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CHAPTER 3. POLICY, INSTITUTIONAL, AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

3.1. Introduction

The supply of clean water in many countries of all continents is experiencing collectively accelerated rates of degradation, such as eutrophication and an increase in the presence and concentrations of toxic substances. Concerns have been raised, related to the costs of recovery of freshwater quality, maintenance of preserved regions with pristine water, and the development of adequate strategies to stop further losses and reduce freshwater degradation.

Eutrophication and toxicity are significant and important qualitative and quantitative impacts on fresh water. With the decreasing quality of surface and ground water, several strategies were developed, first to acquire more water of better quality (mainly by transporting water from preserved watersheds) and later, in the last 30 years of the 20th century, to manage and improve the existing water supply. This management action however was often a response to an acute critical situation resulting in delays, partial solutions, and increasing treatment costs. This was aggravated with the effect on human health. The demand for good quality freshwater, was thus solved only partially and locally.

As a result of the limited effect of management practices in water resources, in the last 15 years new approaches were researched and implemented, particularly those that integrate scientific knowledge with policies and programs at all levels of the decision-making process. A long-term and comprehensive plan for Water Resources Management has to be integrated at national, regional, and local levels in such a way that planning, institutional organization, policy for the use of resources and construction of data bases at different scales, are interactive.

In this chapter, the policy, institutional, and regulatory frameworks will be discussed in the light of new strategies that consider integrated, sustainable development of water resources as a basis for meeting human needs. The human and financial resources that are necessary to implement these strategies are also presented.

Table of Contents

• Brochure
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• International Year of Forests
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• World Environment Day
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• UNEP Campaign
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