Dry Area Forum

Unique and urgent action required

Much of the urban growth taking place in the world is in dry areas. Cities in arid areas in Africa, India and China, for example, have grown rapidly, and in many developed nations, the warmer, dryer areas have become popular new development zones (e.g. Arizona, Southern Spain). The challenges faced in supplying water in such conditions is exacerbated by the prospect of climate change. The experience of the city of Perth in Western Australia provides an illustration. In this region the average rainfall over the most recent 30 years is some 15% less than the average of the preceding 70 years, and the runoff for the most recent 30 years is half that for the preceding 70 years. The Water Corporation of Western Australia has effectively doubled the water resources available to Perth over the past decade but is still struggling to maintain reliable water supplies.

Population growth combined with increasing living standards (at least in developed nations and nations in transition) and increasing competition for water resources will impact on dry areas including much of China, the Indian Sub-Continent, southern Africa, North Africa, the Middle East, Spain, South Western USA including Southern California, Mexico, and Australia. Projections of growing demand and available water resources demonstrate that many of these countries face serious water shortages over the next 50 years. The situation in developed countries such as the USA and Australia is brought into focus by increasing recognition of environmental requirements, and the consequent reduction in previous estimates of available water resources. The environmental impacts of over-extraction are also evident in developing nations, although are factored into national policies on water management less frequently.

In order to overcome the challenges of meeting community expectations for reliable safe water supplies and effective sanitation in dry areas innovation will be vital. Innovation is not restricted to technological change. Innovation in policy, institutions, regulation, governance, economic issues such as water pricing and markets, environmental sustainability, and social issues will all be important . Study of the history of water management, and the role of water in different cultures can also illuminate contemporary challenges.

The scope of the Dry Area Forum should cover the full range of issues in meeting the challenges of providing reliable, safe water supplies and effective sanitation to growing urban communities in dry, variable and uncertain climates. Water services must also be provided in cost effective and environmentally sustainable ways. The Dry Area Forum is intended to bring together those working in arid area water management to exchange ideas and understanding, disseminate the results of their research and identify research gaps.

A number of events are associated with the Dry Area Forum. On 1st September 2006 a meeting will be held in Canberra, Australia to discuss water trading and a similar workshop will be held during the IWA”s World Water Congress later in that month.

For more information contact Andrew Speers at IWA.