Sustainable development of water resources in Asia and the Pacific: An overview

ST/ESCAP/1784
1997

Publications

Fresh water is a renewable but finite resource. The scale of its development and use therefore must not exceed certain limits if ecological balance is to be maintained. These limits are generally determined by the rates of recovery, that is, both the regenerative rate of the hydrological cycle as well as the assimilative capacities of receiving water bodies.

In almost all countries in Asia and the Pacific there have been growing environmental problems due to unsustainable use and development of water resources. Pollution of fresh water has also become a major environmental problem. Asian rivers are badly polluted and renewable freshwater resources are dwindling as a result. Besides, overuse of groundwater is adversely affecting the availability of safe drinking water in Pacific countries.

Growing scarcity and misuse of fresh water pose a serious threat to sustained socio-economic development in countries of the ESCAP region. At the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held at Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, a blueprint for action for global sustainable development into the twenty-first century called Agenda 21 was adopted. According to Article 18.2 of this Agenda, "Water is needed in all aspects of life. The general objective is to make certain that adequate supplies of water of good quality are maintained for the entire population of this planet, while preserving the hydrological, biological and chemical functions of ecosystems, adapting human activities within the capacity limits of nature and combating vectors of water-related diseases". Article 18.6 of the Agenda also said, "The holistic management of fresh water as finite and vulnerable resource, and the integration of sectoral water plans and programmes within the framework of national economic and social policy, are of paramount importance for action in the 1990s and beyond".

Recognizing the importance of sustainable development of water resources for the sustained socio-economic growth of countries in the region, the ESCAP secretariat has undertaken a project on the establishment of guidelines on water and sustainable development with the funding assistance from the Government of the Netherlands. Under this project an Ad Hoc Expert Group Meeting on Sustainable Development of Water Resources was held in Bangkok from 10 to 12 July 1996 to assess the status of sustainable development of water resources in countries of the region as well as to discuss and agree on the contents of the guidelines on water and sustainable development. Subsequently, the draft guidelines were prepared by the ESCAP secretariat with the assistance of a consultant. These were reviewed and adopted at a Seminar on the Establishment of Guidelines on Water and Sustainable Development held in Bangkok from 9 to 13 December 1996.

This publication reviews the situation of water resources development and use in the region based on the situation in individual countries as presented and discussed by country experts at the above two meetings. It should be found useful for both decision makers and professionals in the field of water development and management in drawing on the experience of some countries which are leaders in certain aspects of water development and management.