Developing water resources

Description

Developing water resources involves identifying, harnessing, and managing surface and groundwater supplies to meet human, agricultural, and industrial needs. This strategy addresses water scarcity, unreliable access, and inefficient usage by constructing infrastructure such as reservoirs, wells, and distribution systems, and by implementing sustainable management practices. Its core purpose is to ensure reliable, equitable, and long-term water availability, thereby supporting health, food security, economic development, and resilience to drought and climate variability.

Context

Water is essential to sustain life. The availability of water in quantities, and of a quality, sufficient to meet basic human needs is a prerequisite both for improved health and for sustainable development.

Implementation

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.

Agenda 21 recommends mobilization of water resources, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas.