National ProTempore Water Commission: A Proposition for IWRM Ramon Frutos National Met Service

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National Pro-Tempore Water Commission A
Proposition for IWRM Ramon FrutosNational Met
Service
Secretariat National Pro Tempore Water Commission
hydro_at_hydromet.gov.bz
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INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IWRM)
Freshwater A Finite resource

• INTRODUCTION
• NATIONAL PRO-TEMPORE WATER COMMISSION AND ITS
  MANDATE
• IWRM WHAT IT MEANS
• POLICY AND LEGISLATIONS FORMULATION
• CONCLUSION

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IntroductionFreshwater A Finite resource

• Freshwater is not only an environmental asset,
  but also a key economic resource.
• When properly managed, water resources are
  powerful tools for development.
• This simple and important principle ought to
  guide the financing efforts in the water resource
  sector.
• Freshwater is finite and has economic value.
  Consequently, it is vitally important that we
  regulate and protect our freshwater resources.
• The First Belize Freshwater Summit held in 2003
  called for the drafting of a National Freshwater
  Management Strategy for Belize.

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The National ProTempore Water Commission and its
Mandate

• Members appointed by the Deputy Prime Minister
  and Minister of Natural Resources, and the
  Environment.
• Legislated through SI No. 62 of 2004
• Consists of fifteen (15) members
• Meteorology/Hydrology Dept. serves as the
  Secretariat
• ChairmanChief Meteorologist or his
  representative
• Deputy Chairmanelected from among members
• Members appointed to serve for a two-year term.

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The National ProTempore Water Commission and its
Mandate

• Advise the Minister on any matter referred to it
  by the Minister or relating to the administration
  of the Water Industry Act.
• Advise the Minister on water resources
  management.
• Recommend institutional requirements for
  establishment of a National Water Commission,
  outlining its functions and responsibilities.
• Develop a National IWRM Policy and corresponding
  Action Plan.
• Recommendations for drafting a comprehensive
  Water Resources Management Legislation
• Serve as the National Focal Point for all
  regional and international organization and
  initiatives in the field of water resources
  management.

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The National ProTempore Water Commission Members

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A Timeline of Initiatives to Foster Water
Resources Management in Belize

• Water and Sewerage Act, Chapter 185 Laws of Bze.
  (1970)
• First Pro-Tempore Water Commission (1992-1993).
• FAO Funded Consultancy to formulate a Water
  Resources Management Policy, Planning and
  Organization, and Proposed Water Resources
  Legislation (1994)
• Water Industry Act of 2001 (Privatization of the
  Water ServicesBWS).
• First Belize Freshwater Summit ( January 2003).
• Establishment of the National Pro-Tempore Water
  Commission (January 2003, S.I. No. 62 of 2004).
• The way forwardNational IWRM Policy and Action
  Plan NWRC Recommendations for Water Resources
  Management Legislation

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IWRMWhat it really means

• Water as an integrating element
• Water management is complex and implies at the
  very least integrating the natural and
  socioeconomic systems.
• The use of water brings about economic,
  ecological and socio-political interactions, some
  of which are competitive or diverging.

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IWRMWhat it really means

• IT IS A SYSTEMATIC PROCESS OF MATCHING THE WATER
  RESOURCES AND ITS POLICIES, OBJECTIVES AND USES
  TO IMPROVE DECISION-MAKING IN
• MANAGEMENT OF THE NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
  RESOURCES
• DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS AND POLICIES
• IT IS A COORDINATING FRAMEWORK FOR INTEGRATING
  SECTORIAL NEEDS, WATER POLICIES AND WATER
  MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC
  AND ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES.
• THE FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSE IS TO ENSURE
• SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
• SUSTAINABILITY OF VITAL ECOSYSTEMS

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IWRMThe Four Dublin Principles

• I. Freshwater is a finite and vulnerable
  resource, essential to sustain life, development
  and the environment.
• IIII. Water development and management should be
  based on a participatory approach, involving
  users, planners and policy makers at all level.
• IIII. Women play a central part in the
  provision, management and safeguarding of water.
• IIV. Water has an economic value in all its
  competing uses and should be recognized as an
  economic good.. The four Dublin principles

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IWRMMain Challenges

• Water security for human consumption
• Water security for food production
• Development of other employment creating
  activities
• Protection of vital ecosystems
• To confront the variability of water in time and
  space
• Risk management
• To create understanding and conscience among the
  population
• To forge the political will to take action
• To ensure collaboration between sectors and
  geographical borders

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IWRM

• The way forward
• Drafting of IWRM Policy and Action Plan (
  Extensive Stake- holders consultations at
  multiple levels essential)
• Recommendations for the establishment of a NWRC
• Recommendations and adoption of a draft National
  Water Legislation for Belize (Extensive
  Public Consultations)
• Integrated and sustainable management of Belizes
  water resources is therefore critical under the
  current economic circumstances, globalization
  compounded by climate variability and impending
  climate change.
• NWC coordinate the regulation and integrated
  management Belizes water resourcesfor example
  conflict resolution, water allocation, water
  rights and licenses.

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IWRM

• Physical Map of Belize
• Area 22,960 km2
• Mainland21,812 km2
• Population 247,000
• Growth Rate3.1
• GDP/capita US3,760
• Literacy rate70
• Natural Veg.70
• Potable water Urban
• 100, Rural 69
• About 95 of Rural water supply is groundwater
• Sanitation 39/22

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IWRM

• 18 main watersheds
• Active watershed association for Sibun watershed
• All but two main river courses have manual river
  level gauging sites
• 24 stations in all
• 12 sites with rating curves
• 5 trans-boundary watersheds

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IWRMDisponibilidad del Agua
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IWRM
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IWRM
Surface and ground water Status of water
production in Belize

• Water/Sanitation services for Belize City and
  other urban centers in the Districts have been
  privatized and operated by Belize Water Services
  Limited. Water sources are mostly surface water
  from rivers and streams
• Rural areas have mostly Rudimentary Water
  Systems constructed by the Rural Water Unit in
  the Ministry of Rural Development and Culture.
  Operated by Village Water Board. 95 of
  freshwater of RWS are from groundwater sources.

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IWRM
Surface and ground water Proposal for National
Water Policy and Legislation Basic Principles

• El Agua es un bien estrategico del pais
• El Agua es un recurso finito y de valor economic
• Los demas principios de Dublin
• El que contamina paga
• La cuenca hidrografica es la unidad del manejo y
  planificacion

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IWRM
Surface and ground water Proposal for National
Water Policy and Legislation Basic Principles

• Los temas para cosiderar en el Plan
  estrategico.
• Derechos
• Monitoreo y balance hidricos
• Reforzar las actas de aguas residuales
• El agua y el uso de la tierra
• Licencias etc.

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IWRM

• THANK YOU!