Intergrated Water Resources Management Manual

IWRM is a systematic process for the sustainable development, allocation and monitoring of water resource use in the context of social, economic and environmental objectives.

Growth in population, increased economic activity and improved standards of living lead to increased competition for and conflicts over the limited freshwater resource. A combination of social inequity and economic marginalisation, forces people living in extreme poverty to overexploit soil and forestry resources, with damaging impacts on water resources.