Balancing Competing Demands for Sustainable Water Development

Dear Colleagues,

This topic delves into the balancing act required to achieve water security for all while ensuring sustainable water resource management for future generations. It explores policy frameworks that integrate the environmental, social, and economic pillars of sustainable development to equitably allocate water across various sectors (agriculture, industry, domestic use, and environment) in the context of SDG 6 (water and sanitation for all).

Key areas of interest:

• Optimizing water policy instruments: Analyzing the effectiveness of water pricing mechanisms, water rights frameworks, incentives, and regulations in achieving multiple objectives. Exploring how these instruments can balance competing water demands while promoting conservation, efficient water use, and economic development;
• Managing conflicts of interest and trade-offs: Analyzing the effectiveness of conflict resolution mechanisms, water rights frameworks, and prioritization among diverging objectives. Exploring how different processes negotiate conflicting water demands along with differences in power, resources and interests of water users, and uses/sectors as well as across borders (within as well as between states);
• Scaling up innovation: Identifying and exploring innovative policy approaches that promote water conservation, efficient use, and investment in water infrastructure, particularly in underserved communities. This could include policies that encourage rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, and leak detection/repair programs. Examples involving private sector are particularly welcome;
• Empowering water governance: Investigating models of participatory water governance that involve diverse stakeholders (communities (including indigenous groups), NGOs, and industry) in policy development and implementation. This fosters water policies reflective of community needs and promotes social equity;
• Water security for the SDGs: Exploring the complex interlinkages between water security and other SDGs, particularly Energy Security (SDG 7), Food Security (SDG 2), and climate change. Analyzing how water policies can address these interconnected challenges and contribute to progress toward all SDGs.

Sample Research Questions

• How can water pricing mechanisms be designed to balance competing demands for water while promoting conservation and economic efficiency?
• How can water allocation (and land-use) processes be designed to effectively negotiate the conflicting demands of different users and uses?
• What are the direct and indirect consequences when one interest or interest group takes precedence over others? What are the broader implications for country/basin development strategies?
• What are the most effective policy frameworks for scaling-up innovative water management technologies, particularly in underserved communities?
• How can participatory water governance models be strengthened to ensure equitable and sustainable water resource management?
• What strategies can be developed to address the interconnected challenges of water security, energy security, food security, and climate change within the framework of the SDGs?

Subtopics can include:

• Water allocation strategies (tradable vs. customary water rights, virtual water markets, embodied water trade, allocation frameworks, and international agreements, conflict resolution mechanisms);
• Water management innovation (rainwater harvesting and circular solutions);
• Demand management approaches;
• Inclusive water governance models;
• Resource nexus management.

Prof. Dr. Olcay Ünver
Dr. Marianne Kjellén
Dr. Anders Jägerskog
Guest Editors

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• water allocation
• water security
• demand management
• water policy instruments
• water management innovation
• inclusive water governance
• resource nexus
• climate change adaptation
• leak detection and repair
• virtual water trade