SEARCHING SOLUTIONS TO

WATER ISSUES:

WATER GOVERNANCE

PROF. AYSEGUL TANIK

Istanbul Technical University, Dpt. of Environmental

Engineering, TURKEY

Regional Workshop on

“Water Resources Management: Needs & Prospects”

APRIL 22, 2013 Land Mark Hotel, Amman, Jordan

WATER GOVERNANCE

Global Water Partnership (GWP) Definition:

The range of political, social, economic and administrative systems that are in place to develop and manage water resources, and the delivery of water services, at different levels of society.

International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Definition:

Water governance is a trans-disciplinary field, which explores how water management policies and practices are formed and changed over time.

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Definition:

Water governance includes political, economic and social processes and institutions through which governments, private sector and civil society make decisions about how best to use, allocate, develop and manage water resources.

Good water governance is a precondition for implementing holistic, integrated water management strategies that balance sometimes competing needs for environmental sustainability, economic growth, and equity in access.

THE MACHINERY OF AN INSTITUTION

WATER INSTITUTIONS, the configurations of various legal, policy

and organizational elements involved in water development,

allocation, ownership, use, and management, are components of

water governance and form water governance capacity of countries.

Water Governance Capacity is a nation’s level of

competence to implement effective water

management through policies, laws, organizations,

regulations and compliance mechanisms.

Without clear policy… it is difficult to establish coherent

laws.

Without clear laws… it is difficult for organizations

(agencies) to know how to operate.

Without effective organizations (agencies)…

implementation and enforcement will be lax.

WATER GOVERNANCE

WATER GOVERNANCE DIMENSIONS

WATER

GOVERNANC

E

POLITICAL

DIMENSION

SOCIAL

DIMENSION

EC

ON

OM

IC D

IME

NS

ION

EN

VIR

ON

ME

NTA

L

DIM

EN

SIO

N

Equitable Use

Equal Democratic Opportunities

Sustainable Use Efficient Use

WATER GOVERNANCE DIMENSIONS

The social dimension points to the equitable use of water resources.

The economic dimension informs on efficient use of water resources and the role of water in overall economic growth.

The political dimension points to granting water stakeholders and citizens at large equal democratic opportunities to influence and monitor political processes and outcomes.

The environmental sustainability dimension shows that improved governance allows for enhanced sustainable use of water resources and ecosystem integrity.

EFFECTIVE WATER GOVERNANCE WOULD SEEK A GOOD

BALANCE AMONG THESE FOUR DIMENSIONS.

PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE WATER

GOVERNANCE

WATER GOVERNANCE

Coherent and

Integrative

Inclusive

Responsive and

Sustainable

Open and Transparent

Efficient

Accountable

Equitable and Ethical

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER

GOVERNANCE IN FRANCE

1898 Water Law: The basis of the legal system concerning water in France.

1964 Water Law: Organization of water management at the river basin scale.

For organizing dialogue and sharing of responsibilities among stakeholders,

an advisory body (the Basin Committee) and an executive organization (the

Water Agency) were created in 6 large river basins.

1992 Water Law: Adoption of Integrated Water Resources Management

approach.

Introduction of two planning tools on basin scale: the Master Plan for Water

Development and Management (SDAGE) for large basin, the Water

Development and Management Scheme (SAGE) for sub-basins.

2004 Law: Transposing of the EU Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) into

national legislation.

2009: Published first-generation River Basin Management Plans prepared in

accordance with EU WFD.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER

GOVERNANCE IN SPAIN

1866-1879 Water Laws

1926: Creation of River Basin Confederations (The Confederaciones

Hidrograficas) to group all major water users of each river basin, and to

allocate the water resources made available by major hydraulic engineering

works.

1985 Water Law: Adoption of Integrated Water Resources

Management approach.

Re-organizing of River Basin Confederations for development and

management of water resources at the basin scale in an integrative

manner. Consolidation of the institutional role of the River Basin

Confederations, definition of a model of co-decision making in which

direct water users and interested administrations have had an active

role in all water planning and management at basin level.

2009: Published first-generation River Basin Management Plans

prepared in accordance with EU WFD.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER

GOVERNANCE IN ENGLAND - WALES

1876 Prevention of River Pollution Law

1945 Water Law

1948 River Associations Law: First step to management of water

resources at the river basin scale: 32 River Boards were established with

administrative responsibility for the pollution control functions previously

provided by the local authorities.

1963 Water Resources Act: 27 River Authorities were established, each

with a role to conserve, redistribute and augment water resources in England

and Wales on a regional basis. The River Authorities replaced the river

boards established under the River Boards Act 1948.

1973 Water Act: Establishment of Water Authorities: 10 Water

Authorities, established based on the 10 major river basins in England and

Wales, replaced the river authorities established under the Water Resources

Act 1963.

The 1973 Act gave statutory responsibility for all aspects of water

management to each water authority in its region. Thus, river basin

management approach was adopted.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER

GOVERNANCE IN ENGLAND - WALES

1989 Water Act: Privatization of Water Authorities: It transformed the

existing 10 Water Authorities into the new Water and Sewerage Companies

and appointed them as the undertakers for their regions. It also provided for

the Secretary of State for the Environment to have overall responsibility for

regulation of drinking water quality, provided for the National Rivers

Authority to manage pollution and environmental control and defined the

duties of the Director General of Water Services (OFWAT) as the economic

regulator.

Environment Agency replaced the National Rivers Authority in 1995.

Now, Environment Agency is responsible for co-ordination of the integrated

river basin management in accordance with EU WFD.

2009: Published first-generation River Basin Management Plans

prepared in accordance with EU WFD.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER

GOVERNANCE IN AUSTRALIA

1900-1980 (Development Phase): Dam building for drought and flood

control.

1994: Council of Australian Governments Water Reform Agreement:

The key components of the agreement are improving water quality and

environment, refining water rights system and water allocation

procedures, pricing water through independent review and promoting

community participation.

Water Reform Agreement was paralleled by growing awareness of river

basin management, establishment of river basin (catchments)

organizations in some states like Virginia, New South Wales, South

Australia, Tasmania and involvement of community groups and

committees in development of river basin management plans.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER

GOVERNANCE IN AUSTRALIA

2007 Federal Water Law: Establishment of the Murray-Darling Basin

Authority for the integrated river basin management in Murray-Darling

Basin

Murray-Darling River, most important water resource of Australia,

straddles from four states, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria,

South Australia and Australian Capital Territory.

The Act gives the Commonwealth additional powers over state water

planning, including the establishment of the Murray-Darling Basin

Authority.

2004: Council of Australian Governments National Water Initiative

National Water Initiative is the national blueprint for water reform. The

NWI is a shared commitment by governments to increase the efficiency

of Australia's water use.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER

GOVERNANCE IN TURKEY

1923-1980

1923: Foundation of Republic of Turkey.

1936: Establishment of the General Directorate of Electrical Power Resources Survey

and Development Administration (EIEI).

1939: Establishment of the Directorate of Water Works affiliated to Ministry of Public

Works.

1953: Establishment of General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI).

1950s: Focusing socio-economic development based on the development of land and

water resources and supply-oriented water policies, starting to construction of large

dams and irrigation canals.

1961: Establishment of the State Planning Organization, a central planning body,

beginning of the arrangement of the public investments in the water sector through the

national five-year development plans: major water infrastructure such as irrigation

systems, storage facilities and multi- and single purpose dams (for e.g. Hydroelectricity

generation) was state-financed and state-managed.

1970s: Acceleration of the development of the country’s hydropower potential with the

oil crises.

1970s: Increasing of environmental problems and establishment of Under secretariat of

Environment of Prime Ministry, responsible for the coordination of activities related to

environment.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER

GOVERNANCE IN TURKEY

1980-1999

Supply-oriented water policies and sectoral water management.

Increasing of environmental problems.

1981: Establishment of new organizational models which link water and

wastewater management with the establishment of the Istanbul Water and

Sewage Administration (ISKI).

1983: Enactment of Environment Law.

1988: By-Law for Water Pollution Control.

1991: Establishment of the Ministry of Environment.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER GOVERNANCE IN

TURKEY 1999-2013

1999: Declaration of Turkey as a candidate country to EU.

Supply-oriented water policies and sectoral water management.

Increase of environmental problems.

Pilot Projects aiming at EU WFD harmonization in Turkey

Legislation changes done in order to move Turkish water legislation to that of

the Union’s.

2003: Establishment of Ministry of Environment and Forestry with merging of

Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Forestry.

2007: Combining water quality and quantity management under same Ministry

with the attachment of DSI to Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

2009: Opening of the Environment Chapter of EU Negotiations.

Definition of the River Basins in accordance with EU requirements.

Beginning of the preparation of the River Basin Protection Action Plans in

order to provide a basis for River Basin Management Plans obligated by EU

WFD.

2011: Fragmentation of the water quality and quantity management with the

establishment of two new Ministries; Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning

and Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs.

25 RIVER BASINS OF TURKEY

MAIN CHALLENGES OF WATER SECTOR IN TURKEY

1- WATER QUANTITY PROBLEMS

2- WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS

3- IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT

4- AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

5- NEGLIGANCE OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND LAND USE PLANNING

6- DEFICIENCIES OF MONITORING SYSTEM AND INCOMPLETE DATA

7- LEGAL ISSUES

8- ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

9- CHALLENGE OF TRANSPOSING AND IMPLEMENTING ALL ELEMENTS OF THE EU WFD

MAIN CHALLENGES OF TURKEY WATER SECTOR

Water issues that Turkey faces today are largely derived due to lack of

good and efficient governance.

Organizational structure for water resources management is highly

centralized.

Stakeholder participation in decision-making process is at a low

level.

The lack of a comprehensive water law,

fragmentation of the institutional framework,

complexity of coordination mechanisms are the other major

challenges in the Turkish water sector.

PROPOSED ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR GOOD WATER

GOVERNANCE IN TURKEY

THANKS FOR YOUR

ATTENTION…