WATER CONSERVATION AND DEMAND MANAGEMENT: POLICY IMPLICATIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

 

Public involvement in water management 

A review of the literature on broader development process reveals that the ongoing
development debates discourages top down policies that underestimate the potential of
the people and their role in the development process (Briant & White, 1982; Burkey,
1993). Current thinking is the philosophy that grassroots support provides valuable
insights into local conditions and more importantly resuhs in sustainability and self-
reliant development (Chamber, 1997; Carney, 1998). Community participation and
involvement in development projects facilitates the implementation of the planning
process, reinforces accountability of decision-makers and develops a sense of self-worth,
responsibility and empowerment (Oakley, 1991; Penderis, 1996).


In a way, the literature review reveals many experiences, success stories and practical
examples of successful policies that are informed by majority decisions. Several broad
areas of theory suggest that individual and community actions are necessary ingredients
in the resolution and reduction of community problems. The above assertion concurs with
the arguments of Michael (1990:198) who states that "a large number of bottom-up
locality-based initiatives have been applied, with varying degrees of success in the
attempt to resolve the economic, social and environmental problems confronting
disadvantaged populations and places within the capitalist city".A review of the literature on broader development process reveals that the ongoing
development debates discourages top down policies that underestimate the potential of
the people and their role in the development process (Briant & White, 1982; Burkey,
1993). Current thinking is the philosophy that grassroots support provides valuable
insights into local conditions and more importantly resuhs in sustainability and self-
reliant development (Chamber, 1997; Carney, 1998). Community participation and
involvement in development projects facilitates the implementation of the planning
process, reinforces accountability of decision-makers and develops a sense of self-worth,
responsibility and empowerment (Oakley, 1991; Penderis, 1996).


In a way, the literature review reveals many experiences, success stories and practical
examples of successful policies that are informed by majority decisions. Several broad
areas of theory suggest that individual and community actions are necessary ingredients
in the resolution and reduction of community problems. The above assertion concurs with
the arguments of Michael (1990:198) who states that "a large number of bottom-up
locality-based initiatives have been applied, with varying degrees of success in the
attempt to resolve the economic, social and environmental problems confronting
disadvantaged populations and places within the capitalist city". 

In line with the above assertion and with emphasis on management of water resources,
Oudshoorn (1997) warns that water resource planners are very likely to encounter a new
and a different kind of scarcity. He believes that water scarcity cannot be solved by
engineering measures, but calls for finding an intricate balance between the interests of a
number of actors involved. According to him, management of water demand in the

ramework of the objectives of national socio-economic development plan poses a
challenge in the water planning process. In this respect, he strongly proposes strong
mechanisms and political involvement at the national level and a strong social support at
the local level. The Population Report of 1998 also notes that most governments depend
too much on centralized administration to develop, operate, and maintain water systems.
The report maintains that the agencies currently charged with the responsibility of water
supplies have already been overextended and lack technical competence. Furthermore the
report blames the inability of water projects to meet people's needs due to the fact that
most of the projects don't place enough emphasis on stakeholder involvement and
community participation in setting water policies.

Burmil, Daniel & Hetherington (1999) also reveal the many-sided human perceptions and
values regarding the value of water. They refer to water's life sustaining value as well as
the importance of water as one of the most visual elements of the landscape. They argue
that current water policies for water management emphasize only technical standards and
legal regulations that tend to address relatively few relevant human values, particularly
those involving consumptive uses. Burmil et al calls for more comprehensive water
policies that address the broader array of human perceptions, meanings and values related
to water especially in arid areas.


There are number of examples that can be cited to describe the importance of community
participation in water management. In his study of water management in the case study
area of Lake Biwa in Japan, Petts (1988) notes that water management has developed
through active public cooperation He argues that the problem of pollution and
eutrophication of Lake Biwa was mitigated by community action by means of controlling
the waste discharge. 

In similar vein McIvor (2000) remarks that community participation is one of the most
essential principles in development cooperation. He regards community participation as a
process by which people have a say in the conception of projects and accept it as their
own effort. McIvor reports on successful participation from a Zimbabwe community

based management water programme in the Zambezi valley. Basing his comments on the
benefits of this programme, McIvor makes a plea for other programmes in the field of
development and environmental management to adopt the participatory methods that
were employed in Zimbabwe. Edwards-Jones (1997) also observes the importance of
community participation in water management. When researching the problems facing
Scottish fresh waters, he indicated that the participatory integrated catchments plans for
the Water of Leith and River Almond revealed a wide variety of benefits that can be
derived from an integrated approach to river management.

Source:

University of the Western Cape

WATER CONSERVATION AND DEMAND MANAGEMENT:
POLICY IMPLICATIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

BY
TIMOTHY GABRIEL MGONJA

A minithesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
Masters of Arts degree in development studies in the Institute of Development
studies, University of the Western Cape.

Supervisors: MS SHARON PENDERIS (UWC)
Prof: J H VAN DER MERWE (STELLENBOSCH)


OCTOBER 2001

Mozambique Doing Business - South Africa

2025

Link : https://uwcscholar.uwc.ac.za:8443/server/api/core/bitstreams/06cfb0d9-f5e3-4045-823c-ab023521dae3/content

 

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