Transboundary waters and their joint use hydrological and political aspects

Interdependence calls to unity 
IWRM means associations. 
Associations in NATURAL SYSTEMS: 
•
between land and water use 
•
between surface and ground waters
•
between upstream and downstream 
•
between fresh water systems and maritime systems 
•
between nature and mankind 
Associations in natural systems management - in HUMAN SYSTEMS: 
•
main water use in national economics
•
provision of coordination on between sectors 
•
provision of partnership between public and private sectors of management 
•
involvement of everybody in water resources management
 
Water is a matter of everybody 
 

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IWRM does not permit to mankind to imagine its activity separately 
from environment? 
When we analyze human activity or services system, practically all aspects of integration re-
quire understanding of environment, its possibilities, vulnerability and limits. Perfect integra-
tion is not realistic. But under appropriate understanding of natural system as a starting point 
we can undertake measures on support of integration approach to decision-making on water 
resources management at all levels - from individual farm to international river basin. 
One of examples - economic purposefulness in water resources management. This purpose-
fulness means 3 aspects: aspiration to governmental policy, financial priorities and planning, 
which takes into account all difficulties of water resources development; risks related to water 
and its use; encouraging private sector to make correct technological, productive and consum-
able choice based on real water value, providing possibilities and mechanism of participation 
of all parties concerned in decision making on water resources distribution, conflicts resolu-
tion, etc. 
National power and industrial policy can influence on water resources and vice versa. That is 
why these sectors development should be evaluated from point of view of its influence on wa-
ter resources and environment. This is not simple task as it seams. IWRM should comprise 
procedures for cross-sectoral information exchange and coordination as well as technique of 
assessment of separate projects impact on water resources and society as a whole. 
Integration of governmental policy influencing on private sector in order to make reasonable 
decision on investments and involving all parties concerned in the process of planning and 
decision-making is difficult to realize. How governments can achieve it? 
Integration is an art and science of mixing in needed proportions different aspects in one 
working unit. But it is known that integration itself can hot guarantee development of the best 
strategies, plans and management schemes like mixing to poor ingredients does not give good 
dish. 
Following IWRM private organizations and governmental agencies can be guided by several 
criteria, which take into account social, economic and natural conditions. The first is equity. 
All people should have access to safe water of needed amount and quality to support their life. 
The second is economic effectiveness. Water resources must be operated with maximum ef-
fectiveness due to their limitation and vulnerability and the last but not least this is ecological 
sustainability. Water resources should be exploited such a way that to support living system 
providing it for next generations.