Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM): Maximise Usage and Minimise Wastage of Water Resources

Abstract

Following the implementation of GWP (Global Water Partnership) in 1996 by UN the countries around the world began to implement the principles of IWRM to minimize water waste and maximize its beneficial use. The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperative in Bangladesh also adapted the idea and created IWRM unit in 2003 through WARPO, CEGIC and IWM. Bangladesh is going through serious shortages of fresh water resources. Major reasons are: diversion of natural river flow in the upstream area; rapid siltation on river beds which have seriously reduced water holding capacity causing regular floods destroying crops, making people homeless and even loosing many lives, destroying economic progress; and change of climate pattern, seawater encroachment due to sea level rise destroying fresh water resources and cropping lands due to climate change impact and greenhouse gas emission. To overcome these issues the country must adapt the following steps: implementation of IWRM practices to its maximum capacity. IWRM will include surface water, groundwater, waste water and sewage water resources to design its maximum utilization. In addition WSUD techniques; urgent dredging of rivers; positive negotiation with the neighbors for surface water sharing and storing excess surface water during monsoon at series of reservoirs built in upstream locations and use them during dry season. The biggest task of Bangladesh IWRM is to educate all stake holders; establish proper coordination among all water management sectors and train up end users to transform them as guardian angels of water conservation.