re-assess periodically the state of freshwater resources and related ecosystems, to assist countries, where appropriate, to develop systems to measure progress towards the realisation of targets and to report in the biennial World Water Development Report as part of the overall monitoring of Agenda 21.
   3. We will work together with other stakeholders to develop a stronger water culture through greater awareness and commitment. We will identify best practices, based on enhanced research and knowledge generation capacities, knowledge dissemination through education and other channels and knowledge sharing between individuals, institutions and societies at all appropriate levels. This will include co-ordination at regional and other levels, as appropriate, to promote arrangements for coping with water-related disasters and for sharing experiences in water sector reform. It will also include international co-operation in technology transfers to, and capacity building in, developing countries.
   4. We will work together with stakeholders to increase the effectiveness of pollution control strategies based on polluter pays principles and to consider appropriate rules and procedures in the fields of liability and compensation for damage resulting from activities dangerous to water resources.
   5. Against the background of the preparatory work for and discussions in The Hague, we will work within multilateral institutions, particularly the UN system, International Financial Institutions and bodies established by Inter-Governmental Treaties, to strengthen water-related policies and programmes that enhance water security, and to assist countries, as appropriate, to address the major challenges identified in this Declaration.
   6. We call upon the Secretary General of the United Nations to further strengthen the co-ordination and coherence of activities on water issues within the UN system. We will adopt consistent positions in the respective governing bodies to enhance coherence in these activities.
   7. We call upon the Council of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) to expand activities that are within the mandate of the GEF in relation to freshwater resources by catalysing investments in national water management issues that have a beneficial impact on international waters.
   8. We welcome the contribution of the World Water Council in relation to the Vision and of the Global Water Partnership with respect to the development of the Framework for Action. We welcome follow-up actions by all relevant actors in an open, participatory and transparent manner that draws upon all major groups in society.
   9. I. We note the statements (attached to this declaration) made by the representatives of the major groups and welcome them as a clear reflection of their readiness to work with us towards a secure water future for all.
8. Recognising that the actions referred to in paragraph 7, including progress on targets and strategies, are important and ambitious, we will review our progress periodically at appropriate fora, including the meeting in Bonn in 2002 and the 10-year review of the implementation of Agenda 21.
9. The Ministerial Conference acknowledges with appreciation that a range of issues were discussed during the Second World Water Forum, and that the Chair of the Forum presented these issues to the Ministerial Conference. The importance of these issues is unquestionable; we will raise them for further consideration in relevant fora in the future and will consider their implications for our individual national situations.
10. The challenges are formidable, but so are the opportunities. There are many experiences around the world that can be built on. What is needed is for us all to work together, to develop collaboration and partnerships, to build a secure and sustainable water future. We will, individually and acting together, strive to achieve this and stimulate and facilitate the contributions of society as a whole. To this end, we note with appreciation that pledges were made at The Hague (attached to our declaration). This Declaration reflects the determination of our governments and represents a critical step in the process of providing water security for all.
11. We, the Ministers and Heads of Delegation, thank the government and people of The Netherlands for their vision and for their hospitality in hosting this conference and forum.

Agreed to on Wednesday 22 March, 2000,

In The Hague, The Netherlands.

Annex 4: Bonn Ministerial Declaration (2001)

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Adopted by the ministers meeting in the ministerial session of the International Conference on Freshwater Bonn, December 4, 2001

We, the Ministers with responsibility for water affairs, environment and development in 46 countries of the world, have gathered in Bonn to assess the progress made in the implementation of the 21 Agenda and consider what measures needed to increase security of water supply and achieving the sustainable management of water resources.

We consider that the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held in August 2002 in Johannesburg, must demonstrate a renewed commitment to sustainable development and the political will to act.

We believe that equitable and sustainable use and protection of freshwater resources of the world are a key challenge for governments on the road to a safer, more peaceful, equitable and prosperous world. Fighting poverty is the main challenge in efforts to achieve equitable and sustainable development, and water plays a vital role in relation to human health, livelihoods, economic growth and the maintenance of ecosystems. Among the results of the World Summit on Sustainable Development must include decisive actions in relation to water supply.

-2-

We express our deep concern because at the beginning of the XXI century 1.200 million people live in poverty and without access to potable water and almost 2,500 billion lack adequate sanitation. Have enough potable water and adequate sanitation is a basic human need. The global fight to poverty alleviation should provide conditions for healthy and decent life to those who can not meet that basic need.

We confirm our commitment to achieve the international development goals agreed by the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, in particular the one of halving, by 2015, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty, and the proportion of hunger people and not have access to safe water or can not afford it. We also confirm our determination to stop the unsustainable exploitation of water resources by developing strategies for water management at regional, national and local levels.

Water is a necessity in every aspect of life. For development to be sustainable we must take into account the social, environmental and economic dimensions of water and its multiple uses. Therefore, water management requires an integrated approach.

Emphasize that ten years after the UN Conference on Environment and Development and the Dublin Conference, and several years after the world conference on water held in Paris and The Hague, is still needed a greater commitment to continued need give effect to commonly agreed principles for the water resources management. The pressure on scarce freshwater resources and aquatic systems in the world has increased. Among the causes of this include water pollution and unsustainable patterns of consumption. We must improve the efficiency of water use.

We agree that governments, the international community, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations and all other stakeholders have to base their actions on the following.

(Governance)

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The primary responsibility for ensuring sustainable and equitable water resources management rests with governments.

Each country should establish appropriate arrangements for the governance of water affairs at all levels and, when necessary, accelerate reforms in the water sector.

We urge the private sector to join the government and civil society to contribute to provide to underserved populations services of water supply and sanitation and to strengthen the capacity of investment and management. The provision of private services should not should involve the private ownership of water. Service providers should be subjected to effective regulation and supervision. We encourage the riparian countries to cooperate in matters relating to international watercourses.

(Financing deficit )

There is a huge shortfall in funding for investment in infrastructure, maintenance, training and strengthening capacity, research and data generation in relation to water. Is urgent to close this gap by making more effective use of existing resources and the provision of additional funding resources from all sources:

The budgets of public investment, capital markets, Community financing, and charges to users and polluters, as well as through increased international financing development from public and private sources, particularly for developing countries, consistent with the acute needs that occur in the water supply sector.

The lack of financial resources for investment in infrastructure, operations and maintenance in relation to water. is particularly affecting the poor in the least developed countries and of other countries with sectors of the population living in extreme poverty.

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Among the decisive steps to tackle the financial deficit is included alleviating poverty and improving opportunities for trade and income generation for developing countries.

Resources are also needed to help developing countries mitigate the effects of natural disasters and adapt to the consequences of climate change.

To give good results programs for water use must be based on a clear understanding of the negative effects of desertification in people living in the affected areas.

(Role of the international community)

We request to the international community to strengthen its commitment and efforts to help developing countries achieve sustainable water management and ensure equitable distribution of benefits derived from water resources.

We request the Secretary General of the United Nations to strengthen coordination and coherence of the activities of the UN system on water issues in an inclusive approach.

We recall the agreed goal at the United Nations for official assistance fro the development of the 0.7% of GDP. Developed countries that have not yet reached this goal should do everything possible to achieve it.

(Capacity building and technology transfer)

We recognize that strengthening capacity and innovative technologies, including the improvement of indigenous technologies are needed to efficiently use water, fight pollution and exploit new sources of water supply and alternatives in water-scarce countries. We will will support capacity building programms and information exchange to ensure the efficient use of human, financial and technnical resources. Facilitate the transfer of technology initiatives for the countries with lower technological development to acquire the ability to exploit water resources with the knowledge and the most suitable equipment.

We need improved and coherent assessments of the status and trends of water resources worldwide.

(Gender)

The water resources management should be based on a participatory approach. Men and women should participate equally in managing the sustainable use of water resources and the distribution of benefits. Should be strengthened the role of women in areas related to water, and increase their participation.

(Next Steps)

We urge the World Summit on Sustainable Development to take into account the results of the International Conference on Freshwater.

We express the hope that the International Year of Freshwater in 2003 and the Third World Water Forum to be held in Japan, represent a good opportunity to further discuss the roles and actions of all players in the international society in the matters related to the sustainable use of freshwater.

We thank the Government of Germany for their hospitality and their determination to promote a dynamic action on water issues.

Annex 5: Integrated Water Resources Management (BID)

 

Annex 6: Initiative for signing a treaty to share and protect water in its quality of an international natural heritage

DECLARE THE FOLLOWING TRUTHS AS UNIVERSALS AND INDIVISIBLE:

That the intrinsic value of freshwater on Earth prevails over its utility and commercial value and therefore should be respected and protected by all political, commercial and social entities;

That freshwater belongs to the earth and the species living in it and therefore should not be treated as a private commodity to be bought, sold exchanged for profit;

The freshwater on Earth is legacy of all, a public treasure and a fundamental human right, and therefore is a creditor of a collective responsibility and,

Realising that the limited supply of freshwater in the world is being polluted, diverted and depleted at a rate so rampant that millions of people and species are stripped of the water needed to live, and

Understanding that the world’s governments have failed to protect these precious resources, the nations in the world declare that freshwater on Earth belongs to the international natural heritage and should be protected and nurtured by all peoples, communities and governments at all levels and declare that we should not allow freshwater is privatized, reified, traded or exported for commercial purposes and should be exempt from this same time of any existing or future international free trade agreement and bilateral.

The signatories to this treaty – which consist of nation states and indigenous peoples – further agree to administer the freshwater on Earth as if it were a treasure whose supervision have been entrusted. Signatories recognize the sovereignty of each nation and ancestral homeland in what concerns the right and responsibility to monitor water resources within their borders and determine how to manage, and share. Governments around the world must take urgent action to declare that the waters in their territories are a public good and implement a rigorous regulatory structure to protect these resources. However, as the freshwater on Earth is an international natural heritage can not be sold for profit by any institution, government or person or entity.

Blue Planet Project

Annex 7: The Declaration of Porto Alegre (2002)

The Porto Alegre water declaration

In the spirit of Cochabamba (Bolivia), Narmada (India), Ghana and other fights

We are a diverse group of organizations from different countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America involved in different sectors of society participation and of citizens. We are gathered in Porto Alegre from 1st to February 5th in the framework of the World Social Forum 2002. We are united by the following principles, beliefs and common values:

1. That freshwater on Earth belongs to all living species and should not be treated as a product, should not be bought, sold or traded to produce a profit like an economic good. Local human communities have the primary responsibility to ensure that water is treated as a common heritage.
2. This water is a fundamental human right and a right for all living species. It must be protected by public authorities and institutions, by national and international law. Man’s right to dispose of sufficient quantity and quality for the life (40-50 liters per day per person for domestic use) is a fair right, inalienable individual and collective right that can not be subjected to any obligation of social nature (gender, age, income), political, religious or financial. The cost to satisfy that right for all must to be financed by the community.
3. Water is a natural resource that must be used in a sustainable way for the common good of our societies and the natural environment. Today, the building policies of large dams should be thoroughly revised in accordance with the recommendations of the International Commission of the United Nations concerning large dams.
4. Water is essential for the safety of our communities and societies. For this reason, its property, order, delivery belongs to the public domain.
5. Legally and constitutionally public sector is designated and accredited to represent the public interest. You can not have confidence in the private sector to defend the public interest.
6. Citizens should be at the center of the decision process in the constitution of public policies that fundamentally affect their lives, such as water control at the local, international and global level.
7. The water management policies must ensure social equity and equality of mankind (male / female), public health and equity with respect to the environment.
8. Conversely of the World Bank, the World Water Council and the World Water Association do not consider that the French model of privatization, based on long-term concession contracts, is a good solution to control one equitable management, sustainable and democratic of water in the public interest. United by principles, beliefs and values above indicated, we have the objective of train and promote “the global coalition of citizen organizations against privatization and commodification of the water”.

We plan to invite other organizations to be also founders members of the coalition and then proceed to the formal creation of the coalition on next April or May.

The main goal of the coalition is to reinforce the co-operation of the founding members by all appropriate means, particularly in the domains for: a) information, communication and research, b) coordination of the own activities of each member with the objective to sustain them, c) common action.

With regard to the a point, the Council of Canadians has offered to open a page on their website about the coalition until another coalition website is created.

With regard to point b, has been decided to give the common slogan for local actions of member organizations on the occasion of World Water Day ( March 22, 2002). The proposed slogan is: Say no to the privatization of water. Privatized water services must return to the public domain.

With regard to point c, the intention is to promote joint actions:

• in the third Earth Summit in Johannesburg, August 26 to September 2, 2002.
• in the Water Forum of the Third World in Kyoto, March 2003.
• and against current policies decided by the WTO, the Alena ( free trade agreement of the Americas), EU and the ISO, in favor of liberalization and deregulation of water services and the commodification of water.

Annex 8: The Declaration of Achocalla (La Paz, 2002)

ACHOCALLA STATEMENT REGARDING THE WATER

Representatives from 4 countries, from Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru, gathered between 22 and 25 August 2002, in the town of Achocalla, La Paz, Bolivia, in the “Andean Regional Meeting” of the World Mountain poblations Association, have agreed on August 24, 2002, to issued the following statement:

1. Andean mountain populations and Andean indigenous peoples express and reaffirm our inherent right to our territories, including all components of nature that coexist in these, the natural resources of soil and subsoil as well as water, trees, vegetation, minerals and all living beings of which we are part.
2. Our rights are based on our harmonious coexistence with Mother Earth and collective ownership based on our own legal and social system since immemorial times.
3. As mountain people we sustain that water is life itself, is the blood of the earth, is the most precious gift that nature has given to us. However, today she is in a great threat, is being polluted, diminished and given to the interests of private companies who only seek profit.
4. As residents of mountains strictly reject the attempt to privatize or commodify water, we also reject the policies of aggressive extraction and pollutant driven by private sectors.
5. Any grant, endowment or other form of water use granted by authorities of the Andean governments that do not have the participation, authorization and consent of indigenous peoples and mountain populations, should be considered a crime of theft and should be penalized the full extent of the law.
6. The United Nations has recognized that indigenous peoples have the inalienable right to self-determination, including the right to maintain, develop and protect their culture, and the water is a central point of our worldview and protection of our rights.
7. We View with great alarm that the Andean governments do not respect our rights and facilitate a permanent policy of looting that broke the harmony of man and nature permanently usurping the ability of mountain people to manage their own resources in the fragile Andean ecosystems.
8. As mountain villages we require parliaments and governments of the Andean countries, generating government policies respecting water management, taking into account the vision, diversity and culture of our people, on the other hand it has to be defined and concrete policies and mechanisms feasibles for the protection and control of water pollution.
9. In the same way Andean governments must recognize our authorities and forms of management and, above all, recognize our rights to our land and water.
10. The governments of the Andes and companies of the world should respect our view of the water, encouraging our community management for the benefit of the environment and harmony with nature.
11. Moreover, we have noted with great concern as the ice of our mountains are declining alarmingly in recent years, we know that the main cause of this phenomenon is global warming caused by the indiscriminate gas emission of developed countries, only one of which emits more than 30% of the world total, we are also aware that this country refuses to join international efforts to reduce gases that cause this threat to humanity, therefore: we demand the government of the United States of North America to immediately adhere to the international community in its political control of global warming.
12. We also propose that the World Mountain Poblations Association, impinges and manage for policies and actions of international bodies respect the different views and ways of managing our territories.
13. We are committed to maintaining and improving the quality and purity of water as a common good of humanity.
14. Finally, we demand from the Andean poblations, the necessary control in compliance with the above principles and the persistent persuasiveness to ensure the initiatives and instances reached at this meeting to be effective tools for peace and harmony in the region. Achocalla, August 24, 2002

Achocalla, August 24, 2002

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^[1] In October 2000, the Millennium Assembly – United Nations establishes as a goal in the Millennium Declaration that must: “… halve by 2015 the proportion of people living in extreme poverty and decrease in half people suffering from hunger and are unable to achieve or reach safe potable water “.

^[2] Membership: 313 members including public and private sectors, NGOs, UN agencies, a single network representing more than 40 countries. President: Dr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Egypt Offices: Marseilles, France plus Thematic Regional Offices and Centers.

^[3] Long Term Vision for Water, Life and the Environment: A Proposed Framework. (Visión de Largo Plazo para Agua, Vida y Medio Ambiente: Una Propuesta de Marco) Consejo Mundial del Agua. Marzo, 1998.

^[4] See the full text of the Declaration in Annex 3.

^[5] Ricardo Petrella is part of the so-called Group of Lisbon, which is a group of distinguished scholars from around the world to discuss globalization, seeking a new kind of economic system and have identified new forms of social contract. View R Petrella. The Water Manifesto (London: Zed Books, 2001).

^[6] The forum was sponsored and supported by various groups in Canada and the world, as the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Public Services International, International Rivers Network, Crace, Globalization Challenge Initiative, Vancouver City Credit Union, and the Commission for a Global Water Contract.

^[7] See the text in Annex 6.

^[8] View full text in Annex 7.

^[9] The full text of the Declaration of Achocalla is in Annex 8.

^[10] The total investment of the World Bank on water reaches the sum of 23 billion, about 12% of total IBRD portfolio and IDA.

^[11] The most recent of these commands is the one from 1994, called Eight Replenishment mandates.

^[12] Since 1961 the Bank has invested over a billion dollars per year in water-related projects, and this investment is expected to increase in the following years. The total amount of funding of water-related projects between 1961 and 1995 sum 32,270 million (mainly for hydropower and basic sanitation), which means 25 percent of the total loans of the Bank.