June 25, 2009 | Singapore
It is now being increasingly recognized that the world has enough water to meet its needs, provided the available water resources are governed efficiently. However, poor water governance in most parts of the world, both in developed and developing countries, are creating serious water-related problems. These problems can be successfully analysed and solved with existing knowledge, technology, management and experience. However, because of poor water governance practices of the past have already contributed to the development of many serious water problems in most parts of the world. Most unfortunately, the governance practices are improving only incrementally in most countries. If the world’s water problems are to be solved, business unusual practices have to be formulated and implemented. One of the main prerequisites has to be rapid improvements in the level of existing water governance.
Within the overall context of the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), a workshop was organized on water governance at the Lee Kuan Yew School for Public Policy, by the School and the Third World Centre for Water Management.
The proposed workshop reviewed the current concepts of water governance, their strengths, weaknesses and constraints, and how best governance practices can be improved in terms of water resources management in general and urban water management in particular.