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MENA-Water is a community of more than 360 members who are engaged in e-discussions on sustainable management of water resources within the Middle East and North Africa region. The community of practice aims to promote sharing of experiences and knowledge throughout the region and provide a central point for networking for all researchers, experts, practitioners and other stakeholders with an interest in water resources and wastewater management. Fellow community members come from a wide variety of technical backgrounds from all across the globe, from Australia and the South Pacific to Asia, to Africa, to Europe, North and South America and of course the Middle East and North Africa.

 

For 6 weeks during November and December 2005, the topic for discussion was on water demand management specifically, where approximately 100 messages were exchanged. Following is a synthesis of this discussion, as provided by Saul (Shaul) Arlosoroff,a participant in the group

 

There was a consensus between the participants that WDM is a highly important instrument to achieve adequate water resources management, especially, but not only, in the more water scarce countries, regions and cities.  Huge quantities of water are wasted or are inefficiently used, and economic demand for water is unmet. 

 

It was agreed that the expression WDM is a broad term which incorporates water conservation as well as the increase of water-use efficiency within the water consuming productive sectors like the agriculture sector (mainly the irrigation sub-sector) and the industrial sector. Water conservation is mainly effective in the urban and domestic sectors by enabling the utilities to increase the water supply coverage to the un-served groups. Yet, the irrigation and industrial consumers in many countries have large potential to increase production per unit of water, thus enhancing the water availability to the growing demand by the growing urban populations.

 

A number of related issues were brought up in the discussion such as:

-   Drawing the line between water demand and supply management. Utilized groundwater, development of new wells and reuse of wastewater are examples of water resources that are not clearly defined as supply or demand management.

-   Dealing with the economics of WDM and doing economic or financial analysis to reflect the individual consumer costs and benefits. The active role of authorities in financing and the definition of the economics of ecological consumption, which may decrease the use of water consumers in that site. Ecological demand in most cases touches the public needs and not the specific consumers.

-   The broadness of the WDM definition. In the irrigation sector, agronomic decisions call for the changing of cropping patterns, where production per unit of water is increased, however, other socio-economic costs may be involved. Also, reduction of Evapo-transpiration is a factor in water policies.

-   Willingness and ability to pay for water, although may not be seen as directly linked to demand management, it does raise the issue of who will benefit from demand management. Actions which might force the increase of water rates (such as the costs of reducing unaccounted-for water, replacing old pipes or charging the low income groups in that city higher rates), often are beyond the  ability to pay.

 

The Mena-Water group is voluntarily organized by Noha Gaber. More information on the group can be found at the discussion homepage (http://www.dgroups.org/groups/worldbank/MENA-Water

 

 

 

 

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