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{{Full citations needed|date=December 2020}}Water resource policy, sometimes called water resource management or water management, encompasses the policy-making processes and legislation that affect the collection, preparation, use, disposal, and protection of water resources.Tripp, James T. B. "Tensions and Conflicts in Federal Pollution Control and Water Resource Policy." Harvard Journal on Legislation, vol. 14, no. 2, February 1977, p. 225–280. via HeinOnline. The long-term viability of water supply systems poses a significant challenge as a result of water resource depletion, climate change, and population expansion.JOURNAL, Momeni, Marzieh, Behzadian, Kourosh, Yousefi, Hossein, Zahedi, Sina, 2021-09-01, A Scenario-Based Management of Water Resources and Supply Systems Using a Combined System Dynamics and Compromise Programming Approach,weblink Water Resources Management, en, 35, 12, 4233–4250, 10.1007/s11269-021-02942-z, 1573-1650, Water is a necessity for all forms of life as well as industries on which humans are reliant, like technology development and agriculture.JOURNAL, Williams, Eric D, 2004-08-02, Environmental impacts of microchip manufacture,weblink Thin Solid Films, Proceedings of Symposium on Semiconducting Silicides: Science and Future Technology of the 8th IUMRS International Conference on Advanced Materials, en, 461, 1, 2–6, 10.1016/j.tsf.2004.02.049, 2004TSF...461....2W, 0040-6090, JOURNAL, Rost, Stefanie, Gerten, Dieter, Bondeau, Alberte, Lucht, Wolfgang, Rohwer, Janine, Schaphoff, Sibyll, 2008, Agricultural green and blue water consumption and its influence on the global water system, Water Resources Research, en, 44, 9, 10.1029/2007WR006331, 2008WRR....44.9405R, 29780416, 1944-7973, free, This global need for clean water access necessitates water resource policy to determine the means of supplying and protecting water resources. Water resource policy varies by region and is dependent on water availability or scarcity, the condition of aquatic systems, and regional needs for water.JOURNAL, Momeni, Marzieh, Behzadian, Kourosh, Yousefi, Hossein, Zahedi, Sina, 2021-09-01, A Scenario-Based Management of Water Resources and Supply Systems Using a Combined System Dynamics and Compromise Programming Approach,weblink Water Resources Management, en, 35, 12, 4233–4250, 10.1007/s11269-021-02942-z, 1573-1650, Since water basins do not align with national borders, water resource policy is also determined by international agreements, also known as hydropolitics.WEB, Grandi, Mattia, 2020-09-28, Hydropolitics,weblink 2021-01-30, Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Environmental Science, en, 10.1093/acrefore/9780199389414.013.644, 978-0-19-938941-4, Water quality protection also falls under the umbrella of water resource policy; laws protecting the chemistry, biology, and ecology of aquatic systems by reducing and eliminating pollution, regulating its usage, and improving the quality are considered water resource policy. When developing water resource policies, many different stakeholders, environmental variables, and considerations have to be taken to ensure the health of people and ecosystems are maintained or improved. Finally, ocean zoning, coastal, and environmental resource management are also encompassed by water resource management, like in the instance of offshore wind land leasing.JOURNAL, Söderholm, Patrik, Pettersson, Maria, 2011-02-01, Offshore wind power policy and planning in Sweden,weblink Energy Policy, Special Section on Offshore wind power planning, economics and environment, en, 39, 2, 518–525, 10.1016/j.enpol.2010.05.065, 0301-4215, As water scarcity increases with climate change, the need for robust water resource policies will become more prevalent. An estimated 57% of the world's population will experience water scarcity at least one month out of the year by 2050.JOURNAL, Boretti, Alberto, Rosa, Lorenzo, 2019-07-31, Reassessing the projections of the World Water Development Report, npj Clean Water, en, 2, 1, 1–6, 10.1038/s41545-019-0039-9, 2059-7037, free, 11380/1198301, free, Mitigation and updated water resource policies will require interdisciplinary and international collaboration, including government officials, environmental scientists, sociologists, economists, climate modelers, and activists.JOURNAL, Cosgrove, William J., Loucks, Daniel P., 2015, Water management: Current and future challenges and research directions, Water Resources Research, en, 51, 6, 4823–4839, 10.1002/2014WR016869, 2015WRR....51.4823C, 1944-7973, free, BOOK, Carter, Neil,weblink The politics of the environment : ideas, activism, policy, 2007, Cambridge University Press, 978-0-521-86802-0, 2, Cambridge, 76141452, (File:WorldWaterAvailability.png|thumb|500px|right|World water availability)

Water as a resource

When considering its utility as a resource and developing water resource policy, water can be classified into 4 different categories: green, blue, gray, and virtual water. Blue water is surface and groundwater, like water in rivers, lakes, and aquifers.JOURNAL, Lal, Rattan, 2015-07-08, World Water Resources and Achieving Water Security, Agronomy Journal, en, 107, 4, 1526–1532, 10.2134/agronj15.0045, 2015AgrJ..107.1526L, 0002-1962, free, Green water is rainwater that was precipitated on soil that can be used naturally for plants and agriculture.JOURNAL, Hoekstra, Arjen Y., Mekonnen, Mesfin M., 2012-02-28, The water footprint of humanity, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, en, 109, 9, 3232–3237, 10.1073/pnas.1109936109, 0027-8424, 22331890, 3295316, 2012PNAS..109.3232H, free, Gray water is water that has been contaminated by human use or proximity. The gray water classification can range from freshwater fertilizer runoff pollution to water contaminated from dishwashers and showers.PATENT, US, 5868937A, Process and system for recycling and reusing gray water, 1996-02-13, Back, Scaringe, Ramos, Samad, Gann,weblink Virtual water is the water consumed to make an agricultural or industrial product. Calculating virtual water of a commodity is used to determine the water footprint of a country and see how much water they are importing and exporting through their goods.JOURNAL, Chapagain, A. K., Hoekstra, A. Y., 2004, Water footprints of nations,weblink Value of Water Research Report Series, en, Institute for Water Education, 16,

Broad Types of Water Resource Policy

Agreements Between Nations

Water basins do not align with national borders and an estimated 60% of worldwide freshwater flows across political boundaries.United Nations Department of Public Information. (2004). International Decade for Action Water for Life 2005–2015. Water Without Borders. The United Nations. Countries navigate managing shared water resources by making agreements in the form of treaties. Treaties between nations may enumerate policies, rights and responsibilities. The Permanent Court of International Justice adjudicates disputes between nations, including water rights litigation.JOURNAL, Chazournes, Laurence Boisson de, 2019-01-25, The Permanent Court of International Justice, The International Court of Justice and international water law: versatility in consistency,weblink Research Handbook on International Water Law, en-US, 285–300, 10.4337/9781785368080.00032, 9781785368080, 159210681, An estimated 3600 water treaties have existed, including the introduction of more than 150 new ones since 1950. Transboundary water agreements, like treaties, are oftentimes focused on water infrastructure and quality.JOURNAL, De Stefano, Lucia, Edwards, Paris, de Silva, Lynette, Wolf, Aaron T., 2010-12-01, Tracking cooperation and conflict in international basins: historic and recent trends,weblink Water Policy, en, 12, 6, 871–884, 10.2166/wp.2010.137, 1366-7017, Water resource treaties encompass many types of water like surface water, groundwater, watercourses, and dams.BOOK, Burchi, Stefano,weblink Groundwater in international law : compilation of treaties and other legal instruments, 2005, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Mechlem, Kerstin, 92-5-105231-X, Rome, 60545401, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (1994). Treaties concerning the non-navigational uses of international watercourses - Asia, FAO Legislative Study No. 55, Rome. When a water resource can be shared equally, like a river acting as a border between nations, there tends to be less conflict than upstream/downstream water resource sharing agreements.JOURNAL, Devlin, Colleen, Hendrix, Cullen S., 2014-11-01, Trends and triggers redux: Climate change, rainfall, and interstate conflict,weblink Political Geography, Special Issue: Climate Change and Conflict, en, 43, 27–39, 10.1016/j.polgeo.2014.07.001, 0962-6298, Sometimes treaties establish joint committees between the two or more nations to oversee all water sharing and to ensure that treaty agreements are being met. Two examples of this are the 1996 Ganges Treaty between India and Bangladesh and the 1955 Great Lakes Basin Compact between the United States and Canada.JOURNAL, Dinar, Shlomi, 2002, Water, Security, Conflict, and Cooperation,weblink SAIS Review, en, 22, 2, 229–253, 10.1353/sais.2002.0030, 155039715, 1088-3142, JOURNAL, Squillace, Mark, 2006, Rethinking the Great Lakes Compact,weblink Michigan State Law Review, 5, 1347–1374, HEINONLINE, With increasing water scarcity and competition for water resources due to climate change and diminished water quality, there has been an increase in international water-based conflict.Another example of a water resource interstate agreement is through multi-country agreements to get funding for water resource projects such as building hydropower dams. In Sub-Saharan African countries, China has financed many hydropower projects.JOURNAL, Brautigam, Hwang, Wang, 2015, Chinese Financed Hydropower Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa,weblink SAIS-China Africa Research Initiative, eldis,

Covenants and Declarations

In Water Resource Policy, covenants and declarations are nonbinding goals for reaching universal human access to water for drinking and sanitation purposes. The United Nations has adopted three covenants and declarations: the 1948 Declaration of Human Rights, the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.JOURNAL, Meier, Benjamin Mason, Kayser, Georgia Lyn, Amjad, Urooj Quezon, Bartram, Jamie, 2013-02-01, Implementing an evolving human right through water and sanitation policy, Water Policy, 15, 1, 116–133, 10.2166/wp.2012.198, 1366-7017, 7006955, 32038095, Since the 1996 International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights declaration, all 191 UN member states have also signed the Millennium Development Goals, which is a further commitment to combat health inequalities.BOOK, Progress on sanitation and drinking-water : 2014 update., World Health Organization, UNICEF, 28 July 2014, 978-92-4-069281-7, Geneva, 889699199, Access to safe and clean water for drinking and sanitation were fully declared human rights on July 28, 2010 through the UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/64/292.BOOK, Sultana, Farhana, Loftus, Alex, The right to water : politics, governance and social struggles, 2012, Earthscan/Routledge, 978-1-84971-360-3, 1st, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, 731925155,

Management Rules and Regulations

Water management rules and regulations dictate different national standards for water quality, like drinking water and environmental water quality standards. For example, in the United States, the Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to set the national standards for safe drinking water and set regulations for contaminants.BOOK, Systemadmin_Umwelt,weblink Current approaches to Cyanotoxin risk assessment, risk management and regulations in different countries (2012), 2013-01-18, Umweltbundesamt, en, Within the European Union, the European Environment Agency enacted the Water Framework Directive in 2000 to regulate water resource planning, management, and protection.JOURNAL, Kaika, Maria, 2003, The Water Framework Directive: A New Directive for a Changing Social, Political and Economic European Framework,weblink European Planning Studies, 11, 3, 299–316, 10.1080/09654310303640, 153351550, 0965-4313, In India, the Ministry of Environment and Forests sets the water management policies that the Central Pollution Control Board and the State Pollution Control Boards then enforce.JOURNAL, Greenstone, Michael, Hanna, Rema, 2014, Environmental Regulations, Air and Water Pollution, and Infant Mortality in India, American Economic Review, en, 104, 10, 3038–3072, 10.1257/aer.104.10.3038, 0002-8282, 1721.1/66288, 10290703,weblink free, The Ministry for Environmental Protection directions national efforts for water management and regulation in China, like the Law on Prevention and Control of Water Pollution.Winalski, D.. (2009). Cleaner water in China? The implications of the amendments to China's law on the prevention and control of water pollution. 24. 181-201.

Aid Programs and Diplomatic Efforts

Several global organizations have created aid programs and diplomatic efforts to see that progress is being made towards achieving global covenants and declarations regarding water resource access. Because health is closely tied to drinking water and sanitation access, UNICEF and the World Health Organization formed the Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation focused exclusively on monitoring and reporting progress on water, sanitation and hygiene goals as dictated by the UN.BOOK, Progress on drinking water and sanitation. 2012 update, 2012, WHO/UNICEF Joint Water Supply and Sanitation Monitoring Programme, World Health Organization, UNICEF, 978-92-806-4632-0, New York, 793571735, In 1977, the United Nations convened for a Conference on Water in Mar del Plata to develop recommendations for national water policy.JOURNAL, Cano, Guillermo J., 1981-05-01, The recommendations of the United Nations water conference (Mar del Plata, 1977) and related meetings, on national water laws,weblink Journal of Hydrology, Water for survival, en, 51, 1, 381–391, 10.1016/0022-1694(81)90146-3, 1981JHyd...51..381C, 0022-1694, Subsequently, the United Nations declared the 1980s as the International Drinking-water Supply and Sanitation Decade.JOURNAL, Bartram, Jamie, Brocklehurst, Clarissa, Fisher, Michael B., Luyendijk, Rolf, Hossain, Rifat, Wardlaw, Tessa, Gordon, Bruce, 2014, Global Monitoring of Water Supply and Sanitation: History, Methods and Future Challenges, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, en, 11, 8, 8137–8165, 10.3390/ijerph110808137, 25116635, 4143854, free, In 2000, the UN sanctioned a task force led by UNESCO, World Water Assessment Programme, to report on worldwide freshwater use and sustainability in the World Water Development Report.BOOK, Water in a changing world, 2009, World Water Assessment Programme (United Nations), UN-Water, UNESCO, 978-1-84407-839-4, 3rd, Paris, 316311124, In 2003, UN-Water was formed as an interagency coordination tool to help countries achieve their water resource goals as set by the Millennium Development Goals and make global water governance frameworks.JOURNAL, Baumgartner, Thomas, Pahl-Wostl, Claudia, 2013, UN–Water and its Role in Global Water Governance, Ecology and Society, 18, 3, 10.5751/ES-05564-180303, 26269338, 1708-3087, free, Additionally, the United Nations declared 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation.JOURNAL, Aslov, Sirodjiddin, 2013-04-25, Towards the International Year of Water Cooperation, 2013,weblink UN Chronicle, en, 50, 1, 7–9, 10.18356/abf44da8-en, As well as the United Nations' interest in water resource policy for the benefit of human health, the United Nations Environmental Programme has also done work to improve international water quality.REPORT, United Nations Environment Programme, Pacific Institute, 2010, Clearing the Waters: A Focus on Water Quality Solutions,weblink en, {{dead link|date=December 2021}}Non-profits and non-governmental organizations also play a role in water resource policy. For example, the World Water Council is an international think tank established in 1996 to help countries and stakeholders with water resource management strategies.JOURNAL, Abu-Zeid, M, 1998, Water and sustainable development: the vision for world water, life and the environment,weblink Water Policy, en, 1, 1, 9–19, 10.1016/S1366-7017(98)00002-6, 1366-7017, Additionally, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) developed a Water and Development Strategy in 2013 to help people improve water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs and help with water resource management.JOURNAL, Water and Development Strategy 2013-2018,weblink US Agency for International Development, 2020-04-29, 2022-10-07,weblink dead,

Economic Exchanges

Water Resource Policy also encompasses the economic exchange of water, known as virtual water. The term virtual water is used to understand and quantify the volume of water required for a product or service.JOURNAL, Chapagain, A. K., Hoekstra, A. Y., 2004, Water footprints of nations,weblink Value of Water Research Report Series, en, For example, when determining the virtual water trade for agricultural goods, the trade flow rate (ton/yr) would be multiplied by the virtual water content (m3/ton) of each type of produce or livestock to determine how much water was exchanged in addition to the good.JOURNAL, Hoekstra, A.Y., 2002, Virtual Water Trade: A Quantification of Virtual Water Flows Between Nations in Relation to International Crop Trade,weblink Value of Water Research Report Series, 11, According to these calculations for virtual water, India, the United States, and China are the top national consumers for virtual water.JOURNAL, Chen, Zhan-Ming, Chen, G. Q., 2013-05-01, Virtual water accounting for the globalized world economy: National water footprint and international virtual water trade,weblink Ecological Indicators, 10 years Ecological Indicators, en, 28, 142–149, 10.1016/j.ecolind.2012.07.024, 1470-160X, Critiques for this method have questioned virtual water's relevance in creating water resource policy, but understanding the trade of water may be useful for countries facing water scarcity to prioritize importation of virtual water instead of exportation of water-intensive goods and services.

Business water resource policy initiatives

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development engages stakeholders in H2OScenariosWEB,weblink H2OScenarios, 2011-06-27, 2012-01-11,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120111130925weblink">weblink dead, that consider various alternative policies and their effects.In June 2011 in Geneva, the Future of Water Virtual Conference addressed water resource sustainability. Issues raised included: water infrastructure monitoring,WEB,weblink Global Citizenship - Dow, www.futurewecreate.com, 2011-06-28, 2020-04-05,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20200405215825weblink">weblink dead, global water security, potential resource wars, interaction between water, energy, food and economic activity, the "true value" of "distribution portions of available water" and a putative "investment gap" in water infrastructure.WEB, Global Citizenship - Dow,weblink www.futurewecreate.com, 2018-05-23, 2020-04-05,weblink dead, WEB,weblink Citizenship, corporate.dow.com, It was asserted that climate change will affect scarcity of water but the water security presentation emphasized that a combined effect with population growth "could be devastating". Identified corporate water related risks include physical supply, regulatory and product reputation.{{rp|23}}This forum indicated policy concerns with: trade barriers, price supports, treatment of water as a free good creates underpricing of 98% of water,{{rp|2}} need to intensify debate, and need to harmonize public/private sectors{{rp|28}}

Issues

Environmental

Freshwater resources on earth are under increasing stress and depletion because of pollution, climate change, and consumptive use.

Flood

(File:Main and University, Charlottesville, during flash flood.jpg|thumb|Flash flood in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States.)Water can produce a natural disaster in the form of tsunamis, hurricanes, rogue waves and storm surge. Land-based floods can originate from infrastructural issues like bursting dams or levee failure during surges, as well as environmental phenomena like rivers overflowing their banks during increased rainfall events, urban stormwater flooding, or snowmelt.JOURNAL, Levy, Jason K., 2005-12-01, Multiple criteria decision making and decision support systems for flood risk management, Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment, en, 19, 6, 438–447, 10.1007/s00477-005-0009-2, 121035253, 1436-3259, JOURNAL, Wheater, Howard, Evans, Edward, 2009, Land use, water management and future flood risk, Land Use Policy, en, 26, S251–S264, 10.1016/j.landusepol.2009.08.019, 10983/24796, free, JOURNAL, Cunderlik, Juraj M., Ouarda, Taha B. M. J., 2009-09-15, Trends in the timing and magnitude of floods in Canada, Journal of Hydrology, 375, 3, 471–480, 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.06.050, 0022-1694, 2009JHyd..375..471C, The increased magnitude and frequency of floods are a result of urbanization and climate change. Urbanization increases stormwater runoff during large rain events. Surface runoff is water that flows when heavy rains do not infiltrate soil; excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flowing over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle.JOURNAL, Beven, Keith, 2004, Robert E. Horton's perceptual model of infiltration processes, Hydrological Processes, 18, 17, 3447–3460, 2004HyPr...18.3447B, 10.1002/hyp.5740, 128406516, Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source. When runoff flows along the ground, it can pick up soil contaminants including, but not limited to petroleum, pesticides, or fertilizers that become discharge or nonpoint source pollution.BOOK, {{google books, y, mXQgAAAAQBAJ, |title=Principles of Environmental Engineering Science: Third Edition|last1=Davis|first1=Mackenzie|last2=Masten|first2=Susan|date=22 February 2013|publisher=McGraw-Hill Higher Education|isbn=978-0-07-749219-9}}JOURNAL, Mekonnen, Mesfin M., Hoekstra, Arjen Y., 2015-11-03, Global Gray Water Footprint and Water Pollution Levels Related to Anthropogenic Nitrogen Loads to Fresh Water, Environmental Science & Technology, en, 49, 21, 12860–12868, 10.1021/acs.est.5b03191, 26440220, 0013-936X, 2015EnST...4912860M, free, JOURNAL, Whipple, W., Hunter, J. V., 1977, Nonpoint Sources and Planning for Water Pollution Control, Journal (Water Pollution Control Federation), 49, 1, 15–23, 0043-1303, 25039214, Water resource policy encompasses flood risk management and development of infrastructure to mitigate damages from floods. Water resource policy solutions to flooding include land drainage for agriculture, urban planning focused on flood prevention, rainwater harvesting, and permeable surfacing of developed areas.

Drought

(File:Yufeng Reservoir during 2015 drought - 01.jpg|thumb|Partially emptied Yufeng Reservoir during a drought in 2015. Photo taken in Hainan, China.)A drought is defined as a period of dry conditions with either less precipitation or more depleted water reserves than normal.{{Citation|last1=Tate|first1=E. L.|title=Drought Definition: A Hydrological Perspective|date=2000|work=Drought and Drought Mitigation in Europe|pages=23–48|editor-last=Vogt|editor-first=Jürgen V.|series=Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research|publisher=Springer Netherlands|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-94-015-9472-1_3|isbn=978-94-015-9472-1|last2=Gustard|first2=A.|volume=14 |editor2-last=Somma|editor2-first=Francesca}} Because droughts are defined relative to the area's normal weather patterns and water availability, the definition varies from place to place. Overall, defining a drought takes into consideration 1.) the duration, intensity, and area of lessened precipitation or water availability and 2.) the estimated environmental, social and economic impact of the limited water. For example, in Colorado, paleohydrologic data, or tree rings from areas affected by drought, have been used to define drought extent and understand the impact of past droughts to improve future water resource planning and decision making.JOURNAL, Woodhouse, C A, Lukas, J J, 2006, Drought, Tree Rings and Water Resource Management in Colorado, Canadian Water Resources Journal, en, 31, 4, 297–310, 10.4296/cwrj3104297, 2006CaWRJ..31..297W, 0701-1784, free, With climate change, the frequency and intensity of droughts have been increasing but water resource policy is typically reactive instead of proactive.JOURNAL, Wilhite, Donald A., Sivakumar, Mannava V. K., Pulwarty, Roger, 2014-06-01, Managing drought risk in a changing climate: The role of national drought policy, Weather and Climate Extremes, High Level Meeting on National Drought Policy, 3, 4–13, 10.1016/j.wace.2014.01.002, 2014WCE.....3....4W, 2212-0947, free, Droughts have negative economic impacts on many sectors including agriculture, environment, energy production and transportation. Local and national governments normally respond to droughts once they happen and are in crisis mode, whereas a robust policy would include early drought monitoring systems, preparedness plans, energy response programs, and impact assessment and management procedures to help mitigate the effects of drought on the economy and the environment. Different nations have different policies regarding national droughts.BOOK, Kendall, Matt, Drought and its Role in Shaping Water Policy in Australia, 2013, 451–467, Schwabe, Kurt, Springer Netherlands, en, 10.1007/978-94-007-6636-5_26, 978-94-007-6636-5, Albiac, Jose, Connor, Jeffery D., Hassan, Rashid M., Drought in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions, 126418614, JOURNAL, Xiao-jun, Wang, Jian-yun, Zhang, Shahid, Shamsuddin, ElMahdi, Amgad, Rui-min, He, Zhen-xin, Bao, Ali, Mahtab, 2012-12-01, Water resources management strategy for adaptation to droughts in China, Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, en, 17, 8, 923–937, 10.1007/s11027-011-9352-4, 153449273, 1573-1596, JOURNAL, Falkenmark, Malin, Rockström, Johan, 2008, Building resilience to drought in desertification-prone savannas in Sub-Saharan Africa: The water perspective, Natural Resources Forum, en, 32, 2, 93–102, 10.1111/j.1477-8947.2008.00177.x, 1477-8947, In 2013, the High-level Meeting on National Drought Policy (HMNDP) was organized by the World Meteorological Organization, the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to help nations develop drought preparedness policies and plans for international emergency relief efforts in the event of droughts. There were 414 participants from 87 countries that unanimously adopted the HMNDP declaration at the end of the meeting rallying national governments to implement drought management policies.JOURNAL, Sivakumar, Mannava V. K., Stefanski, Robert, Bazza, Mohamed, Zelaya, Sergio, Wilhite, Donald, Magalhaes, Antonio Rocha, 2014-06-01, High Level Meeting on National Drought Policy: Summary and Major Outcomes, Weather and Climate Extremes, 3, 126–132, 10.1016/j.wace.2014.03.007, 2014WCE.....3..126S, 2212-0947, free,

Oceans and salinity

(File:Fishery.jpg|thumb|upright|A White Hake fishery from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NOAA):weblink)The oceans provide many important resources for the planet and humans including: transportation, marine life, food, minerals, oil, natural gas, and recreation.JOURNAL, Freestone, David, Salman, Salman M. A., Ellen, Hey, Jutta, Brunnée, Jutta Brunnée, Daniel, Bodansky, 2008-08-07, Ocean and Freshwater Resources,weblink The Oxford Handbook of International Environmental Law, 337–361, en, 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199552153.013.0015, 9780199552153, Water resource policy involving the ocean includes jurisdiction and regulation issues, pollution regulation and reduction, over exploitation prevention, and desalination to make drinking water.JOURNAL, Shrestha, Eleeja, Ahmad, Sajjad, Johnson, Walter, Shrestha, Pramen, Batista, Jacimaria R., 2011-10-03, Carbon footprint of water conveyance versus desalination as alternatives to expand water supply, Desalination, 280, 1, 33–43, 10.1016/j.desal.2011.06.062, 0011-9164, National jurisdictions of the oceans are dictated by coastal proximity. Oceans along coastlines of nations are considered territories of that nation. For the first 12 nautical miles away from the nation's coastal border, the country has rights to the ocean for its resources, including fish and minerals, and it considered a continuation of that nation's territory.WEB,weblink Ocean Governance: Who Owns the Ocean? {{!, Heinrich Böll Stiftung|website=Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung|language=en|access-date=2019-11-27}} The countries' economic zone, consisting of both the water column and the seafloor, continues out for 200 nautical miles where they are still entitled to the areas' resources. On the other hand, the Antarctic and Southern Oceans are shared by 45 state parties under the Antarctic Treaty, so the status and ownership of Antarctic and Southern Ocean resources is unclear legally.JOURNAL, Jabour-Green, Julia, Nicol, Dianne, 2003, Bioprospecting in Areas Outside National Jurisdiction: Antarctica and the Southern Ocean,weblink 4 Melb. J. Int'l L, 76, Additionally, some areas are conserved as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and resource exploitation is prohibited. For example, by 1997 off the coast of California, there were 103 MPAs.JOURNAL, Hyrenbach, K. David, Forney, Karin A., Dayton, Paul K., 2000, Marine protected areas and ocean basin management, Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, en, 10, 6, 437–458, 10.1002/1099-0755(200011/12)10:63.0.CO;2-Q, 1099-0755, The oceans are becoming polluted and exploited for resources. With increasing carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels, the oceans are experiencing acidification.JOURNAL, Cao, Long, Caldeira, Ken, 2008, Atmospheric CO2 stabilization and ocean acidification, Geophysical Research Letters, en, 35, 19, L19609, 10.1029/2008GL035072, 1944-8007, 2008GeoRL..3519609C, free, Decreasing the pH of the ocean makes it more difficult for marine organisms, like coral reefs, to make their calcium carbonate shells. Additionally, pollution is threatening oceanic resources, especially near coasts. Oil rigs and undersea mineral extraction can create problems that affect shorelines, marine life, fisheries and human safety. Decommissioning of such operations has another set of issues. Rigs-to-reefs is a proposal for using obsolete oil rigs as substrate for coral reefs that has failed to reach consensus. There have been oil tanker accidents and oil pipeline spills like the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Ballast water, fuel/oil leaks and trash originating from ships foul harbors, reefs and estuaries pollute the oceans. Ballast water may contain toxins, invasive plants, animals, viruses, and bacteria. Additionally, marine debris, or industrially processed materials that have been dumped in the oceans, threatens the wellbeing and biodiversity of marine organisms.JOURNAL, Gall, S. C., Thompson, R. C., 2015-03-15, The impact of debris on marine life, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 92, 1, 170–179, 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.12.041, 25680883, 2015MarPB..92..170G, 0025-326X, Along coasts, oceans are threatened by land runoff that includes fertilizers, insecticides, chemicals, and organic pollutants that can cause algal blooms and dead zones.Fisheries also have an effect on oceans and can fall under water resource policy rules. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 87% of the fisheries worldwide are either fully exploited or overexploited.JOURNAL, Gjerde, Kristina M., Currie, Duncan, Wowk, Kateryna, Sack, Karen, 2013-09-30, Ocean in peril: Reforming the management of global ocean living resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction, Marine Pollution Bulletin, The Global State of the Ocean; Interactions Between Stresses, Impacts and Some Potential Solutions. Synthesis papers from the International Programme on the State of the Ocean 2011 and 2012 Workshops, 74, 2, 540–551, 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.07.037, 23968992, 2013MarPB..74..540G, 0025-326X, Regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) control and oversee high sea fisheries under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the UN FishStocks Agreement. Poor management by RFMOs, government subsidies for fish, and illegal fish catches have contributed to overfishing and over exploitation of ocean resources. Ecosystem-based fishery management (EBFM) is an attempt to correct some RFMO mismanagement by limiting biomass that is allowed to be removed by fisheries, and by making sure fishing is more targeted for the desired species.JOURNAL, Pikitch, E. K., Santora, C., Babcock, E. A., Bakun, A., Bonfil, R., Conover, D. O., Dayton, P., Doukakis, P., Fluharty, D., Heneman, B., Houde, E. D., 2004-07-16, Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management, Science, en, 305, 5682, 346–347, 10.1126/science.1098222, 0036-8075, 15256658, 167166063, One problem EBFM tries to eliminate is bycatch, or unintentional catching of the wrong fish species. For example, white marlin, an endangered billfish, is mostly accidentally caught and killed by swordfish and tuna longline fisheries.Desalination of seawater is becoming a resource for coastal nations needing freshwater for industry and drinking, particularly areas with over exploited groundwater aquifers and surface water, pollution of freshwater, or unreliable water supply due to climate change. Desalination is particularly popular in arid, water-stressed regions like Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Cyprus, Israel, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Australia, and California, US.JOURNAL, El-Sadek, Alaa, 2010-01-30, Water desalination: An imperative measure for water security in Egypt, Desalination, 250, 3, 876–884, 10.1016/j.desal.2009.09.143, 0011-9164, JOURNAL, O. Jaber, Jamal, S. Mohsen, Mousa, 2001-05-01, Evaluation of non-conventional water resources supply in Jordan, Desalination, 136, 1, 83–92, 10.1016/S0011-9164(01)00168-0, 0011-9164, JOURNAL, Hamoda, Mohamed F., 2001-09-20, Desalination and water resource management in Kuwait, Desalination, European Conference on DESALINATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT WATER SHORTAGE, 138, 1, 385–393, 10.1016/S0011-9164(01)00288-0, 0011-9164,

Freshwater

Surface and groundwater

Surface water and groundwater can be studied and managed as separate resources as a single resource in multiple forms.United States Geological Survey (USGS). Denver, CO. "Ground Water and Surface Water: A Single Resource." USGS Circular 1139. 1998. Jurisdictions typically distinguish three recognized groundwater classifications: subterranean streams, underflow of surface waters, and percolating groundwater.WEB,weblink WATER RIGHTS FACT SHEET, June 21, 2011, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110615051911weblink">weblink June 15, 2011,

Constituencies

Drinking water and water for utilitarian uses such as washing, crop cultivation and manufacture is competed for by various constituencies:

• Residential
• Agriculture. "Many rural people practice subsistence rain fed agriculture as a basic livelihood strategy, and as such are vulnerable to the effects of drought or flood that can diminish or destroy a harvest. "WEB, 16th Conference on Climate Variability and Change, Evaluation of the Use of Forecast Interpretations information, Diego H., Pedreros, University of California Santa Barbara,weblink WEB, A., Bonilla, P., Ramirez, C., Funk, G., Husak, J., Michaelsen, L., Aguilar, Climate Predictions on Seasonal and Interannual Time Scales,weblink
• Construction
• Industrial
• Municipal or institutional activities

Surface water (runoff) and wastewater discharge

Regulatory bodies address piped waste water discharges to surface water that include riparian and ocean ecosystems.WEB,weblink Water Boards Map | California State Water Resources Control Board, www.waterboards.ca.gov, These review bodies are charged with protecting wilderness ecology, wildlife habitat, drinking water, agricultural irrigation and fisheries. Stormwater discharge can carry fertilizer residue and bacterial contamination from domestic and wild animals.WEB,weblink California Integrated Water Quality System Project (CIWQS) | California State Water Resources Control Board, www.waterboards.ca.gov, They have the authority to make orders which are binding upon private actors such as international corporationsWEB,weblink Water quality board orders Shell to clean soil at Carousel tract in Carson, 2011-06-21, 2012-01-14,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120114083504weblink">weblink dead, and do not hesitate to exercise the police powers of the state. Water agencies have statutory mandate which in many jurisdictions is resilient to pressure from constituents and lawmakers in which they on occasion stand their ground despite heated opposition from agricultural interestsWEB,weblink California water rules rile farmers, 2011-06-21, 2012-03-23,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120323015045weblink">weblink dead, On the other hand, the Boards{{Who|date=December 2020}} enjoy strong support from environmental concerns such as Greenpeace,Heal the Ocean and Channelkeepers.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}Water quality issues or sanitation concerns reuse or water recycling and pollution control which in turn breaks out into stormwater and wastewater.

Wastewater

Wastewater is water that has been discharged from human use. The primary discharges flow from the following sources: residences, commercial properties, industry, and agriculture.Sewage is technically wastewater contaminated with fecal and similar animal waste byproducts, but is frequently used as a synonym for wastewater. Origination includes cesspool and sewage outfall pipes.Water treatment is subject to the same overlapping jurisdictional constraints which affect other aspects of water policy.BOOK, Poulantzas, Nicos Ar, {{google books, y, EI9LcAAACAAJ, |title=Political Power and Social Classes|publisher=Verso|year=1978|isbn=978-0-8052-7050-1}} For instance, levels of chloramines with their resulting toxic trihalomethane by-product are subject to Federal guidelines even though water management implementing those policy constraints are carried out by local water boards.WEB,weblink June 24, 2011, Something in Your Water Is About to Change!, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100125234751weblink">weblink January 25, 2010,

Human right to water and sanitation

{{Excerpt|Human right to water and sanitation}}

Structural constraints on policy makers

Policies are implemented by organizational entities created by government exercise of state power. However, all such entities are subject to constraints upon their autonomy.

Jurisdictional issues

Subject matter and geographic jurisdiction are distinguishable.BOOK, Black, Henry Campbell, {{google books, y, wKcCngEACAAJ, |title=Black's Law Dictionary|publisher=West Group|year=1999|isbn=978-0-314-22864-2}} The jurisdiction of any water agency is limited by political boundaries and by enabling legislation. In some cases, limits target specific types of uses (wilderness, agricultural, urban-residential, urban-commercial, etc.) A second part of jurisdictional limitation governs the subject matter that the agency controls, such as flood control, water supply and sanitation, etc. In many locations, agencies may face unclear or overlapping authority, increasing conflicts and delaying conflict resolution.

Typical information access issue

As reported by the non-partisan Civil Society Institute, a 2005 US Congressional study on water supply was suppressed and became the target of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation.WEB,weblink Foia Lawsuit Targets U.S. Department Of Energy For Withholding 'Water Energy Roadmap' Ordered By Congress, Civilsocietyinstitute.org, 2014-07-14, 2014-10-17,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20141017101127weblink">weblink dead,

Multi-jurisdictional issues

One jurisdiction's projects may cause problems in other jurisdictions. For instance, Monterey County, California controls a body of water that acts as a reservoir for San Luis Obispo County. The specific responsibilities for managing the resource must therefore be negotiated

See also

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Aquifer
• Biotic index
• Clean Water Act
• Water consumption
• Drinking water quality in the United States
• Economic Instruments for Water Policies
• Energy law
• International Water Management Institute
• Marine Protection area
• Pollution
• Stormwater
• United Nations Environmental Programme
• Wastewater
• Water efficiency
• Water law in the United States
• Waterkeeper Alliance
• WELS rating
• Wet Infrastructure

{{div col end}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110615051911weblink">California Water Rights Fact Sheet
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Healthy Water - Water Quality - Information on water quality, water testing, and understanding consumer confidence reports on water contaminants
• U.S. National Water Quality Monitoring Council (NWQMC) - Partnership of federal and state agencies
• U.S. Geological Survey - National Water Quality Assessment Program
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100726074309weblink">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Water Quality Monitoring
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20091201154918weblink">U.S. National Agricultural Library
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180324205603weblink">American Water Resources Association
• Global Water Quality online database
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080820080452weblink">Beaches 911 - U.S. Beach Water Quality Monitoring
• BOOK, U., Maione, B., Majone-Lehto, R. Monti, New Trends in Water and Environmental Engineering for Safety and Life, {{google books, y, rsf1ScQZGHQC, 104, |date=1 January 2000|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-90-5809-138-3|pages=104–}}
• BOOK, Edward H. P., Brans, The Scarcity of Water: Emerging Legal and Policy Responses, {{google books, y, hHaJYSGVbJ0C, 17, |date=1 January 1997|publisher=Kluwer Law International|isbn=978-90-411-0657-5|pages=17–}}
• BOOK, Hans, Bressers, Kris, Lulofs, Governance and Complexity in Water Management: Creating Cooperation Through Boundary Spanning Strategies, {{google books, y, jScUexgfiekC, 100, |date=1 January 2010|publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing|isbn=978-1-84980-324-3|pages=100–}}

{{Water}}{{Natural resources}}{{Pollution}}{{marine pollution}}