water resource management essay in english

Essay on Water Resources

Students are often asked to write an essay on Water Resources in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Water Resources

What are water resources.

Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful to humans. They include groundwater, rivers, lakes, and collected rainwater.

Importance of Water Resources

Water resources are essential for survival. They provide drinking water, irrigation for crops, and power for industries. Without water resources, life as we know it would not exist.

Threats to Water Resources

Water resources are under threat from pollution, overuse, and climate change. This can lead to water scarcity, affecting people, animals, and plants.

Conserving Water Resources

It’s crucial to conserve water resources. This can be done by reducing water usage, recycling water, and protecting water sources from pollution.

Also check:

10 Lines on Water Resources
Speech on Water Resources

250 Words Essay on Water Resources

Introduction.

Water resources refer to the supply of groundwater and surface water in a given area. They are fundamental to life, ecosystems, and economies, playing a vital role in agriculture, industry, household chores, and maintaining biodiversity.

Significance of Water Resources

Water resources are essential for sustaining life and promoting development. They contribute to food security by providing water for irrigation, enabling crop production. Moreover, they facilitate various industrial processes, including cooling, dilution, and transportation.

Challenges to Water Resources

Despite their importance, water resources are under threat due to overuse, pollution, and climate change. Over-extraction for agriculture and industry is depleting groundwater reserves, while pollution from human activities is contaminating both surface and groundwater. Climate change is exacerbating these issues, altering precipitation patterns and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events.

Water Resource Management

Effective management of water resources is critical. This involves balancing the competing demands of different sectors, ensuring equitable access, and protecting the natural environment. Strategies include water conservation, pollution control, and the use of technology to enhance water efficiency.

In conclusion, water resources are invaluable, underpinning a wide range of social, economic, and environmental functions. However, they are under increasing pressure, and their sustainable management is a pressing global challenge. Through collective action and innovative solutions, we can ensure the continued availability of these vital resources for future generations.

500 Words Essay on Water Resources

Water resources are an essential aspect of our planet, playing a crucial role in supporting life and maintaining ecological balance. These resources, including rivers, lakes, oceans, and groundwater, serve multiple purposes, from being a source of drinking water to supporting agriculture and industry.

The Importance of Water Resources

Water resources are fundamental to human survival and development. They provide water for drinking, sanitation, and food production, making them indispensable for human health and food security. Moreover, water resources are crucial for energy production, as hydropower is a significant source of renewable energy.

Challenges Facing Water Resources

Despite their importance, water resources face numerous challenges. Overexploitation, pollution, and climate change are the primary threats. Overuse of water resources, especially for irrigation, often leads to water scarcity. Pollution, mainly from industrial and agricultural activities, affects the quality of water, making it unsafe for consumption and damaging aquatic ecosystems. Climate change exacerbates these challenges by altering precipitation patterns, leading to either droughts or floods.

Conservation of Water Resources

Given these challenges, conserving water resources is paramount. This conservation can be achieved through sustainable water management practices. These include efficient water use, reducing water pollution, and implementing measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change. For instance, promoting water-efficient technologies in agriculture and industries can substantially reduce water use. Similarly, stringent regulations can help minimize water pollution.

The Role of Technology in Water Resource Management

Technology plays a significant role in managing water resources. Advanced technologies, such as remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), are used to monitor water resources, assess their status, and predict future trends. These technologies enable the identification of areas of water scarcity, helping to target interventions effectively. Furthermore, technological innovations, such as water recycling and desalination, can help to augment water supplies, especially in water-scarce regions.

In conclusion, water resources are vital for human survival and socio-economic development. However, they face significant challenges, including overexploitation, pollution, and climate change. Therefore, there is an urgent need for sustainable water management practices, which can be facilitated by leveraging technology. By doing so, we can ensure the availability and sustainable management of water resources for present and future generations.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Water Conservation Essay in English for Students

Water is among the most crucial resources on Earth. However, humans are misusing it alarmingly. This article has some water conservation essays for raising awareness.

October 19, 2023

Table of Contents

Water Conservation Essay: Water, essential for all life, is often overlooked as a finite resource. Water conservation is a shared responsibility to secure clean water for future generations. This blog covers the global water crisis, the importance of conservation, practical tips, successful projects, challenges, and the role individuals play.

Water Conservation Essay in English

Water represents one of life’s most fundamental elements, supporting the e500+ Words Essayxistence of all living organisms on Earth and serving as an indispensable resource for human survival. Despite the seeming abundance of water on our planet, the accessibility of clean, freshwater is a finite and restricted commodity. Thus, the preservation of water takes on paramount significance to guarantee that forthcoming generations can access this indispensable resource. In this article, we will explore the importance of water conservation and a variety of strategies to promote its prudent utilisation.

Water is an exhaustible resource, with Earth’s reserves of freshwater being limited. While approximately 70% of the Earth’s surface is enveloped in water, only a small portion of this constitutes freshwater, with a considerable fraction being locked away in glaciers and polar ice caps, rendering it inaccessible. The mounting global population and escalating water demands in agriculture, industry, and households have intensified concerns regarding the depletion of this valuable resource.

Among the most pressing concerns related to water conservation is the reckless and extravagant use of water in various parts of the world. Water wastage stems from issues like leaky faucets, continuously running toilets, and excessive irrigation practices. Addressing these issues necessitates the collaboration of individuals, communities, and governments to champion water conservation efforts.

Water conservation strategies are pivotal in securing the sustainability of our water supplies. The following are some effective approaches to conserve water:

Leak Rectification: Regularly inspect and rectify leaking faucets, pipes, and toilets to curtail water wastage.
Water-Efficient Appliances: Substituting outdated and inefficient appliances with water-efficient models like high-efficiency toilets, washing machines, and dishwashers, which consume significantly less water.
Rainwater Collection: Accumulating and storing rainwater for domestic and gardening use to alleviate the demand on local water reservoirs.
Xeriscaping: Opt for native and drought-resistant flora in landscaping to decrease the necessity for excessive watering.
Responsible Irrigation: Employ efficient irrigation techniques, such as drip irrigation, and schedule lawn and garden watering during cooler times to reduce water evaporation.
Curtail Shower and Bath Duration: Reducing shower and bath duration results in a considerable reduction in water consumption.
Faucet Management: Turn off taps when brushing teeth or washing dishes and employ basins for collecting water for rinsing vegetables or cleaning.
Educational Initiatives and Advocacy: Advocate for water conservation in your community and educate others about the importance of responsible water use.
Governmental Measures: Governments should enact and enforce water conservation regulations and provide incentives for individuals and businesses to save water.
Recycling and Reuse: Implement water recycling systems for industrial processes and utilise greywater for non-potable applications. Through the adoption of these practices, we can collectively wield a substantial influence on water conservation.

In summation, water conservation is not merely a choice; it is a necessity. The judicious and sustainable management of water is imperative to guarantee a continuous supply of clean and safe water for both the present and future generations. By implementing the aforementioned techniques for water conservation and fostering a culture of conscientious water use, we can collaborate to safeguard this invaluable resource and preserve the health of our planet.

Water Conservation Essay in 300 Words

Water conservation is a crucial endeavour in light of the finite nature of this life-sustaining resource. With the world’s population expanding and the demand for water rising across agriculture, industry, and households, responsible water use is imperative for future generations.

Minimising water wastage stands at the core of conservation efforts. Addressing issues like leaky faucets and pipes can result in significant savings. Moreover, the adoption of low-flow fixtures and appliances doesn’t compromise convenience while reducing consumption. Raising awareness and educational campaigns can promote these practices.

Efficient agricultural water management is pivotal. Techniques such as drip irrigation and precision farming minimise water wastage and enhance crop yields. Farmers can also embrace drought-resistant crops and rainwater harvesting for improved water efficiency.

Industries should prioritise water-saving technologies and recycling methods to reduce their water footprint. Government regulations and incentives can stimulate the adoption of sustainable water management practices.

Protecting natural water bodies like rivers, lakes, and wetlands is vital for ecosystem health. Pollution control and proper waste disposal are essential in safeguarding these sources. Preserving natural habitats plays a key role in maintaining water quality.

Community involvement is a potent driver of water conservation. Encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their water use and participate in local efforts can yield a significant impact on preservation.

In conclusion, water conservation is not a choice but a necessity. Responsible usage in homes, agriculture, and industry, combined with the safeguarding of natural water sources, ensures water’s availability for both current and future generations. This collective effort is indispensable for the survival of our planet.

Water Conservation Essay in 150 Words

Water stands as one of the most valuable resources on our planet, crucial for all life forms. Nevertheless, the availability of pure, freshwater is rapidly decreasing due to excessive use, contamination, and shifts in the climate. Hence, the preservation of water has emerged as a pressing global issue.

The act of conserving water is imperative to maintain ecosystems, support agriculture, and meet the rising needs of a continuously growing population. There exist several uncomplicated yet efficient methods to contribute to water conservation. Firstly, repairing leaks in pipelines and faucets can result in the preservation of numerous gallons of water annually. Secondly, employing low-flow fixtures and appliances aids in curtailing water consumption. Thirdly, cultivating mindfulness regarding water usage in daily routines, such as taking shorter showers and turning off the tap when not in use, can have a substantial impact.

In the realm of agriculture, implementing water-efficient techniques like drip irrigation can serve to conserve water. Industries have the potential to adopt recycling and wastewater treatment approaches to diminish water wastage.

Ultimately, it’s our collective responsibility to conserve water, as it ensures a sustainable future for ourselves and the generations to come. Water conservation is not just a choice; it’s a necessity.

Water Conservation and Management Essay

Water is Earth’s most precious resource, essential for all life, yet often overlooked. With a growing global population and escalating climate change, effective water conservation and management are critical. This essay discusses their importance, challenges, and strategies.

Scarce Resource: Freshwater is limited and under threat from pollution and overuse.
Ecosystems: Healthy aquatic systems maintain biodiversity and ecological balance.
Human Survival: Clean water is a fundamental human right.
Agriculture: Efficient water management in agriculture ensures food security.
Economic Stability: Water is integral to many industries.
Overuse and Wastage: Excessive consumption and wastage deplete resources.
Pollution: Chemicals, sewage, and industrial pollutants harm water sources.
Climate Change: Altered precipitation patterns make water management unpredictable.
Population Growth: Growing population strains resources.
Infrastructure: Many lack proper water infrastructure.
Education: Raise awareness about water conservation.
Technology: Develop water-saving solutions.
Infrastructure: Invest in water management infrastructure.
Legislation: Enforce water conservation and pollution control laws.
Ecosystems: Protect and restore natural habitats.
Recycling: Reuse treated wastewater.
Desalination: Sustainably harness desalination where needed.

In conclusion, water conservation and management are vital for our planet’s future, requiring education, technology, and responsible governance to address challenges and secure this invaluable resource. Act now to protect water for all.

Short Essay on Water Conservation

Water is an indispensable resource for life on Earth, but its supply is limited, necessitating urgent conservation. With global population growth, climate change, and increasing water demands in agriculture, industry, and households, preserving this resource is paramount.

Agriculture consumes about 70% of freshwater, making efficient irrigation methods and drought-resistant crops essential for conservation. Industries can reduce water usage through advanced recycling and treatment. At home, fixing leaks, using low-flow fixtures, and practising water-conscious habits make a big difference.

Government policies play a vital role through legislation, efficiency standards, and public awareness campaigns.

Water conservation is also tied to environmental preservation, as it prevents ecosystem disruption and reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

In conclusion, water conservation is a global imperative. It’s not just the responsibility of governments and industries but a shared duty of every individual. By acting now, we secure a sustainable future with abundant freshwater for generations to come.

Water Conservation Essay FAQs

Yes, many regions have regulations for water conservation, such as drought restrictions and efficient fixture requirements.

It ensures long-term water availability, essential for economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

Xeriscaping conserves water, lowers maintenance, and enhances aesthetics.

Yes, smart metres and data analytics enhance monitoring and efficiency in water conservation.

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Environmental Science: Smart Water Management Essay (Critical Writing)

Among the essential elements in human life is water, which is required for maintaining the water balance in the body and for cleanliness, as well as for many economic sectors, from agriculture to metallurgy. Scarcity is a state of accessible water supplies in which regulations or recommendations of local authorities restrict their use to replenish such resources or develop novel methods for getting them. It is vital to anticipate prospective chances to identify a certain condition of resource scarcity. Solutions are certain measures and processes initiated by specific citizens or authorized bodies, designed according to scientific estimations for leveling scarcity. The notion of the solution is wide since it may be both generic and specific, relying on technology or ecological means.

The cost of supplementary hydration in the agriculture industry is very considerable. The requirement for extra hydration is reduced by using native and drought-tolerant crop types and exercising WaterSense certification. An agricultural efficiency assessment also can cut the water used for landscaping. Ground moisture detectors or weather-based watering devices designed according to water efficiency requirements are utilized for indispensable aquatic vegetation. The widespread use of algorithmic devices to track water use can improve the efficiency of using this resource. The other important issue is safeguarding wetlands, which act as ecological water filters. They play a significant part in gathering and preparing water. Although wetlands are being lost at an astonishing speed, protecting them might benefit them significantly. If humanity wants wetlands to help it in attempts to lessen water shortage, we need to take more rigorous conservation strategies.

Urban water governance critically needs innovative approaches, according to a growing body of opinion in the international water sector, to cope with climate change. It is obvious that modern society’s methods for controlling water usage involve innovation and research, but they also necessitate the return of conventional understanding derived from locally created water consumption methods (Lazarová et al., 2014). To address a local issue of water shortage, individuals should improve water filtering technologies, decrease water use, and increase water retention in reservoirs. Bello household water devices may be used for the water’s revolutionary extraction technique for removing impurities. A mercury-free UV water disinfection system protects drinking water from harmful bacteria (Lazarová et al., 2014). A transparent, justified, and controlled use of all resources is required for the continued growth of the economy and maintenance of the current level of life for most people.

Lazarová, M., Varga, M., & Gažová, D. (2019). Transformations of Urbanized Landscape Following the Smart Water Management Concept . In Cagáňová, D., Balog, M., Knapčíková, L., Soviar, J., Mezarcıöz, S. (Eds.), Smart Technology Trends in Industrial and Business Management. EAI/Springer Innovations in Communication and Computing . Springer, Cham. Web.

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Peer-reviewed

Research Article

Water resource management: IWRM strategies for improved water management. A systematic review of case studies of East, West and Southern Africa

Roles Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

* E-mail: [email protected]

Affiliations Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Varmac Consulting Engineers, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Roles Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Department of Civil & Structural Engineering, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya

Roles Conceptualization, Methodology, Supervision, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Roles Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Department of Agriculture and Engineering Services, Irrigation Engineering Section, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

Tinashe Lindel Dirwai,
Edwin Kimutai Kanda,
Aidan Senzanje,
Toyin Isiaka Busari

Published: May 25, 2021
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236903
Reader Comments

The analytical study systematically reviewed the evidence about the IWRM strategy model. The study analysed the IWRM strategy, policy advances and practical implications it had, since inception on effective water management in East, West and Southern Africa.

The study adopted the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) and the scoping literature review approach. The study searched selected databases for peer-reviewed articles, books, and grey literature. DistillerSR software was used for article screening. A constructionist thematic analysis was employed to extract recurring themes amongst the regions.

The systematic literature review detailed the adoption, policy revisions and emerging policy trends and issues (or considerations) on IWRM in East, West and Southern Africa. Thematic analysis derived four cross-cutting themes that contributed to IWRM strategy implementation and adoption. The identified four themes were donor effect, water scarcity, transboundary water resources, and policy approach. The output further posited questions on the prospects, including whether IWRM has been a success or failure within the African water resource management fraternity.

Citation: Dirwai TL, Kanda EK, Senzanje A, Busari TI (2021) Water resource management: IWRM strategies for improved water management. A systematic review of case studies of East, West and Southern Africa. PLoS ONE 16(5): e0236903. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236903

Editor: Sergio Villamayor-Tomas, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, SPAIN

Received: July 12, 2020; Accepted: May 2, 2021; Published: May 25, 2021

Copyright: © 2021 Dirwai et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Data Availability: All relevant data are within the paper.

Funding: This study was supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) in the form of a grant awarded to TLD (131377) and VarMac Consulting Engineers in the form of a salary for TLD. The specific roles of the authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section. The funders had no additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing interests: The authors have read the journal’s policy and have the following potential competing interests: TLD is a paid employee of VarMac Consulting Engineers. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products associated with this research to declare.

1 Introduction

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a concept that is meant to foster effective water resource management. GWP [ 1 ] defined it as “the process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, to maximise the resultant economic and social welfare equitably without compromising the sustainability of vital systems”. A holistic approach, in the form of the Dublin statement on Water and Sustainable Development (DSWSD), emerged and it became the backbone of IWRM principles.

According to Solanes and Gonzalez-Villarreal [ 2 ] the Dublin priciples are: “ (1) Freshwater is a finite and vulnerable resource , essential to sustain life , development and the environment; (2) Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach , involving users , planners and policy-makers at all levels , (3) Women play a central part in the provision , management , and safeguarding of water , and (4) Water has an economic value in all its competing uses , and should be recognised as an economic good .” The seamless conflation of the DSWSD and the Agenda 21 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992 further strengthened the IWRM discourse and facilitated the policy approach of IWRM [ 3 , 4 ]. Since its inception the IWRM policy has been the holy grail of water resource management in Africa, Asia, and Europe to mention a few. For policy diffusion, countries were required to develop an IWRM policy blueprints for effective water use [ 5 ].

This review sought to unveil the innovative IWRM strategy approach by critically examining its genesis, implementation, adoption and the main drivers in in East, Southern and West Africa. Secondary to this, the study endeavoured to determine whether the IWRM implementation has been a success or failure. The choice of East, West and Southern Africa was influenced by the regional dynamics of Sub-Saharan Africa which have unique problems in water resources management and the hydropolitical diversity in this region. The isolated cases provide a holistic representation t the implementation dynamics of IWRM. In addition, sub-Sahara Africa was the laboratory for IWRM with Zimbabwe and South Africa being the early implementers [ 6 ]. Apart from the IWRM strategy being a social experiment in sub-Sahara, there exists a gap on an overarching review on the performance and aggregated outcomes of the IWRM adopters in the continent. The selection of the countries of interest was based on the authors geo-locations and their expert experiences with the IWRM strategy in their respective localities. The study sought to draw trends, similarities, and potential differences in the drivers involved in achieving the desired IWRM outcome.

IWRM strategy approach and implementation are ideally linked to individual country’s developmental policies [ 7 ]. Southern Africa (Zimbabwe and South Africa) is the biggest adopter of the water resource management strategy and produced differed uptake patterns [ 8 ]. In East Africa, Tanzania,Uganda and Kenya also adopted the IWRM strategy, whilst in West Africa, Burkina Faso latently adopted the IWRM strategy in 1992 [ 4 ] and in Ghana, customary and traditional water laws transformed into latent IWRM practices [ 9 ].

Various initiatives were put in place to aid the adoption of IWRM in sub-Sahara Africa. For example, Tanzania benefited from donor funds and World Bank programmes that sought to alleviate poverty and promote environmental flows. The World Bank radically upscaled and remodelled IWRM in Tanzania through the River Basin Management—Smallholder Irrigation Improvement Programme (RBM-SIIP) [ 10 ]. The government of Uganda’s efforts of liberalising the markets, opening democratic space and decentralising the country attracted donor funds that drove the IWRM strategy agenda. The long-standing engagement between Uganda and the Nordic Fresh Water initiative helped in the diffusion of IWRM strategy in the country. Finally, in West Africa, Burkina Faso and Ghana made significant strides in operationalising the IWRM strategy by adopting the West Africa Water Resources Policy (WAWRP). A massive sense of agency coupled with deliberate government efforts drove the adoption status of Burkina Faso.

Total policy diffusion can be achieved when the practice or idea has supporting enablers. Innovation is key in developing plocies that altersocietal orthodox policy paths that fuel hindrance and consequently in-effective water governance [ 11 ]. Acknowledging the political nature of water (water governance and transboundary catchments issues) is the motivation to legislate water-driven and people-driven innovative policy [ 12 ]. Water policy reform should acknowledge the differing interests’ groups of the water users and its multi-utility nature; thus, diffusion channels should be tailored accordingly, avoiding the ‘one size fits all’ fallacy. IWRM as an innovative strategy approach diffused from the global stage to Africa and each regional block adopted the approach at different times under different circumstances.

The rest of this paper is outlined as follows; section 2 presents the conceptual framework adopted and the subsequent methodology. Section 3 presents the results and discussion. The discussion is structured around innovation driver in each respective region. Thereafter, sub-section 3.4 presents the prospect of IWRM in the East, West and Southern Africa regions. Lastly, the paper presents the conclusion.

2 Methodology

2.1 conceptual framework and methodology.

The analytical framework applied in the study is based on the water innovation frames by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) [ 13 ]. The UNDESA [ 13 ], classified water frames into three distinct categories namely water management strategies (e.g., IWRM), water infrastructure and water services. The former partly involves IWRM strategies and the latter encompasses economic water usage such as agriculture, energy production and industrial applications [ 12 ].

The literature review identified research gaps that informed the employed search strategy. The literature that qualified for inclusion was thoroughly analysed and discussed. The aggregated outcomes were used for excerpt extraction in the thematic analysis.

2.2 Literature handling

The study performed a systematic review as guided by the Arksey and O’Malley [ 14 ] approach. The approach details methods on how to scope, gather, screen and report literature. The study further employed a constructionist thematic analysis to extract common recurring themes amongst the regions.

2.2.1 Eligibility criteria.

Eligibility criteria followed an adapted SPICE (Setting, Perspective, Intervention, Comparison and Evaluation) structure ( Table 1 ). The SPICE structure informed the study’s search strategy ( Table 2 ) and the subsequent formulation of the inclusion-exclusion criteria ( Table 3 ). The evidence search was conducted from the following databases: Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, UKZN-EFWE, CABI, JSTOR, African Journals Online (AJOL), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), J-Gate, SciELO and WorldCat for peer-reviewed articles, books, and grey literature. The study did not emphasize publication date as recommended by Moffa, Cronk [ 15 ]. Databases selection was based on their comprehensive and over-arching nature in terms of information archiving. It is worth mentioning that the search strategy was continuously revised by trial and error until the databases yielded the maximum number of articles for screening.

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236903.t001

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236903.t002

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236903.t003

2.2.2 Search strategy.

The search strategy or query execution [ 16 ] utilised Boolean operators ( OR & AND ). The dynamic nature of the search strategy required the authors to change the search terms and strategy, for example, if digital databases did not yield the expected search items the study would manually search for information sources. The search queries included a string of search terms summarised in Table 2 .

2.2.3 Selection process.

DistillerSR © software was used for article screening. Online data capturing forms were created in the DistillerSR © software and two authors performed the article scoring process that eventully led to article screening. The screening was based on the article title, abstract and locality. The study employed a two-phase screening process [ 17 ], the first phase screened according to title and the second phase screened according to abstract and keywords. During the screening process, studies that the matched information in the left column of Table 3 we included in the literature review syntheses, whilst those that matched the exclusion list were discarded.

2.3 Thematic analysis

The review also adopted the thematic analysis approach by Braun and Clarke [ 18 ] to extract, code, and select candidate converging themes for the systematic review. The selected lieterature was subjected to qualitative analysis to capture recurring themes amongst the selected regions (East, West and Southern Africa). Data extracts from the respective regional analysis were formulated into theoretical themes. Thereafter, the extracted data was coded according to the extracted patterns from the information source to constitute a theme. It is worth mentioning that the authors used their discretion to extract and code for themes.

3 Results and discussion

Data charting comprised of the PRISMA flow-chart ( Fig 1 ). The study utilised 80 out of 183 records (n = 37, 46%) for East Africa, (n = 37, 46%) for Southern Africa, and (n = 6, 8%) for West Africa.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236903.g001

3.1 Case studies

The introduction of IWRM in the East African region was initiated in 1998 by the water ministers in the Nile basin states due to the need for addressing the concerns raised by the riparian states. These water sector reforms revolved around the Dublin principles initiated by the UN in 1992 [ 20 ]. In 1999, Kenya developed the national water policy and the enabling legislation, the Water Act 2002 was enacted [ 21 ]. The Act was replaced by the Water Act 2016 which established the Water Resources Authority (WRA) as the body mandated to manage water resources in line with the IWRM principles and Water Resource Users Association (WRUA) as the lowest (local) level of water management [ 22 ].

Similarly, Uganda developed the national water policy in 1999 to manage, and develop the available water resources in an integrated and sustainable manner [ 23 ]. The National Water Policy further provides for the promotion of water supply for modernized agriculture [ 24 ]. Tanzania’s water policy of 2002 espouses IWRM principles, and its implementation is based on a raft of legal, economic, administrative, technical, regulatory and participatory instruments [ 25 ]. The National Irrigation Policy (NIP), 2010 and the National Irrigation Act, 2013 provides the legal basis for the involvement of different actors on a private-public partnership basis [ 26 ].

West Africa possesses an unregistered IWRM strategy that is espoused in the West Africa Water Resources Policy (WAWRP) of 2008. The WAWRP is founded on the following legal principles; (a) “promote, coordinate and ensure the implementation of a regional water resource policy in West Africa, in accordance with the mission and policies of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)and (b) “harmonization and coordination of national policies and the promotion of programmes, projects and activities, especially in the field of agriculture and natural resources”. The founding legal basis resonates with the Dublin principles.

The WAWRP design actors were ECOWAS, Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA), and Comité Permanent Inter-État de Llutte Contre la Sécheresse au Sahel (CILSS). CILSS is the technical arm of ECOWAS and UEMOA. The institutional collaboration was driven by the fact that West Africa needed a sound water policy for improved regional integration and maximised economic gains. ECOWAS established the Water Resources Coordination Centre (WRCC) to (a) oversee and monitor the region’s water resources and management activities and (b) to act as an executive organ of the Permanent Framework for Coordination and Monitoring (PFCM) of IRWM [ 27 ].

The inception and triggers of IWRM in West Africa can be traced back to the General Act of Berlin in 1885 which, among other things, dictated water resources use of the Congo and Niger rivers [ 28 ]. A multiplicity of agreements around shared watercourses in West Africa led to the realisation of the IWRM policy approach. For example, the Senegal River Basin (SRB) Development Mission facilitated collaboration between Senegal and Mauritania in managing the SRB. Another noteworthy agreement was Ruling C/REG.9/7/97, a regional plan to fight floating plants in the ECOWAS countries [ 28 ]. GWP (2003) categorised the West African countries according to the level of adoption into three distinct groups namely; (a) Group A comprised of countries with the capacity to develop and adopt the IWRM approach (Burkina Faso and Ghana), (b) Group B comprised of countries needing “light support” to unroll the IWRM plan (Benin, Mali, Nigeria, and Togo), and (3) Group C comprised of laggards which needed significant support to establish an IWRM plan (Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Sierra Leone).

Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc has over 15 shared transboundary river basins (For detailed basin and catchment arrangement in SADC see [ 29 ]). SADC member states established the Protocol on Shared Water Systems (PSWS) which meant to encourage sustainable water resources utilisation and management. The PSWS was perceived to strengthen regional integration [ 30 ]. The regional bloc formulated the Regional Strategic Action Plans (RSAPs) that sought to promote an integrated water resources development plan. The action initiative mimicked IWRM principles and the shared water resources initiatives acted as a catalyst for the genesis of IWRM in Southern Africa [ 31 ]. SADC houses the Waternet and the GWP-SA research and innovation hubs upon which SADC’s IWRM adoption was anchored on. Besides the availability of trained water experts in the region who were willing to experiment with the IWRM policy approach, water scarcity fuelled by climate change prompted the region’s adoption of the IWRM policy approach at the local level.

3.2 Diffusion drivers of IWRM in East, West and Southern Africa

3.2.1 water scarcity..

The adoption of IWRM in East Africa was necessitated by water scarcity which is experienced by the countries in the region, which formed the need for adoption of prudent water resources management strategies as envisaged under the Dublin principles which was championed indirectly, according to Allouche [ 5 ], by the World Bank. Specifically, the need to give incentives and disincentives in water use sectors to encourage water conservation.

Kenya is a water-scarce country with per capita water availability of 586 m 3 in 2010 and projected to 393 m 3 in 2030 [ 32 ]. Uganda is endowed with water resources, however, it is projected that the country will be water-stressed by 2020 which could be compounded by climate variability and change, rapid urbanization, economic and population growth [ 33 ].

Using water scarcity was in essence coercing countries to adopt the IWRM principles with the irrigation sector, the contributor of the largest proportion of water withdrawals, becoming the major culprit [ 5 ]. The researchers opine that the effects of water scarcity in the region can be countered by adopting IWRM strategy, but adaptively to suit the local context and thus, persuasive rather than coercive, is the appropriate term. Indeed, as put forward by Van der Zaag [ 34 ], IWRM is not an option but it is a necessity and therefore, countries need to align their water policies and practices in line with it.

West African climatic conditions pose a threat on the utilisation of the limited water resource. Water resource utilisation is marred by erratic rainfalls and primarily a lack of water resources management know-how [ 27 ]. Countries in the Sahelian regions are characterised by semi-arid climatic conditions. Thus, dry climatic conditions account as an IWRM strategy driver to ensure maximised water use efficiency. Although the region acknowledges the need for adopting the IWRM strategy, they have varied adoption statuses (GWP, 2003).

Southern African countries also face serious water scarcity problems. Rainfall in South Africa is low and unevenly distributed with about 9% translating to useful runoff making the country one of the most water scarce countries in the world [ 35 ]. Generally, SADC countries experience water scarcity resulting in conflicts due to increasing pressure on the fresh water resources [ 36 ]. Thus, the researched opine that water scarcity pushed the region to adopt the IWRM strategy inorder to mitigate the looming effects of climate change on surface water availainility.

3.2.2 Trans-boundary water resources.

Water resources flow downstream indiscriminately across villages, locations, regions and nations/states and therefore necessitates co-operation. The upstream and downstream relationships among communities, people and countries created by the water is asymmetrical in that the actions upstream tend to affect the downstream riparian and not the other way round [ 34 ]. In East Africa, the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) and the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) plays a critical component in promoting the IWRM at regional level [ 20 ].

The Nile River system is the single largest factor driving the IWRM in the region. Lake Victoria, the source of the Nile River is shared by the three East African states of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Irrigation schemes in Sudan and Egypt rely exclusively on the waters of River Nile and are therefore apprehensive of the actions of upstream states notably Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. The source of contention is the asymmetrical water needs and allocation which was enshrined in the Sudan–Egypt treaty of 1959 [ 37 ]. All the riparian countries in the Nile basin have agricultural-based economies and thus irrigation is the cornerstone of food security [ 38 ]. Therefore, there was the need for the establishment of basin-wide co-operation which led to the formation of NBI in 1999 with a vision to achieve sustainable socio-economic development through the equitable utilisation of the Nile water resources [ 39 ].

The Mara River is another trans-boundary river which is shared between Tanzania and Kenya and the basin forms the habitat for the Maasai Mara National Reserve and Serengeti National Park in Kenya and Tanzania, respectively, which is prominent for the annual wildlife migration. Kenya has 65% of the upper part of the basin, any development on the upstream, such as hydropower or water diversion, will reduce the water quantities and therefore affect the Serengeti ecosystem and the livelihoods of people in Tanzania [ 40 ]. The LVBC, under the East African Community, developed the Mara River Basin-wide—Water Allocation Plan (MRB-WAP) to help in water demand management and protection of the Mara ecosystem [ 41 ]. The mandate of the LVBC is to implement IWRM in Lake Victoria Basin riparian countries [ 20 ].

Other shared water basins include the Malakisi-Malaba-Sio River basin shared between Uganda and Kenya and the Kagera River basin traversing Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The two river basins form part of the Upper Nile system and are governed through the LVBC and the NBI.

The universal transboundary nature of water creates dynamics that warrant cooperation for improved water use. West Africa has 25 transboundary watercourses and only 6 are under agreed management and regulation. The situation is compounded by the fact that 20 watercourses lack strategic river-basin management instruments [ 28 ]. Unregistered rules and the asymmetrical variations associated with watercourses warranted the introduction of the IWRM principle to set equitable water sharing protocols and promote environmental flows (e-flows). The various acts signed represent an evolutionary treaty development that combines th efforts of riparian states to better manage the shared water resources (for detailed basin configuration in West Africa see [ 42 ]). Hence, adoption of the IWRM strategy driven WAWRP of 2008 ensured the coordinanted and harmonised regional water usage mechanisms.

The SADC region has 13 major transboundary river basins which calls for development of agreements on how to handle the shared water resources with the contraints of varying levels of economic development and priorities among the member states. The multi-lateral and bi-lateral agreeements on shared water resources in the SADC is hampered by the hydropolitics where economic power dynamics favour South Africa as in the case of the Orange-Senqu basin [ 43 ].

3.2.3 Donor influence.

The World Bank has been pushing for IWRM principles in the East Africa through the NBI and by pressurising Egypt to agree to co-operate with the upstream riparian countries in the Nile basin [ 38 ]. In the early 1990s, the World Bank had aligned its funding policies to include sustainable water resources management [ 44 ].

In Tanzania, Norway, through NORAD, played a key role in implementing IWRM by promoting water projects including hydropower schemes [ 45 ]. Indeed the transformation of the agricultural sector in Tanzania through Kilimo Kwanza policy of 2009 which emphasised on the commercialization of agriculture including irrigation was driven by foreign donors such as the USAID and UK’s DFID [ 26 ].

In Uganda, however, the reforms in the water sector were initiated devoid of external influence [ 46 ]. However, this assertion is countered by Allouche [ 5 ] who pointed that Uganda had become a ‘darling’ of the donor countries in the early 1990s and that DANIDA helped to develop the Master Water Plan and the country was keen to show a willingness to develop policy instruments favourable to the donor. East African countries are developing economies and therefore most of their development plans are supported by external agencies, which to some extent come with subtle ‘conditions’ such as free-market economies. In fact imposition of tariffs and other economic instruments used to implement IWRM in water supply and irrigation is a market-based approach which was favoured by the World Bank and other development agencies.

Donor aid cannot be downplayed in pushing for IWRM diffusion in low-income aid-dependent countries of West Africa. GoBF [ 47 ] reported that from the period 1996–2001, more than 80% of water-related projects were donor funded. Cherlet and Venot [ 48 ] also found that almost 90% of the water investments in Mali were funded outside the government apparatus. It can, therefore, be argued that donor-aid plays a pivotal and central role in diffusing policy and innovation in aid-depended countries because of the incentive nature it provides for the low-income countries in the sub-Sahara region.

Southern Africa’s experience with western donors including the World Bank in terms of IWRM adoption favoured the urban areas and neglected rural areas (see [ 8 ]). The National Water Act drafting process in South africa was a multi-stakeholder and intersectoral activity that brought in international consultancies. Notable IWRM drivers were Department of International Development—UK (DFID), Danish Danida, and Deustsche Gesellschaft fur Zusammernarbeit (GIZ). The DFID was instrumental in water reform allocation law whilst the GIZ and Danida were active in experimental work in the catchments [ 3 ]. On the contrary, in Zimbabwe, a lack of access to international funding and fleeting donor aid exacerbated the policy uptake as such the anticipated implementation, operationalisation and continuous feedback mechanism for policy revision and administering process was never realised.

3.2.4 Government intervention and pro-active citizenry.

This was predomint in West Africa. For example the Burkinabe government exhibited political goodwill such that in 1995 the government brought together two separate ministries into one ministry of Environment and Water thus enabling coherent policy formulation and giving the ministry one voice to speak on water matters. The dynamic innovation arena (where policy players interact) allows continuous policy revision and redesign thus water policy reform diffusion, and policy frameworks are in a perpetual state of shifting. For example, in the 1990s the Burkinabe government was engaged in several water-related projects and was continuously experimenting with local governance and privatization (from donors) [ 1 ]. This policy shift according to Gupta [ 49 ] qualifies as an innovation driver.

Burkina Faso and Mali’s adoption story is accentuated by heightened agency, the individual enthusiasm on influencing the outcome facilitated policy diffusion and can be argued to be a potential innovation diffusion driver for the IWRM policy approach in the region. The individual policy diffusion fuelled by an enthusiastic citizenry was a sure method that effectively diffused awareness around the IWRM innovation and acted as a driver of the IWRM practices in the region. Individual strategies were honed in smallholder farming institutions to diffuse the IWRM practice and drawing from the Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith [ 50 ] advocacy coalition theory, having individuals with common agendas promoted the transfer and diffusion of water reforms in parts of West Africa.

3.2.5 Legal, political and institutional incoherence.

This was a major factor which dictated the pace of IWRM implementation in Southern Africa. For example, the Fast Track Land Reform (FTLR) programme in Zimbabwe disaggregated the large-scale commercial farms and created smallholder farming [ 51 ], consequently influencing and dictating IWRM policy path. The FTLR programme had a negative impact on the spread and uptake of IWRM. A series of poor economic performance and poor policy design compounded the limited diffusion and the adoption of IWRM practices at local levels in Zimbabwe. The FTLR programme compounded the innovation diffusion process as the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) lost account of who harvested how much at the newly created smallholder farms. Thus, water access imbalance ensured, and ecological sustainability was compromised.

Policy incoherence was a major factor in poor IWRM diffusion and adoption, for example, the government did not synchronise the land and water reforms thus it meant at any given point in time there was a budget for one reform agenda [ 8 ] and the land reform agenda would take precedence because of political rent-seeking. IWRM in its nature couples growth to the coordinated consumption of finite resources, hence the circular approach cannot be easily realised because finte resources are at the core of the strategy’s existence.

South Africa’s transition from Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) strategies to the IWRM strategy, hindered the operationalisation and diffusion of the IWRM strategy [ 52 ]. Despite acknowledging the “integration”, researchers argued that the word lacked a clear-cut definition thus failing to establish a common ground for water’s multi-purpose use [ 53 ]. For maximised adoption of a practice, incremental innovation is required, which was Danida’s agenda in the quest to drive IWRM in South Africa. According to Wehn and Montalvo [ 54 ] incremental innovation “is characterised by marginal changes and occurs in mature circumstances”,

Land reform in South Africa is characterised by (a) redistribution which seeks to transfer land from the white minority on a willing buyer willing seller basis, (b) restitution which rights the discriminatory 1913 land laws that saw natives evicted from their ancestral land, and (c) land tenure that provides tenure to the occupants of the homelands. This new pattern created a new breed of smallholder farmers that are, more often than not, excluded from diffusion and water governance channels [ 55 ]. In addition, researchers argue that a farm once owned by one white farmer is owned by multiple landowners with different cultural backgrounds and, more often than not, IWRM strategy is met with resistance [ 56 ]. Another challenge posed by multi-cultural water users is the interpretation and translation of innovations.

To foster water as an economic good aspect of IWRM the licensing system was enacted in South Africa. The phenomenon was described by van Koppen (2012) as paper water precedes water, thus the disadvantaged black smallholder farmers could not afford paper water which consequently limits access to water. The licensing system can be interpreted as stifling the smallholder sector and hence negative attitudes develop and hinder effective policy diffusion. Another issue that negatively impacted adoption was that issuing a license was subject to farmers possessing storage facilities. The smallholder farmers lack resources hence the requirement for obtaining a license excluded the small players in favour of the large-scale commercial farmers. This consequently maintains the historically skewed status-quo, where “big players” keep winning. Van Koppen [ 57 ] and Denby, Movik [ 58 ] argue the shift from local water rights system to state-based water system have created bottlenecks making it hard for smallholder farmers to obtain “paper water” and subsequently “wet water”. The state-based system is characterised by bureaucracies and local norms are in perpetual change, hence denying the IWRM innovation policy approach stability efficiency.

A lack of political will and pragmatism amplified the poor adoption and operationalisation of IWRM, a poorly performing economy and fleeing donor agencies resulted in less funding for water-related project. Political shenanigans created an imbalance that resulted in two forms of water i.e., water as an economic good vs. water as a social good [ 59 ]. Manzungu [ 60 ] argued post-colonial Zimbabwe continuously failed to develop a peoples-oriented water reform policy. In a bid to correct historical wrongs by availing subsidised water to the vulnerable and support the new social order, the initiative goes against the neo-liberalism approach that defines the “water as an economic good” [ 61 ] which is a founding principle of IWRM.

Water redistribution in South Africa has been fraught with political and technical issues, for example, the Water Allocation Reform of 2003 failed to reconcile the apartheid disparity hence the equity component of IWRM was compromised. IWRM suffered another setback caused by the governing party when they introduced radical innovations that sought to shift from the socialist to neoliberal water resource use approach. The radical innovation through the government benefited the large-scale commercial farmers at the expense of the black smallholder farming community [ 53 ].

3.3 Systematic comparison of findings on East, West and Southern Africa

Data extracts from the respective regional analysis were formulated into theoretical candidate themes. The thematic analysis extracted recurring themes common to all the three regions. An independent reviwer performed the subjective thematic analysis and the authors performed the review on the blind thematic analysis outcome. The analysis performed a data extraction exercise and formulated codes ( Fig 2 ). Themes were then generated from the coded data extracts to create a thematic map. It is worth mentioning that the data extracts were phrases/statement from with in the literature review.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236903.g002

3.3.1 Donor aid and policy approach.

Donor activity invariably influenced the policy path that individual countries took. The three regions had significant support from donors to drive the IWRM strategy. Zimbabwe experienced a different fate. The political climate caused an exodus of donor support from the nation, which consequently caused a laggard. The absence of donor support was at the backdrop of the two formulated water acts namely National Water Act [ 62 ] and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority Act of 1998 [ 63 ], which were meant to promote equitable water provision amongst the population. This highlights the latent adoption of IWRM strategy. The 2008/2009 cholera outbreak raised alarm and facilitated the return of donor activity in Zimbabwe’s water sector. The availability of donor support motivated the redrafting of a water clause in the 2013 constitution that espoused the IWRM strategy to water management [ 64 ].

Whilst Mehta, Alba [ 64 ] argue that South Africa enjoyed minimal donor support it cannot be downplayed how much donor influence impacted the IWRM strategy adoption. For instance, the Water Allocation Reform (WAR) was drafted with the aid of the UK Department of International Development. The WAR fundamentals are informed by IWRM principles. The economic structural programmes spearheaded by The World Bank and the IMF were active in facilitating the diffusion of the IWRM strategy in Kenya and Uganda. Uganda made strides because of a long-standing relationship with donor nations. The Uganda—donor relationship dates back to early 1990 where Uganda was elected to be the NBI secretariat, this in itself evidence of commitment to water policy reform [ 4 , 65 ]. Donor aid acts as an incentive and augments the low African goverments’ budgets, as such proper accountability and usage of the funds ensures that more funds come in for projected water related projects.

3.3.2 Transboundary water resources.

The Nile River system is the single largest factor driving the IWRM in the region since it is shared across several upstream and downetream nations. Irrigation schemes in Sudan and Egypt rely exclusively on the waters of River Nile and are therefore apprehensive of the actions of upstream states notably Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. The source of contention is the asymmetrical water needs and allocation which was enshrined in the Sudan–Egypt treaty of 1959 [ 37 ]. Over time, the upstream countried demanded equitable share of the Nile waters and this led to the establishment of NBI. In Eastern Africa, the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) and the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) plays a critical component in promoting the IWRM at regional level [ 20 ]. The LVBC is deeply intertwined with the East African Community (EAC) and thus has more political clout to implement policies regarding utilization of the Lake Victoria waters [ 66 ]. This, therefore, implies that for NBI to succeed, it must have a mandate and political goodwill from the member countries.

The conflicts around the utilization of the Nile water resources persists due to the treaty of 1959 which led to the signing of Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) by a number of the Nile basin countries, with the notable exceptions of Egypt, Sudan and South Sudan [ 67 ]. The CFA was signed between 2010 and 2011 and establishes the principle that each Nile Basin state has the right to use, within its territory, the waters of the Nile River Basin, and lays down some factors for determining equitable and reasonable utilization such as the contribution of each state to the Nile waters and the proportion of the drainage area [ 68 ]. The construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has been a source of concern and conflict among the three riparian countries of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt [ 67 ]. The asymmetrical power relations (Egypt is the biggest economy) in the Nile Basin is a big hindrance to the co-operation among the riparian countries [ 69 ] and thus a threat to IWRM implementation in the shared watercourse. While Ethiopia is using its geographical power to negotiate for an equitable share in the Nile water resources, Egypt is utilizing both materials, bargaining and idealistic power to dominate the hydro politics in the region and thus the former can only succeed if it reinforces its geographical power with material power [ 70 ].

Therefore, IWRM implementation at the multi-national stage is complex but necessary to forestall regional conflicts and war. The necessity of co-operation rather than conflict in the Nile Basin is paramount due to the water availability constraints which is experienced by most countries in the region. The transboundary IWRM revolves around water-food- energy consensus where the needs of the riparian countries are sometimes contrasting, for example, Egypt and Sudan require the Nile waters for irrigation to feed their increasing population while Ethiopia requires the Nile waters for power generation to stimulate her economy. The upstream riparian States could use their bargaining power to foster co-operation and possibly force the hegemonic downstream riparian States into the equitable and sustainable use of Nile waters [ 71 ].

The SADC region has 13 major transboundary river basins (excluding the Nile and Congo) of Orange, Limpopo, Incomati, Okavango, Cunene, Cuvelai, Maputo, Buzi, Pungue, Save-Runde, Umbeluzi, Rovuma and Zambezi [ 72 ]. The Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses was instrumental for managing transboundary water resources in the SADC. The overall aim of the Protocol was to foster co-operation for judicious, sustainable and coordinated management, the protection and utilization of shared water resources [ 73 ].

Ashton and Turton [ 74 ] argue that the transboundary water issues in Southern Africa revolved around the key roles played by pivotal States and impacted States and their corresponding pivotal basins and impacted basins. In this case, pivotal States are riparian states with a high level of economic development (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe) and a high degree of reliance on shared river basins for strategic sources of water supply while impacted States are riparian states (Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Zambia) that have a critical need for access to water from an international river basin that they share with a pivotal state, but appear to be unable to negotiate what they consider to be an equitable allocation of water and therefore, their future development dreams are impeded by the asymmetrical power dynamics with the pivotal states. Pivotal Basins (Orange, Incomati, and Limpopo) are international river basins that face closure but are also strategically important to anyone (or all) of the pivotal states by virtue of the range and magnitude of economic activity that they support. Impacted basins (Cunene, Maputo, Okavango, Cuvelai, Pungué, Save-Runde, and Zambezi) are those international river basins that are not yet approaching a point of closure, and which are strategically important for at least one of the riparian states with at least one pivotal State.

The transboundary co-operation under IWRM in Southern Africa is driven mainly by water scarcity which is predominant in most of the SADC countries which may imply the use of inter-basin transfers schemes [ 74 ]. Further, most of the water used for agriculture, industry and domestic are found within the international river basins [ 75 ] which calls for collaborative water management strategies. The tricky feature hindering the IWRM is the fact that States are reluctant to transfer power to River Basin Commissions [ 76 ]. Indeed most of the River Basin Organizations (RBO) in Southern region such as the Zambezi Commission, the Okavango River Basin Commission, and the Orange-Sengu River Basin Commission have loose links with SADC and therefore lack the political clout to implement the policies governing the shared water resources [ 66 ]. Power asymmetry, like in Eastern Africa, is also a bottleneck in achieving equitable sharing of water resources as illustrated by the water transfer scheme involving Lesotho and South Africa [ 77 ]. The hydro-hegemonic South Africa is exercising control over any negotiations and agreements in the Orange-Senqu basin [ 43 ]. Limited data sharing among the riparian States is another challenge which affects water management in transboundary river basins e.g. in the Orange-Senqu basin [ 78 ].

West Africa has 25 transboundary watercourses and only 6 are under agreed management and regulation. The situation is compounded by the fact that 20 watercourses lack strategic river-basin management instruments [ 28 ]. Unregistered rules and the asymmetrical variations associated with watercourses warrant the introduction of the IWRM principle to set equitable water sharing protocols and promote environmental flows (e-flows). The various acts signed represent an evolutionary treaty development that combines the efforts of riparian states to better manage the shared water resources. It is important to note that evolutionary treaties are incremental innovation. Water Resources Coordination Centre (WRCC) was established in 2004 to implement an integrated water resource management in West Africa and to ensure regional coordination of water resource related policies and activities [ 79 ].

The Niger River basin covers 9 Countries of Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria. The Niger River Basin Authority (NBA) was established to promote co-operation among the member countries and to ensure basin-wide integrated development in all fields through the development of its resources, notably in the fields of energy, water resources, agriculture, livestock, forestry exploitation, transport and communication and industry [ 80 ]. The Shared Vision and Sustainable Development Action Programme (SDAP) was developed to enhance co-operation and sharing benefits from the resources of River Niger [ 81 ]. The Niger Basin Water Charter together with the SDAP are key instruments which set out a general approach to basin development, an approach negotiated and accepted not only by all member states but also by other actors who utilize the basin resources [ 82 ].

The main agreement governing the transboundary water resource in River Senegal Basin is the Senegal River Development Organization, OMVS (Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Sénégal) with its core principle being the equitably shared benefits of the resources of the basin [ 82 ]. The IWRM in the Senegal River Basin is hampered by weak institutional structures and lack of protocol on how shared waters among the States as well as conflicting national and regional interests [ 83 , 84 ]. The Senegal River Basin, being situated in the Sudan-Sahelian region, is faced by the threat of climate change which affects water availability [ 84 ] The Senegal River Basin States have high risks of political instability.

3.4 Prospects of IWRM Africa

The countries in the three regions are at different stages of implementation ( Table 4 ). In East Africa, Uganda and Kenya are at medium-high level while Tanzania is medium-low. Majority of the countries in the Southern Africa region are at medium low. Comoros Islands is the only country at low level of implementation in the region. West African countries are evenly spread between low, medium-low and medium-high levels of implementation. Generally, East Africa is ranked as medium-high level with average score of 54% while Southern Africa and West Africa are ranked as medium low-level at 46% and 42% respectively. However if you include, medium low countries of Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and South Sudan and the low-level Somalia, then East Africa’s score drops to 39% (medium-low).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236903.t004

The implementation of IWRM in the continent, and more so the inter dependent and multi purpose water use sectors, will continue to evolve amid implementation challenges. The dynamics of water policies, increased competition for finite water resources from rapid urbanization, industrialization and population growth will continue to shape IWRM practices in the region. Trans-boundary water resources management will possibly take centre stage as East African countries move towards full integration and political federation as envisaged in the four pillars of the EAC treaty. Decision support tools such as the Water—Energy—Food (WEF) nexus appraoch will be very relevant in the trans-boundary water resources such as the Nile system, Mara and Kagera river basins. The approach can potentially ameliorate the after effects of the devolved governance system in Kenya that consequently created a multiplicity of transboundary sectors.

Adoption of the IWRM policy in West Africa is fraught with many challenges. For example, despite having significant water resources, the lack of a collective effort by the governments to train water experts at national level presents a challenge for adoption. Unavailability of trained water experts (who in any case are diffusion media) results in a lack of diffusion channels that facilitate policy interpretation, translation and its subsequent implementation. Helio and Van Ingen [ 27 ] pointed out how political instability possesses a threat to current and future implantation initiatives. The future collaboration projects and objective outlined by ECOWAS, CILSS, and UEMO highlight a major effort to bring the region to speed with the IWRM policy approach. The WAWRP objectives can potentially set up the region on an effective IWRM trajectory which can be mimicked and upscaled in other regions. Positives drawn from the region are the deliberate institutional collaborations. Burkina Faso and Mali have the potential to operationalise and facilitate policy diffusion to other neighbouring states. Donor driven reform is essential and national ownership is critical in ensuring the water reform policies and innovation diffusion processes are implemented at the national level.

The IWRM policy approach and practice in South Africa was government-driven whereas in Zimbabwe external donors were the main vehicles for diffusion. For both countries, the water and land reform agenda has a multiplicity of overlapping functionaries; however, they are managed by separate government departments. The silo system at national level prevents effective innovation diffusion and distorts policy interpretation and the subsequent dissemination at the local level.i.

Water affairs are politicised and often, the water reform policy fails to balance the Dublin’s principles which form the backbone of the IWRM innovation policy approach. Failure by national governments to address unequal water access created by former segregationist policies is perpetuated by the lack of balance between creating a new social order and recognising the “water as an economic good” principle.

4 Conclusion

Africa as a laboratory of IWRM produced varied aggregated outcomes. The outcomes were directly linked to various national socio-economic development agendas; thus, the IWRM policy took a multiplicity of paths. In East Africa, Kenya is still recovering from the devolved system of government to the County system which created new transboundary sectors with the country. Water scarcity, trans-boundary water resource and donor aid played a critical role in driving the IWRM policy approach in the three regions. Southern Africa’s IWRM experience has been fraught with policy clashes between the water and land reforms. Similar to Africa, the transboundary issue in Europe and Asia and the subsequent management is a major buy-in for formulating water resources strategies that are people centric and ecologically friendly. Global water scarcity created fertile grounds for IWRM adoption in Asia, specifically India. Thus, we postulate that some of the drivers that influenced the uptake and diffusion in Africa are not only unique to the continent.

For the future, IWRM policy approach can be implemented in Africa and the continent has the potential to implement and adopt the practice. Endowed with a significant number of water bodies, Africa must adopt a blend of IWRM strategy and the water energy food nexus (WEF) for maximising regional cooperation and subsequent economic gains. WEF nexus will help combat a singular or silo approach to natural resources management. WEF nexus and IWRM is a fertile area for future research as it brings a deeper understanding of the trade-offs and synergies exsisting in the water sector across and within regions. In addition, the WEF nexus approach can potentially facilitate a shift to a circular approach that decouples over dependence on one finte resource for development.

Supporting information

S1 checklist..

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236903.s001

S1 Table. Data extracts with the applied codes.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236903.s002

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30. Granit J., Swedish experiences from transboundary water resources management in southern Africa . Stockholm: SIDA (Publications on Water Resources 17), 2000.
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41. LVBC, Mara river basin-wide water allocation plan . 2013, Lake Victoria Basin Commission: Kisumu, Kenya.
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47. GoBF, Le PAGIRE dans le contexte du secteur de l’eau du Burkina . Document debase : Table ronde des bailleurs de fonds du plan d’action pour la gestion intégrée des ressources en eau ., Faso G.d.B., Editor. 2003, GoBF Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Water Conservation — Importance of Water Conservation

Importance of Water Conservation

Categories: Water Conservation

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Words: 880 |

Published: Jan 30, 2024

Words: 880 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Introduction, the significance of saving water, methods of saving water, case studies/examples, challenges in water conservation and protection efforts, a. water conservation practices at homes.

Installing water-saving fixtures and appliances, such as low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets.
Fixing leaks and reducing water wastage by taking shorter showers, turning off the tap while brushing, and fixing dripping taps.
Implementing efficient water usage habits such as using a broom instead of a hose to clean outdoor areas and washing laundry and dishes only with full loads.

B. Agriculture Water Management

Implementing efficient irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation and precision irrigation, which reduce water wastage by up to 30%.
Crop selection and rotation to optimize water usage by selecting crops that require less water and reducing water-intensive crops, such as rice and cotton.
Using precision farming methods such as soil moisture sensors, weather forecasts, and crop modeling to optimize water usage.

C. Industrial Water Conservation

Recycling and reusing water in manufacturing processes by using closed-loop systems.
Implementing water-efficient technologies such as water-efficient boilers, cooling towers, and dry lubrication processes.
Promoting water stewardship among industries by adopting best practices and engaging in water conservation efforts.

D. Government Policies and Programs

Providing incentives for water-saving practices such as tax credits, rebates, and grants for installing water-efficient appliances and fixtures.
Implementing water regulations and enforceable laws such as water pricing, water rights, and zoning regulations to ensure efficient water use.
Educating and creating awareness among citizens through campaigns such as the WaterSense program, which educates consumers on water-efficient products.
United Nations. (2021, March 22). Water and Sanitation. https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/water-and-sanitation/
WaterSense. (n.d.). Water-Efficient Products. https://www.epa.gov/watersense/water-efficient-products
Valsecchi, G. B., & Faggian, R. (2019). The Alliance for Water Stewardship certification program in the Netherlands: measuring the performance of a water sustainability standard for industries. Water, 11(12), 2608. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11122608
Maheshwari, B. L. (2019). Rainwater harvesting impacts on crop yield: a review with a case study of Tamil Nadu, India. Water, 11(5), 1018. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11051018

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Essay on Rainwater Harvesting: Water Saving Techniques

Updated on
Oct 7, 2023

Writing an essay on rainwater harvesting requires you to describe sustainable water management practices, such as the collection and storage of rainwater for various purposes, like irrigation , landscaping, domestic use, etc. In recent years, this technique has gained popularity as a way to conserve this life-saving resource and reduce the demand for traditional water sources like rivers, lakes, and groundwater.

Did you know that Earth is not the only planet where the phenomenon of rain occurs? Other celestial bodies, such as Saturn’s moon Titan, have rain, but it consists of liquid methane and ethane rather than water due to the extremely cold temperatures. Let’s check out some essays on rainwater harvesting for a better understanding of this topic.

Table of Contents

1 Essay on Rainwater Harvesting in 100 Words
2 Essay on Rainwater Harvesting in 200 Words
3 Essay on Rainwater Harvesting in 300 Words

Essay on Rainwater Harvesting in 100 Words

Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) is the process of collecting and storing rainwater for various uses. This is an eco-friendly method to conserve rainwater resources for purposes like agricultural use, domestic use, etc. Rainwater can be collected on rooftops and other surfaces, filtered and stored in tanks or cisterns.

There are several benefits of rainwater harvesting, such as promoting water sustainability, lower water bills, environmental benefits by decreasing runoff and erosion, etc. Implementing rainwater harvesting systems is a step toward responsible water management, helping communities become more self-reliant in their water supply while protecting the planet’s clean water resources .

Essay on Rainwater Harvesting in 200 Words

Rainwater harvesting is one of the cost-effective ways to collect and store rainwater using different methods and techniques. In today’s world where fresh water is depleting at a tremendous rate, practising rainwater harvesting can be a vital strategy in the quest for responsible water management, conservation, and the promotion of sustainability.

Rainwater harvesting starts with the collection of rainwater on rooftops, pavements and other impermeable surfaces. To channel the rainwater into storage containers, gutters and downspouts are used. Rainwater can be stored in barrels or cisterns, depending on the resources available. Once collected, it can be used a various purposes such as irrigation, washing clothes, flushing toilets, and even for drinking, if treated properly.

Here are some of the compelling reasons stating the use of rainwater harvesting.

This practice reduces the demand for natural water resources, such as surface water from rivers and groundwater.
This can help to alleviate the stress on these limited or finite resources.
It promotes water self-sufficiency and resilience, especially in drought-prone regions.
Practising it at the domestic level can be an effective way to save money on water bills, especially for non-potable uses.

Due to climate change and water scarcity, practising rainwater harvesting can be an effective step for a sustainable and water-secure future.

Essay on Rainwater Harvesting in 300 Words

One of the crucial and cost-effective ways to save water is to start practising rainwater harvesting. This age-old technique to conserve rainwater has gained significant popularity as the world is facing water scarcity, overuse of resources and environmental concerns. Rainwater can be collected on surfaces like impermeable rooftops, pavements or an open tank.

The collected rainwater can be channelled using gutters, and downspouts, where it can be stored in larger tanks or cisterns. This collected rainwater can be used for a multitude of applications, such as irrigation, flushing toilets, washing clothes, and even drinking after proper treatment.

There are several compelling reasons to embrace rainwater harvesting.

Rainwater harvesting helps reduce the pressure on traditional water sources like rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers.
Furthermore, it mitigates the risk of over-extraction, a critical concern in many regions.
By harnessing rainwater, we can also build resilience against droughts and water shortages, ensuring a more reliable water supply.
Rainwater harvesting is environmentally friendly, as it minimizes stormwater runoff, which can cause erosion, flood urban areas, and transport pollutants to water bodies.
Instead, collected rainwater can be used to recharge local aquifers, promoting groundwater sustainability.
Moreover, it curtails the energy and chemicals typically needed for water treatment and distribution in centralized water supply systems, reducing the carbon footprint.

From an economic perspective, rainwater harvesting can lead to significant savings on water bills, particularly for non-potable uses. It empowers individuals and communities to take control of their water supply, reducing their dependence on external sources.

However, successful rainwater harvesting requires thoughtful planning and investment. Proper filtration, treatment, and maintenance are essential to ensure the collected rainwater is safe and of good quality.

As the world faces mounting water challenges, its adoption is becoming increasingly critical. By integrating rainwater harvesting into our daily lives and infrastructure, we can take a significant step toward securing our water future while reducing our impact on the environment.

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Rainwater Harvesting is a sustainable water management practice, in which rainwater is collected and stored in tanks for various purposes. It’s one of the most eco-friendly ways to conserve water.

Some of the water conservation measures are: practising rainwater harvesting for non-profitable use, practising smart irrigation methods, installing low-flow faucets at home, reusing greywater for irrigation and toilet flushing, etc.

There are several ways in which rainwater can be collected. Installing rainwater collection surfaces like a roof or tarp, installing gutters and downspouts, and regularly checking and cleaning filters, screens, and storage containers to ensure the water remains clean and free from contaminants.

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay writing page and make sure to follow Leverage Edu .

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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Water Resources Management is an international, multidisciplinary forum for the publication of original contributions and the exchange of knowledge and experience on the management of water resources. In particular, the journal publishes contributions on water resources assessment, development, conservation and control, emphasizing policies and strategies. Contributions examine planning and design of water resource systems, and operation, maintenance and administration of water resource systems.

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Water is Life Essay in English [Class 4th, 5th, 6th,7th, 8th, 9th, 10th]

1 Introduction
2 The Essential Role of Water for Humans
3 The Impact of Water on the Environment
4 The Importance of Conservation and Management
5 Conclusion
6.1 What is the “Water is Life Essay” about?
6.2 Why is water important?
6.3 What are the challenges related to water resources?
6.4 What are some strategies for water conservation and management?
6.5 What can individuals do to conserve and protect water resources?

Discover the essential role of water for human survival and environmental health in our ‘Water is Life Essay’. From the impact of water on ecosystems to the importance of conservation and management, this 1000-word essay highlights the significance of this precious resource and the need to protect it for future generations.

Water is the most essential natural resource for all living beings, and its importance cannot be overstated. It is not only necessary for human survival but also plays a critical role in the health of the planet’s ecosystems. This essay aims to highlight the significance of water and the need for its conservation and management.

Introduction

Water is life. It is a simple statement, yet it encompasses the critical role that water plays in our lives. We use it every day for drinking, cooking, and sanitation, and it is essential for agriculture and industry. However, it is not just a human need. The environment depends on water for its health and well-being, and the world’s aquatic ecosystems are home to a significant amount of biodiversity. Unfortunately, water scarcity and pollution are becoming increasingly prevalent, and it is crucial to address these issues to ensure that we maintain our access to this precious resource. In this essay, we will explore the importance of water and the efforts being made to conserve and manage it.

The Essential Role of Water for Humans

Water is essential for human survival. The human body is made up of 60% water, and we need it to maintain bodily functions such as digestion, circulation, and temperature regulation. Drinking water is the best way to stay hydrated, but we also use water for cooking and sanitation. Without access to clean water, diseases such as cholera and dysentery can easily spread. Agriculture and industry also rely on water to function, and it is a critical resource for food production and manufacturing.

The Impact of Water on the Environment

Water is not just necessary for human survival but also plays a crucial role in the environment. Aquatic ecosystems, such as oceans, rivers, and lakes, provide habitat for countless species and support biodiversity. Water is also a significant factor in climate and weather patterns, and the hydrological cycle plays a vital role in the Earth’s natural processes. Unfortunately, water scarcity and pollution are having a severe impact on the environment, leading to the depletion of freshwater sources, habitat destruction, and species extinction.

The Importance of Conservation and Management

Given the essential role of water for both human survival and environmental health, it is crucial to conserve and manage it. There are numerous strategies for water conservation, including reducing water usage, implementing water-efficient technologies, and investing in wastewater treatment and reuse. Government policies and regulations can also play a critical role in managing water resources, and there are global efforts to address water-related issues. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, and there are numerous organizations dedicated to water conservation and management, such as the World Wildlife Fund and the Water Project.

Wwater is a critical resource that is essential for human survival and environmental health. It is necessary for drinking, cooking, and sanitation, as well as for agriculture and industry. Water plays a vital role in the planet’s ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and playing a role in the Earth’s natural processes. Unfortunately, water scarcity and pollution are becoming increasingly prevalent, and it is crucial to address these issues to ensure that we maintain our access to this precious resource. Through water conservation strategies, government policies and regulations, and global efforts, we can conserve and manage water resources for future generations. As a society, we must recognize that water is life and take action to protect it.

FAQs for Water is Life Essay

What is the “water is life essay” about.

The “Water is Life Essay” is an exploration of the essential role that water plays in human survival and environmental health. The essay highlights the impact of water on the planet’s ecosystems, the importance of conservation and management, and the need to protect this precious resource.

Why is water important?

Water is essential for human survival and is also critical to the health of the planet’s ecosystems. We use water for drinking, cooking, and sanitation, and it is necessary for agriculture and industry. Aquatic ecosystems, such as oceans, rivers, and lakes, provide habitat for countless species and support biodiversity. Water is also a significant factor in climate and weather patterns.

What are the challenges related to water resources?

Water scarcity and pollution are becoming increasingly prevalent, and these challenges are having a severe impact on the environment. This is leading to the depletion of freshwater sources, habitat destruction, and species extinction. It is crucial to address these issues to ensure that we maintain our access to this precious resource.

What are some strategies for water conservation and management?

There are numerous strategies for water conservation, including reducing water usage, implementing water-efficient technologies, and investing in wastewater treatment and reuse. Government policies and regulations can also play a critical role in managing water resources, and there are global efforts to address water-related issues.

What can individuals do to conserve and protect water resources?

Individuals can make a difference in conserving and protecting water resources by reducing water usage, fixing leaks, and investing in water-efficient technologies. It is also essential to avoid polluting water sources and to support organizations dedicated to water conservation and management.

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Essay on Water Resource | 700+ Paragraph on Water Resource

Essay on water resource.

Out of various things that a human being needs for survival, water is one of them. Water is one of the most precious resources for humans as well as other creatures living. It is very essential and comes from its own resource. Resource in simple terms can be defined as the place where a certain substance can be widely found and supplied from. So water resources are the sources from where we can obtain water. They are vital for humans and other animals alike. But like everything, water resource to isn’t infinite. Although the water cycle helps replenish some amount of water sources, human activities are not helping it stabilize and distribute it evenly.

Our earth is 3 half water but we still face problems of water scarcity. This is because out of the water resources that can be found like the seas and the oceans only 2.5% is readily available for human consumption. Other water resources are either salty or not suitable for consumption. The water we can drink is known as freshwater. Freshwater can be found in sources like rivers, streams, glacial lakes, wells, etc. Water found here is drinkable and not harmful for humans and other animals. Freshwater comes from sources like mountains, underground water lakes, etc. This is an important resource that we must try and not pollute.

📌 Another Essay – Essay on Pollution

Without water, we cannot imagine our life. The scarcity of water resources will bring extinction to other animals and human races. Water is not only used by humans for drinking and maintaining their bodily systems but also for other purposes. We use water for irrigation, cleansing our bodies, washing our clothes, other equipment, and objects, manufacture other products, etc. It is very essential to run our daily life. So we can imagine the importance it carries for other animals and plants too. It is due to the presence of water and sunlight that the plants can produce fruits, products and give off O2, without it, we cannot survive too. In a way, it is all a cycle where one depends on another.

But there are cases where we can hear people dying from thirst and the lack of availability of water. This is mainly due to the climatic changes that occur. Climate change can all be traced back to human activities. Unmanaged industrialization and urbanization have massively reduced the quality of air, water, and soil. It has left them polluted where the quality of health decreases altogether. It also leads to change in weather patterns due to greenhouse effects and other activities. Loss of human settlement, lives of people and animals take place due to the weather changes as drought, floods occur. Ecosystems also change and most importantly, the water cycle.

Some places receive less while some places receive over rainfall too. People who depend on rainwater for farming are left helpless as they watch their crops dry away or drown in the heavy rainfall. Not only that lack of water resources can be seen in places that rely heavily on huge sources of water. Clean drinking water is required for the body to flush out unwanted wastes and keep fit. Bad water resources will degrade the health of the residents.

Proper thoughts must be given out for the management of water resources. Water demand already exceeds in most places of the world and with the current rate of depletion of water resources we can soon see scarcity of water everywhere. For this, plans and policies must be carried out to promote afforestation as it helps maintain the water cycle, absorb air pollution to some extent and keep the ecosystem running. Factory and home wastes should also not be dumped near water resources to keep them away from pollution and infestation. Water resources should be kept clean and activities such as washing clothes, toiletry should be avoided near them. People should be kept aware of the growing scarcity of water and make them not wastewater, use alternatives like rainwater too. We can recycle water by using them in irrigation too.

Water resources are vital for the survival of human beings. We cannot live without it and it is the duty of the most intelligent species on Earth to be responsible for the pollution we’re doing and try and divert the oncoming crisis. We are responsible for other creatures on Earth too. Water should not be used extravagantly and pollution should be avoided. That way we can maximise the amount of time we have to think for better solutions like using sea water in factory amounts to produce clean drinking water for all.

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An English Essay on the Importance of Water for the Students

Without water there cannot be life on our planet, that is to say on earth. Because every living organism needs water, and therefore having a good understanding and care for the water is a must for all of us. Hence, students should write an essay discussing the importance of water in the English language.

Writing an essay on such a topic opens a series of good ideas in the mind of the students regarding the role that water plays in our lives, and it can also make the students aware of the importance of water.

Also, if you wish to write an English essay on the topic My aim in life you may find this link helpful My Aim in Life Essay in English for Students | Easy Essay on My Aim in Life (vedantu.com)

Advantages of Writing an Essay on the Importance of Water.

Writing an essay on any topic helps the students be good writers, and the same goes for the topic of, Importance of water, but there are quite a few more advantages to writing the essay.

One of the most important things for everyone is to express oneself, and the practice of doing so must be given to the child from a very young age. And writing an essay helps the students in this very important thing.

For writing a good essay on any topic, the students must have a good understanding of the subject of the essay. And hence, writing an essay on the Importance of water, helps the students in learning about the value of water, not just our lives, which is to say humans, but the life of the whole planet.

In his famous play Hamlet Shakespeare writes, Brevity is the soul of wit, meaning being short or concise is very important in speech, or shortness of words is the essence of intelligence. The same rule applies in writing the essay, and doing as clear an understanding of the topic at hand is required as possible. And hence composing an essay on the importance of water helps the students understand the same.

One of the most important gifts that humans are blessed with is the gift of language, and this gift has to be used effectively. Writing an essay helps the students in learning the methods of using the language in such a manner that it makes everything clear to the reader. A good essay does not only touch the heart of the readers but it opens the mind of the reader, it can move them, that is to say, if a good essay is written on the importance of water it can make the readers aware about the same, and not just aware but also careful about using the water.

Water means Life. Water is a prime natural resource. It is a basic need for humans and a precious asset that living beings have. Water is equally vital for the survival of the plant and animal kingdoms. Soil needs water for sustaining plants. The water cycle is essential for ecological balance too. Though a big portion of the Earth is covered with water, only a small portion of it can be used for various human activities. So we need to be judicious and rational, regarding the usage of water.

Why is water important for our bodies?

Water is important for our body for the following reasons.

Above 70% of our body contains water so it is pivotal for the human race to survive.

Water helps in regulating our body temperature.

Water helps in the digestion of solid food.

It also keeps our skin healthy and hydrated.

Water helps in excreting waste from our body through sweat, urination, and defecation. So replenishing the water in our body is essential to prevent dehydration.

Drinking water also helps in reducing calories and maintaining body weight because it can increase the rate of metabolism.

Water consumption lubricates the joints, spinal cord, and tissues.

Importance of Water

All living organisms, plants, animals, and human beings contain water. Almost 70% of our body is made up of water. Our body gets water from the liquids we drink and the food we eat. Nobody can survive without water for more than a week. All plants will die if they do not get water. This would lead to the death of all the animals that depend on plants for their food. So the existence of life would come to an end.

Role of Water In Life Processes

Water plays an important role in most of the life processes by acting as a solvent. The absorption of food in our body takes place in solution form with water as the solvent. Also, many waste products are excreted in the form of solutions through urine and perspiration.

Water helps in regulating our body temperature. In hot weather, we drink a lot of water. This maintains our body temperature. Also, water evaporates from the surface of our body as sweat. This takes away heat and cools the body.

Water is essential for plants to grow. Plants need water to prepare food. They also absorb dissolved nutrients from the soil through their roots.

Aquatic plants and animals use the nutrients and oxygen dissolved in water for their survival.

Uses of Water In Everyday Life

Water is used for drinking, washing, cooking, bathing, cleaning, in our day-to-day life.

It is used to generate electricity in hydroelectric power stations.

Water is used for irrigating fields and in the manufacture of various products.

Other Uses of Water

Water serves as a means of transportation for goods and people.

It provides a medium for recreational sports such as swimming, boating, and water skiing.

Water is also used to extinguish fires.

Importance of Oceans

Oceans are of immense use to man. They are useful in many ways, directly and indirectly. They not only play a significant role in the climate of adjoining countries but also serve mankind in many ways. They are a storehouse of several resources.

An ocean is a major source of water and forms a major part of the water cycle. Oceans contribute water vapor to the atmosphere and we get the same in the form of precipitation.

The oceans are the biggest storehouse of edible forms of marine food, fish being most important. In addition to food, sea animals provide other products like oil, glue, etc.

Oceans have enormous mineral and chemical wealth. A variety of dissolved salts like sodium chloride (common salt), magnesium chloride, and potassium chloride are found in plenty in the oceans.

Oil and gas are important fuels obtained from oceans.

Importance of Lakes and Rivers

Economic and industrial development

Water storage

Hydroelectric power generation

Agricultural purposes

Modern multipurpose dams

Source of food

Source of minerals

Tourist attractions and health resorts

Rivers provide fresh drinking water

Ports can be built on them as they form good natural harbors

Major Concerns

Although our planet Earth is covered with 71% percent of water and 29% of the land, the fast-growing contamination of water is affecting both humans as well as marine life. The unequal distribution of water on the Earth and its increasing demand due to the increasing population is becoming a concern for all.

Water pollution makes it difficult for marine animals to sustain themselves.

Covering over 71% of Earth’s surface, water is undoubtedly the most precious natural resource that exists on our planet. Without the seemingly invaluable compound comprising Hydrogen and Oxygen, life on Earth would be non-existent.

We are slowly but harming our planet at a very alarming rate.

Characteristics of a Good Essay.

It must be brief: As pointed out earlier, a good essay must be short, and also to the point. So, if students are writing an essay on the importance of water it must only deal with the water, and anything which does not directly serve the purpose must be excluded.

Must cover the whole topic: Though it may seem a little contradicting to the first point, what is meant by covering the whole topic is that the maximum number of aspects dealing with the importance of water must be covered in this essay. For instance, water is important for all living organisms and not just humans, and so the same has to be covered in one or the other way in the essay on the importance of the water.

Must be to the point: The essay must remain true to the central idea of the topic, which is the importance of water in this case. Hence, almost all the sentences written in the essay must serve the main topic in one or another way. And also, writing should not be vague or ambiguous, or illogical.

Human beings should realize how important and precious water is. At the individual level, you can be more responsible and avoid wasting water so that our future generation can make the best use of this natural resource abundantly.

FAQs on Importance of water

1. Why is water important?

Water is important because it sustains all living organisms on Earth.

2. How is ocean water useful to Mankind?

Ocean water is useful to mankind in the following ways.

Oceans are a major source of water through the water cycle.

Oceans have direct control over the climate.

Oceans are the biggest storehouse of marine food.

Oceans have enormous mineral and chemical wealth.

3. How is water important for our Body?

Water helps to carry nutrients and oxygen to each and every cell of our body. It helps in digestion. It keeps our skin healthy and hydrated. Water consumption lubricates the joints, spinal cord, and tissues.

4. What are the uses of water in our Daily Life?

Water is used for drinking, bathing, cooking, cleaning, and irrigation of crops and manufacturing various products.

5. Why should I use the essay provided by Vedantu on the Importance of water?

The essay that Vedantu provides on the topic of the Importance of water is prepared by expert teachers, for the students of the English language. And hence this essay can be used by the students as an outline or an example of the essay on the Importance of water, it does not necessarily mean that the students have to copy it completely, but it serves the purpose of guiding the students in attempting the essay. Furthermore, the essay is completely free for download for all the students and also it is available in a PDF file format.

Importance of Water Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on importance of water.

Water is the basic necessity for the functioning of all life forms that exist on earth . It is safe to say that water is the reason behind earth being the only planet to support life. This universal solvent is one of the major resources we have on this planet . It is impossible for life to function without water. After all, it makes for almost 70% of the earth.

However, despite its vast abundance, water is very much limited. It is a non-renewable resource . In addition, we need to realize the fact that although there is an abundance of water, not all of it is safe to consume. We derive some very essential uses from the water on a daily basis.

Significance of water

If we talk about our personal lives, water is the foundation of our existence. The human body needs water for the day to day survival. We may be able to survive without any food for a whole week but without water, we won’t even survive for 3 days. Moreover, our body itself comprises of 70% water. This, in turn, helps our body to function normally.

Thus, the lack of sufficient water or consumption of contaminated water can cause serious health problems for humans. Therefore, the amount and quality of water which we consume is essential for our physical health plus fitness.

Further, our daily activities are incomplete without water. Whether we talk about getting up in the morning to brush or cooking our food, it is equally important. This domestic use of water makes us very dependent on this transparent chemical.

In addition, on a large scale, the industries consume a lot of water. They need water for almost every step of their process. It essential for the production of the goods we use every day.

If we look beyond human uses, we will realize how water plays a major role in every living beings life. It is the home of aquatic animals. From a tiny insect to a whale, every organism needs water to survive.

Therefore, we see how not only human beings but plants and animals too require water. The earth depends on water to function. We cannot be selfish and use it up for our uses without caring about the environment.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

A world without water

Water is not only required for our survival but for a healthy and happy life as well. Everyone has seen the scenario of water-deprived countries like Africa, where citizens are leading a miserable life. It is time for everyone to wake up and realize the urgency of conserving water.

In other words, a world without water would make the human race impossible to last. The same can be said for all the animals and plants. In fact, the whole earth will suffer without water.

Firstly, the greenery will soon diminish. When earth won’t get water, all the vegetation will die and turn into barren land. The occurrence of different seasons will soon cease. The earth will be caught in one big endless summer.

Furthermore, the home of aquatic animals will be taken from them. That means no fishes and whales for us to see. Most importantly, all forms of living organisms will go extinct if we do not conserve water right away.

In conclusion, unnecessary usage of water must be stopped at once. Every single person must work to conserve water and restore the balance. If not, we all know what the consequences are going to be.

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Short Essay on Water [100, 200, 400 Words] With PDF

In this lesson today, I will discuss how exactly you can write short essays on the important topic ‘Water.’ There will be three sets of essays in this following session, each within different word limits.

Short Essay on Water in 100 Words

Every living being on the earth needs some basic things for its survival. It includes food, water, shelter, and money as well for humans. Water is by far the principal need of living beings. About two-third part of the earth is covered with water.

Water is available in several forms on earth. Some amount is frozen in glaciers, while the larger amount of water is salty. Fresh water on earth is very little. We need water for every purpose. Drinking, cooking, bathing, washing are the basic needs, while water is also used by bigger industries to run their machines. Water is an important source of electricity. So, being the most valuable resource water must never be wasted.

Short Essay on Water in 200 Words

Water is the most significant resource among everything that humans and animals can receive. Water helps a living being to live for longer days, even when food is scarce. It is one of the most beautiful gifts of nature. Water has enormous benefits and is the life of the earth. Its medicinal properties cure several ailments in our bodies. Without it, we cannot imagine living a second on earth. The world will be a huge desert if the water on earth is destroyed.

Our earth is unique in its creation. About two-third part of it is covered with water, while the rest of it is land. If we take a deeper study, then a major part of the water is either frozen as glaciers or is present in the oceans as saltwater. The reserve of fresh water on earth is a limited amount. It can exhaust at any moment. Hence we must spend water wisely. We need water for drinking, bathing, washing clothes and utensils, cooking, cultivating, etc.

Big industries require lots of water to run their machines. Today due to the scarcity of coal, hydroelectricity is the new way of generating electrical power. This process requires huge amounts of water. In several ways, water is our saviour. It is the beauty of nature as a wonderful waterfall or a stream, and also the help to a thirsty person.

Short Essay on Water in 400 Words

Water is the basic strength behind all life forces on earth. It is the necessity of every life and is the biggest shelter for us to survive. If there is no water suddenly on earth, then it will only be a lifeless planet filled with dust and stone.

The green earth will become a long stretch of a desert without this component. Water forms about two-thirds of the earth, while only one-third is given for the land. Yet how much greater the amount of water on earth be, the availability of fresh water on earth is the minimum.

A large amount of water is left unused. It is either frozen as glaciers or is present as salty ocean water. This water cannot be applied for regular usage. So we must understand the wise utilization of water. It is a scanty but most important resource. So only its proper utilization can make it sufficient.

Water is the source of all activities in our lives. From the olden days, human beings have always tried to live near water bodies. Because those places are fertile for cultivation. A vast desert-like Egypt also survives because of the river Nile. The Ganges in India is not only a water body but one of the most sacred rivers in the world. The most important use of water is in agriculture.

Every plant needs it to grow. If crops do not receive adequate water, then they will be stunted. We use water for drinking, cooking, bathing, washing. A living body needs lots of water intake. Insufficient water intake can result in lots of ailments. Water is beneficial for this medical property. Besides these, all industries need water for producing electricity and running the turbines. Water is the potential of civilization. A civilization operates because of the availability of water

But at present, we are observing the pollution of water bodies. It is dangerous for all living beings to survive if all water sources are contaminated. Polluted water is a threat to the earth. Households, industries, insufficient cleanliness, lack of awareness, all are enough to increase pollution in several degrees. With increased consumption of water, it is being equally polluted. Thus many aquatic plants and animals, humans, other land animals are regularly dying after intaking the dirty water.

This is harming our ecosystem. So we must preserve freshwater. It is important and is available in little amount. Clean water can exhaust at any moment. It is our duty even to preserve the rainwater and use it. Every drop of water means life. A correct utility of it is the best way.

So, that was all about writing short essays on Water. In this session above, I have adopted a simplistic approach to writing all these essays for a better understanding of all kinds of students. You can let me know your queries by commenting down below. If you want to read more such lessons on various important topics regarding English composition, keep browsing our website. Thank you.

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Water conservation refers to the efficient use and preservation of water resources. It involves strategies and activities to manage freshwater supply, preventing water pollution, and reducing water consumption. Conservation is essential because only about 2.5% of the Earth's water is fresh, and less than 1% is accessible.
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Water is the lifeblood of our planet, a resource so vital that its careful management should be a global priority. Water management involves the planning, developing, distributing, and managing the optimum use of water resources. It is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive understanding of the water cycle and human demands on this ...
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A.1 Water is of the utmost importance for human and animal life. It gives us water to drink. It also comes in great use for farmers and industries. Even common man requires water for various purposes like drinking, cleaning, bathing and more. Q.2 List the ways to avoid wastage of water.
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Water is important for our body for the following reasons. Above 70% of our body contains water so it is pivotal for the human race to survive. Water helps in regulating our body temperature. Water helps in the digestion of solid food. It also keeps our skin healthy and hydrated.
Importance of Water Essay for Students and Children
500+ Words Essay on Importance of Water. Water is the basic necessity for the functioning of all life forms that exist on earth. It is safe to say that water is the reason behind earth being the only planet to support life. This universal solvent is one of the major resources we have on this planet. It is impossible for life to function without ...
Short Essay on Water [100, 200, 400 Words] With PDF
Short Essay on Water in 200 Words. Water is the most significant resource among everything that humans and animals can receive. Water helps a living being to live for longer days, even when food is scarce. It is one of the most beautiful gifts of nature. Water has enormous benefits and is the life of the earth.