Managing water at the basin or watershed
This includes integrating land and water, upstream and downstream, groundwater, surface water, and coastal resources.
Optimizing supply
This involves conducting assessments of surface and groundwater supplies, analyzing water balances, adopting wastewater reuse, and evaluating the environmental impacts of distribution and use options.
Managing demand
This includes adopting cost recovery policies, utilizing water-efficient technologies, and establishing decentralized water management authorities.
Providing equitable access
This may include support for effective water users’ associations, involvement of marginalized groups, and consideration of gender issues.
Establishing policy
Examples are implementation of the polluter-pays principle, water quality norms and standards, and market-based regulatory mechanisms.
Intersectoral approach
Utilizing an intersectoral approach to decision-making, where authority for managing water resources is employed responsibly and stakeholders have a share in the process.