Groundwater/surface-water interaction is receiving increasing focus in Africa due to its importance to ecologic systems and sustainability. In South Africa’s 1998 National Water Act (NWA), water-use licenses, including groundwater, are granted only after defining the Reserve, the amount of water needed to supply basic human needs and preserve some ecological integrity. Accurate quantification of groundwater contributions to ecosystems for successful implementation of the NWA proves challenging; many of South Africa’s aquifers are in heterogeneous and anisotropic fractured-rock settings. This paper reviews the current conceptualizations and investigative approaches regarding groundwater/surface-water interactions in the context of South African policies. Some selected pitfall experiences are emphasized. The most common approach in South Africa is estimation of average annual fluxes at the scale of fourth-order catchments (∼500 km2) with baseflow separation techniques and then subtracting the groundwater discharge rate from the recharge rate. This approach might be a good start, but it ignores spatial and temporal variability, potentially missing local impacts associated with production-well placement. As South Africa’s NWA has already been emulated in many countries including Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya, the successes and failures of the South African experience dealing with the groundwater/surface-water interaction will be analyzed to guide future policy directions.

This study examines how environmental issues have been addressed in the water sector in Brazil, within the context of activities of the Federal Government, generally, and those implemented under Bank sector operations, in particular. The core focus of the study lies in the management of water quality, as it affects both the users of raw water, and those who are primarily concerned with the disposal of wastewater. The report considers the following three sectoral areas concomitantly - water resources management, water supply and sanitation, and, the environment - thus limiting its review, and focus to those themes which are key to the over-arching issue of water quality. Water resources management in the country relied upon heavy investments in medium, and large scale projects that provided basic infrastructure for water uses. However, these have produced questionable impacts in terms of reducing poverty, and inequality. One of the reasons for this, has been the poor infrastructure management, which despite its importance, has been largely underestimated. While improvements in the utilization of existing infrastructure in the water sector remain critical, it needs to be complemented by incentives to both service providers, and water users. Moreover, low economic, environmental, and social returns from investments in the water sector, reflect the tendency to distract attention from the objectives in the design, and implementation of projects. Thus, an assessment of water quality goals is required, which should be based on systematic evaluations of the costs, and benefits of reaching alternative standards, and explicit social objectives.

Resumen Se presenta el análisis que hace el Foro Económico Mundial sobre la correlación del agua con la mayor parte de las actividades humanas, señalando el incremento de la presión sobre las agendas sociales, políticas, económicas y medioambientales. Con este antecedente se analizan los factores meteorológicos, geográficos, demográficos y los generados por el impacto del cambio climático en México, señalando los grandes retos para la administración de los recursos hídricos: posicionar su gestión como un asunto estratégico y de seguridad nacional; garantizar el derecho humano al agua, saneamiento y a un medio ambiente sano; cumplir con los objetivos de desarrollo sustentable; lograr la equidad de género; establecer la transparencia y rendición de cuentas, y desconcentrar y descentralizar la gestión del agua. Se hacen propuestas de solución, estableciendo tiempos y costos. Destacan dos conclusiones: no se puede resolver el reto del agua en México en seis años, pero sí es posible establecer las bases para hacerlo. Se requieren al menos 24 años (2042) para contar con infraestructura que contribuya a lograr la sustentabilidad y seguridad hídrica en el país. | Abstract The analysis of the Word Economic Forum about the relationship between water and human activities is presented and the increase of pressure over social, political, economic and environmental activities is described. With this background, the meteorological, geographical and demographic factors are reviewed, as well as those originated by the climate change in Mexico, highlighting the great challenges for water management: To place it as a strategic issue of national security; to guarantee the human right to water, sanitation and a healthy environment; to achieve the objectives of sustainable development; to achieve gender equity, to set transparency and accountability; and to devolve and decentralize the water management. Solutions are presented, including timeframe and costs. The two most important conclusions are: Water challenges in Mexico cannot be overcome in six years however, it is possible to establish the required environment. At least 24 years are needed (2042) to setting up infrastructure and conditions that make possible sustainability and water security in Mexico.

Evaluates the degree of success of water users in managing water allocations and deliveries in two irrigation district modules in the Lagunera Region of Mexico. Policies and practices are evaluated from the standpoints of the nature of planning rules, consistency, equity, and efficiency in implementation of the plans.

Evaluates the degree of success of water users in managing water allocations and deliveries in two irrigation district modules in the Lagunera Region of Mexico. Policies and practices are evaluated from the standpoints of the nature of planning rules, consistency, equity, and efficiency in implementation of the plans.

Comunicação apresentada no 8º Congresso Nacional de Administração Pública – Desafios e Soluções, em Carcavelos de 21 a 22 de Novembro de 2011.

In the last three decades, Mexican water management policy has been reformed to include the participation of social actors in the decision-making process. Nonetheless, water governance receives intense criticism from those who consider that this participatory approach has decreased the efficiency in decision-making and others who believe that public participation is not efficiently included. To clarify this debate, we identify the fundamentals, the obstacles, and the challenges of the public involvement in water management through a systematic review of the literature. We found that the restrictions of such involvement are most likely associated with: 1) characteristics and context of the participants; 2) different levels of information and power; 3) institutional arrangement and rules of the process; 4) the lack of resources to participate, and 5) the lack of motivation and political will. The most critical challenges are: a) decentralization; b) the combination of technical and non-technical knowledge; c) the strengthening of capacities for participation, and d) the influence of the government in the decision-making process. With these elements, we elaborate an analytical framework and come up with the recommendations to improve public participation in water management in Mexico.

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados, desde el punto de vista de la eficiencia económica, de las alternativas de suministro de agua a la ciudad de Hermosillo, Sonora, México. En el análisis se aplica el criterio de Kaldor-Hicks para la evaluación y se comparan dos fuentes distintas de suministro: desalar agua de mar y comprar agua a la agricultura de la región, poniendo énfasis en el conflicto distributivo entre el uso urbano y agrícola del agua entre diferentes cuencas hidrográficas. | This paper presents results related to the economic efficiency of water supply alternatives for Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. The analysis applied the Kaldor-Hicks criterion to evaluate and compare two different supply sources: desalinated seawater and bought water for agriculture in the region. Emphasis is given to the distributive conflict between urban and agricultural water uses in the different hydrographic watersheds.