Hydrology and Water Resources Programme

Providing better hydrologic information, assessments and forecasts, so that Members are able to independently assess their water resources and respond to the threat of floods and droughts.

Management of water resources is a complex decision-making process. If supplies were available at all times and in all places in adequate quantity and quality to meet demand, decision-making would be a simple matter - but this is not the case. Global changes, such as the unprecedented rise in population, rising standards of living, climate variability and change and environmental issues, are affecting demand and supply for fresh water. Given the resource constraint, governments and national agencies have to establish clearly-defined policies based on knowledge of the resource itself and of demand for households, food and industrial production, hydropower generation and the ecosystem. This demand has to be met in an, equitable, just, economic and sustainable manner. To achieve this objective an integrated multi-disciplinary approach is essential.

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