Technical conclusions

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I - PROBLEMS

A global and sustainable management of water resources in the Mediterranean basin that aims at optimally meeting the rational needs of the various users, within the limit of renewable reserves, while respecting aquatic ecosystems, requires the strengthening of competent institutions.

The topic of the workshop did not appear to be sectoral but multisectoral: it involves all aspects of water management and particularly those dealt with in the other three workshops: water and agriculture, domestic and industrial water, training. The reflections overlap those of the other groups.

Furthermore, the workshop considered that it had to examine the topic description provided but thought that the works should also deal with propositions for the Marseilles declaration which concerns many institutional aspects. Thus, the contribution to the conference exceeds the detailed recommendations stated hereafter.

The workshop examined the various aspects of global water management, in particular:

the legal and institutional framework to be relied on by governments for action,

issues related to the decentralization of capabilities and responsibilities, to the association of water users at the advisable geographic level,

the taking into account of the economic value of water,

issues related to the training and awareness raising of actors.

Fruitful exchanges of ideas and debates took place as regards these various topics and, when necessary, issues such as water protection and management, water supply for the users in Mediterranean riparian countries, at the centre of social and economic life.

The following summary is not an exhaustive report on the addresses made but attempts to recall some essential aspects.

Water appears to have an undeniable economic value which must be taken into account when tariffing its supply in order to incite water savings and recycling when technically possible. This economic value comes from the fact that water is a limited resource, even scarce in some regions and thus must not be wasted but managed with tools adapted for assessing resources and demands.

Further to the economic value of water, its social and environmental value should not be forgotten : water is an element essential to sustain life and the environment. There is no life without water. Water is a right of populations, the underprivileged included. It is a fundamental right. Tariffing must take into account social, environmental and economic aspects and should be adjusted depending on the sector. Reforms should be progressive in this field.

Water is an essential element for sustainable development: the decision-making processes regarding economy must take water management into account.

It is advisable that water be managed in its natural medium, the catchment area, which is a physical reality. The participants recommended that water resources management be organized at the appropriate geographical and hydrographic scales, requirements being a prerequisite.

The sectoral analysis of water problems is necessary but must lead to a global framework intended for an integrated water resources management, meeting the various demands of the users and for the environmental protection of aquatic media. This global management must be undertaken on a long term basis, be transparent, and understandable to all actors and users.

Water requires a concerted management, involving all users, with a decentralization of competences and better identified responsibilities in order to link decision making to local realities. This implies the setting up or development of adapted institutional mechanisms to favour the participation and association of the various categories of users and a solidarity among them.

As water quality must be preserved, the participants recommended the application of quality standards for the natural, supplied and discharged waters.

Water management requires technical skills and the participants recommended that the training of water professionals be developed, especially for the technicians in charge of operating infrastructures. It also seemed useful that the elected officials also be trained, in an adapted manner, to be able to make the judicious decisions within their field of competence.

It seemed necessary to develop education, training and awareness campaigns for populations regarding water management and protection.

Global water management implies the development and modernization of monitoring and analysis tools and the organization of reliable, understandable, accessible data bases on water resources and uses.

Technical and scientific cooperation must be strengthened to develop a Mediterranean scientific heritage in the water field. It is advisable that sustained financial support be envisaged from the North on behalf of the South.

The possible privatization of water services was also discussed and must give the opportunity to technically and economically improve water management to the benefit of the consumers under the control of authorities, mainly through competition and regulatory mechanisms.

II - SUMMARY OF THE PAPERS

By examining the papers written by the members of the workshop, it seemed that increase in water needs, especially for agriculture and the supply of populations, the degradation of natural water by pollution and the resource limitation were the main topics. Thus, the governments are strengthening structures for water resources management and protection.

It is obvious that the organization processes vary, depending on the cultural and administrative traditions of the countries and according to the geographical and economic context.

However, the following main trends were observed:

development of regulations on water withdrawals, discharges and quality,

development of tools for the qualitative and quantitative monitoring of the natural resources, of the environmental state of aquatic media and of uses,

preparation of long-term masterplans for water resources management and protection, using the existing information, to meet the foreseeable uses and prevent conflicts between users that can be caused by water scarcity. It mainly aims at ensuring the potable water supply of populations in dry regions.

Governments seem to have an essential role in organizing water policy that cannot be entrusted to the market as the latter hardly takes long-term and public interest into account.

Besides traditional administration, specific structures are developing with the following characteristics:

local geographical scale which often corresponds to a division based on the hydrographic basin,

preparation of global programmes (integrating all aspects) for a long-term water resources protection and management,

association of all parties concerned, especially local governments and various categories of users, in policy preparation and application,

setting up as a complement to regulations, economic tools, based on the " polluter-pays " and " user-pays " principles, to help to finance water policies and channel the users towards practices for water resources savings and protection,

improvement or restructuring of organizations in charge of the operational management of water services (intakes, supply, sanitation) aiming at achieving a better technical and economic efficiency,

strengthening awareness raising, training and information of actors and the public, development of research and tools for data exchanges.

All these topics and the variety of experiences of the countries underlined the need to develop a cooperation in these fields.

III -DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS

The workshop recommended.

A clear and stable legal and institutional framework must be established as regards a system of common references and useful standards in order to favour a global and clear approach for the different users.

Decentralization of competences and responsibilities is necessary to link decision making to local realities as well as the creation or strengthening of structures, favouring the participation of the local authorities and the associations of users. It particularly encouraged the organization of water resources management at appropriate geographical and hydrological scales, on the basis of a preliminary agreement between the interested countries.

The economic value of water must be taken into account. It is recommended that prices be adjusted according to the uses, the development of multi-annual programming tools, the application of the " user polluter pays " principle allowing for balanced management

• Development and modernization of monitoring and analysis tools, organization of data banks which are reliable, accessible, understandable and comparable, are indispensable. Data will deal with the state of resources in terms of both quality and quantity, as well as with the uses and discharges and with their seasonal and geographical variations, so as to constitute a system of common references in order to efficiently follow policies.

• To take into account the ecological value of water, the aquatic eco-system and the habitats which depend on it.

Many Mediterranean countries have already set up adapted institutions or plan to start important reforms for this purpose.

The time necessary for making these structural adjustments must be taken into account.

Institutional cooperation between the countries of the basin should accelerate these adjustments by a " cross fertilization ", based on the exchange of experiences: the decentralized cooperation is an efficient means, as well as the networking of partners interested in regional cooperation.