Water Management in Developing Countries: Policy and Priorities for EU Development Cooperation

Abstract

"A growing population pressure on the finite water resources, as well as changes in consumption and production patterns, and trade policies due to development, urbanisation and industrialisation, are resulting in a rapidly increasing demand for water and in upstream-downstream conflicts of interest. The challenges include to meet basic water needs for human being, for the living as well as for coming generations, and for the environment, and to secure enough water of acceptable quality for agriculture, industry, energy etc. without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems, including such as downstream coastal areas and adjacent marine ecosystems. An integrated water resources management and compromise building is required to balance water uses to available resources and to land use and ecological services."