Integrated Water Management

Introduction

Water management that attempts to balance competing uses is a common factor in many modern water resource systems. Sustainable water systems are those designed to meet present and future water demands, while maintaining a range of hydrologic variation necessary to preserve the ecological and environmental integrity of the basin (Loucks 1997). The previous definition contains several uncertainties. What is the current and future water availability? This estimation is undetermined given the alteration of nature by humans, land use change, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. What are society’s water needs now and in the future? It is challenging to define current water needs and anticipate the values that future generations will impose on water and natural resources.