Workshop on “Role of groundwater in the management of water resources and governance issues in groundwater(inclusive of legislation and institutional management)”
IWRM and GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT
by Shahrizaila Abdullah
Senior Fellow, Academy of Sciences, Malaysia
Venue: Dewan Baiduri, NRE Ministry, Putrajaya
Date: 29‐30 March 2010
Contents of Presentation
1. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) –Principles and Practices
2. Water – A unitary Resource3. Malaysian Water Setting4. Groundwater Management in Malaysia – Brief
Status Report5. Water Governance in Malaysia – Policy,
Legislation, and Institutional Framework6. IWRM Road Map
1. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) – Principles and Practices
• New Paradigm for 21st Century Water Management• Definition• International Consensus on the way forward
– ICWE Dublin (1992) and Rio Earth Summit (1992)– Water and Millennium Development Goals (2000) – World Summit on Sustainable Development in
Johannesburg in 2002 • Malaysia is a signatory to above-mentioned
international declarations and similar ministerial declarations at World Water Forum [Marakesh(1997), The Hague(2000), Kyoto (2003), Mexico (2006), Istanbul (2009)]
The Global Water Scenario
• Resources are scarce• Demands are outstripping supplies• Environmental/Ecological issues are serious• Policy and institutional issues are complicated• Current approach is sectoral and fragmented• Financing is poor and options are expensive• New emerging impacts from climate change
The Water ProblemPopulationincrease
Increasedeconomic
Finite andvulnerable
activity water resource
Increased water useand
increased pollution
Increased competitionand conflicts
(local, national, international)
21st Century World Water Vision (year 2000)Statement Excerpt
• A holistic, systemic approach relying on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) must replace the fragmentation that currently exists in managing water – This is best done at the level of River basins
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)*
“A process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximise the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems”
*A sub-set of Integrated Natural Resources Management (INRM)(Land, Water, Forests, Minerals, Wildlife, Fisheries)
IWRM builds on the Dublin principles
A finite and vulnerable resource (sustainability principle)A participatory approach at the lowest appropriate level (subsidiarity principle)The role of women (equity principle)Water as an economic good (economic principle)
IWRM addresses the “three E’s”!
Structure
EconomicEfficiency Equity Environmental
Sustainability
ManagementInstruments
AssessmentInformationAllocationInstruments
EnablingEnvironment
PoliciesLegislation
InstitutionalFramework
Central -LocalRiver BasinPublic -Private
Balance “water for livelihood” and “water as a resource”
IWRM is a balance:Separation of powers between 2 sides of the scale
IWRM recognises that water follows according to hydrological boundaries!
-from small local basins to larger inter-state or international river basins!
‐ and builds on river basin management
IRBM
IWRM
- from a water quantity and water quality perspective
”I” in IWRM includes natural system integration
Freshwater <=> Coastal zone
Land <=> Water
Surface water <=> Groundwater
Quantity <=> Quality
Upstream <=> Downstream
But ”I” in IWRM also includeshuman system integration
Mainstreaming of water resources in national policies:
- economic policy
- food policy
- environment policy,
- health policy,
- energy policy
=> externalities outside the “water sector”!!
2. WATER – A Unitary Resource
• Rain, surface water in rivers and lakes, groundwater, and polluted water are all part of the same resource base
• Water is a finite and renewable resource with different manifestations occurring in different parts of the hydrological cycle
• Pervasive natural solvent vulnerable to quality degradation.
• Groundwater and Surface Water Interactions
• Water allocation decisions frequently ambiguous
• Conflicts among users – most common among surface and groundwater users in agriculture
• Need to consider entire hydrological balance and requiring multi-disciplinary S&T solutions
• Linkages need to be considered when assessing costs and benefits of specific actions
Water Governance (inclusive of policies, legislation and institutions) must recognize the above-mentioned special features and characteristics of this unitary resource
1Water Continuum (Hydrological Cycle)
“Multi-coloured” Water Cycle Components
Ocean
Evaporation Evapo-transpiration
runoff
Water Supply
Dischargetreated water
Salt Water IntrusionAquifer
InfiltrationRecharge
Evaporation
Extraction
Precipitation
PrecipitationEvaporation/ETSurface WaterGroundwater
Soil moistureInfiltration (Art)Extraction
Return flowTreated water Aquifer intrusion
Soil moisture
Soil moisture
17
The many “Colours” of Water
• Blue-water resource is liquid water found in rivers, lakes and reservoirs, wetlands , and aquifers
• Green-water resource is moisture in the soil and the water vapor (evaporation and evapo-transpiration) that flow back to the atmosphere.
• Grey-water is wastewater generated from domestic activities such as laundry, dishwashing, and bathing which can be recycled on-site
• Black-water is wastewater that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic influence. Otherwise referred to as sewage comprising domestic, municipal, or industrial liquid waste
• Green-blue water
Concept of green-blue water resources
Groundwater and Surface Water Interactions
Ground Water and Surface Water
Interactions Management
• Interactions take many forms:– Groundwater and streams
Groundwater and Lakes–– Withdrawal of water from
streams can deplete groundwater
– Conversely, groundwater extraction can deplete water in streams, lakes, or wetlands.
• Traditionally, management of water resources has focused on surface water or ground water as if they were separate entities.
• With increasing land and water development it is apparent that development of either of these resources affects the quantity and quality of the other.
Effective land and water management requires a clear understanding of the linkages between ground water and surface water as it applies to any given hydrologic setting (IRBM).
Interaction of groundwater and streams
Interaction of Groundwater and Lakes
Lakes can receive groundwater inflow (A), lose water as seepage to groundwater ((B)or both (C)
Depletion of lakes, streams, wetlands due Groundwater extraction
(A) Groundwater (GW)to stream under natural conditions
(B) Placement of a well pumping at a low rate (Q1) near a stream will intercept part of the GW discharging tothe stream
(C) Well pumping at a larger rate (Q2) can intercept additional water to the stream and can draw water from the stream to the well
3. The Malaysian Water Setting• Fairly abundant resources• Water use/demand
• Use(2000) – 15.5BCM• Use (2010) – 17 BCM• Use (2020) – 20BCM
• Temporal and spatial variability - some ‘water-stressed’ growth regions
• Increased flooding
• Deteriorating water quality of water sources (rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and groundwater)
• Emerging Climate Change Impacts
• Fragmented management and conflicts among sectors
• Pressing need for improved and integrated management
• Making Water Everybody’s Business
Water Resources in Malaysia
Water Resources Quantity (billion m3)
Annual rainfall 990
Surface runoff 566
Evapotranspiration 360
Groundwater recharge 64
Surface artificial storage 25
Groundwater storage 5000
Comparative Country Water AvailabilityPer Capita
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Europe 18Asia 13Africa 19North America 53South America 108Oceania 252World 24Malaysia 47
Availability (cu. M per person per day)
Groundwater Management in Malaysia:Brief Status Report
• Groundwater plays an important role in supplementing the domestic, industrial and agricultural water needs of the country
• contribution and potential value of groundwater have not yet been fully recognised, and not enough efforts have been made to promote its proper exploitation, management and conservation
• Issues ranging from misconception, assessment, databank to sustainability
• We need an Institutional Arrangement• Strategic Plan has been formulated together with Action
Plan
(Source: Courtesy of DG,JMG Presentation at the Groundwater Colloquium on 25th March 2009)
Groundwater - usage• Groundwater being invisible has been
'out-of-sight' and 'out-of-mind‘– plentiful rivers– abundance of rainfall in Malaysia– Misconception that groundwater exploitation is not
sustainable“HYDROSCHIZOPHRENIA”
• Leaving the groundwater systems relatively 'untouched‘– During prolonged dry spell, groundwater has
provided life-saving rescue
Groundwater - usage
• Less than 10% of the present water use in Malaysia is developed from groundwater resources– The use of groundwater for domestic purposes is mainly confined to rural and remote areas, where there is no piped water supply
– Exception: in Kelantan groundwater supplies more than 70% of the public water supply of the state
Source: JMG Malaysia
1998 WATER 1998 WATER
Water Governance in Malaysia - Policy1. Federal/State Jurisdiction(Constitutional Provisions)
– Water and land are State matters. Federal has limited powers over shared waters (rivers and aquifers!); water related infrastructural development works
– Legislative Lists – Federal; State; Concurrent (irrigation and drainage; water supply and services)
2. IWRM and the 3 “E”s3. National Water Policy (NWP) is long overdue and is
currently being developed by NRE. However Policy Statements on water are found in OPP and subsequent Malaysia Plan documents. Any policy pertaining to groundwater should desirably be formulated to become an integral part of the proposed NWP.
IWRM addresses the “three E’s”!
Structure
EconomicEfficiency Equity Environmental
Sustainability
ManagementInstruments
AssessmentInformationAllocationInstruments
EnablingEnvironment
PoliciesLegislation
InstitutionalFramework
Central -LocalRiver BasinPublic -Private
Balance “water for livelihood” and “water as a resource”
Water Governance in Malaysia - Legislation1. Waters Act 1920 (Cap 146) (1989) long overdue for review
to be in line with the proposed NWP under formulation currently by NRE and needs to address both SW and GW.
2. Some States have advanced. Recent Legislation enacted by following States have incorporated IWRM principles and practices and already adopted IRBM. Water resources or “sumber air” has been defined to include “sungai, tasik, kolam, tanah lembab(wetland), air bawah tanah dan air perairan(coastal waters)”:
– Sabah Water Resources Enactment 1998– Selangor Waters Management Enactment 1999– Pahang Water Resources Enactment 2007– Kedah Water Resources Bill 2007
Water Governance in Malaysia – Institutional Framework
IWRM Water Balance1.2. National Water Resources Council (1998) is the apex body
on par with other natural resources such as Land, Forests and Minerals Councils, all of which chaired by DPM and with NRE currently as the Secretariat, thereby duly recognizing NRE as the Custodian Ministry for “Water as a Resource”
3. Federal Administration - Cabinet Reshuffle – March 2004/April 2009
4. State Administration - Waters Resources Authority or “Lembaga Urus Air” established in Sabah (1998), Selangor (1999), Pahang (2007), and Kedah (2007) empowered by relevant legislation
IWRM is a balance:Separation of powers between 2 sides of the scale
Recent Policy Statements on Water Resources Management in Malaysia
• Chapter 7 of the Third Outline Perspective Plan (OPP3) on Sectoral Strategies and Practices regarding the Environment highlighted the need for a National Water Policy which would be formulated in the 8thMP to provide a framework for water conservation and management to ensure adequate and safe water supply for the nation. The focus of the policy will be on the integrated river-basin approach; the protection of catchment areas and reservoirs; and addressing the issues of inter-State and inter-basin water transfers.
Policy Statements on Water Resources Management in Malaysia (2)
• Chapter 19 of the Eighth Malaysia Plan (RM8) on“Environment and Sustainable Resource Management”emphasised that:
– The Government formed a National Water Resources Council in 1998 to provide a forum for a holistic approach for the planning and management of water resources.
– The river-basin approach to water management in Malaysia was initiated with the establishment of LUAS in 1999. State Governments were urged to set-up similar water management bodies to integrate planning, monitoring, enforcement and management of water resources on a river-basin basis.
Policy Statements on Water Resources Management in Malaysia (3)
– Water quality would be protected through an Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) system while a National Water Policy would be formulated under the Plan to provide the framework for water conservation and management.
– Issues of inter-State and inter basin water transfers will be addressed
– Demand management of water to include improvement of efficiency of supply and use, reducing water leakage and wastage, recycling of water, rainwater harvesting, and the use of market-based instruments.
– Awareness campaigns and public education programmes will stress the critical importance of water and the need for conservation.
Policy Statements on Water Resources Management in Malaysia (4)
Chapter 22 of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (RM9) on “Promoting Environmental Stewardship under section 22 on Water Quality states :
• The utilization of the integrated river basin management (IRBM) approach will be intensified to improve river and groundwater quality.
• Efforts will be targeted towards reducing the number of polluted rivers.
• Public sewerage systems will be upgraded and additional centralised sewerage treatment plants will be constructed to reduce the discharge of inadequately treated wastewater into river systems.
Policy Statements on Water Resources Management in Malaysia (5)
• Gross pollution traps and sedimentation ponds will be installed at critical locations in river basins to reduce the outflow of nonpoint source pollutants.
• Siltation and erosion control will be addressed through the amendment of existing laws.
• Enforcement will be intensified to ensure that effluent discharge comply with environmental standards in order to maintain environmental health.
Cabinet Reshuffle– March 2004/April 2009 (1)
WATER AS A RESOURCE• Natural Resources and Environment Ministry (2004)-NEW
– Land, Water, Forests, Mineral, Wildlife, Environment• Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry
– Meteorology
WATER FOR LIVELIHOODS• Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry (2004)
– Irrigation and agricultural drainage• Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry (2009)
– Water Supply and Sewerage, Hydropower
Cabinet Reshuffle– March 2004/April 2009 (2)
• Local Government and Housing Ministry– Urban Drainage, Parks and Gardens, Recreational Lakes, Golf
Courses
• Health Ministry– Rural Water Supply, Treated Water Quality Monitoring
• Works Ministry– Infrastructural Drainage Works
• Transport Ministry– Railways, Ports and Navigation
• Federal Territories and Urban Well Being Ministry– Urban Drainage, Parks and Gardens, Recreational Lakes
• Plantation Industries & Commodities Ministry– Land Development
• Rural and Regional Development Ministry– Land Development
IWRM Implementation Road Map
1993 – Love Our River Campaign
•1998 – National Water Resources Council
1999 - Formation of Apex organization –(Selangor Water Management Authority
2001 - Storm water Management Manual
2002 - National Sewerage Project – National Strategic Plan for Solid Waste Management
2003 - Study on Integrated catchment management of Sungai Damansara
2005 - National Study for the Effective Implementation of IWRM in Malaysia
2008 - Water Service Industry Act (WSIA)
2009 - Implementation of IWRM BMP’s
2010 Review of National Water Resources Study
2010 – NWR Policy and NWR Model Law
2010 – Formation of Water Resources Department
Progress
(Source: Courtesy of DG,JPS – Keynote address at Water DemandColloquium on 20th October 2009)
Department of Water Resources!• Logical step forward correcting an anomaly since the creation of the
NRE Ministry in 2004 to deal with “Water as a resource” and as a sub-set of INRM.
• JPS within NRE, following the split in 2004, is a misnomer considering its current mandate and primary focus is “management of national water resources” and “planning and management of river basins”
• Groundwater as an activity (Hydrogeology) under Geoscience needs to be upgraded into the mainstream of water resources development and management thereby shedding past “hydroschizophrenia” .
• The proposed creation of DWR does provide the ideal opportunity for NRE to consider intra-Ministry integration by bringing SW and GW as a unitary resource managed by a single agency
• IRBM would be the best platform for the management and optimal use of SW and GW independently or conjunctively.
Integrated Water Resource Management in Malaysia
Flood Mitigation Water Supply Hydropower
EnvironmentIrrigation and Drainage
“...And We have made from water every living thing.”(Al-Anbiya 21:30)
“(Remember) how He imbued you with tranquility and confidence in Him! He sent you rain from the skies so that it may refresh you, rescue you from desert thirst, unify your hearts and strengthen your resolves.”
(Al‐Anfal 8:11)
IWRM is about MAKING WATER EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS. Good water governance is our collective responsibility. We owe it to Mother Nature to protect this precious and unifying resource
THANK YOU
NRE’s functions
JPS
JMG’s functions
