CEE Oct-Dec 2012

The role of dams and reservoirs in sustainable development has already been acknowledged in various declarations: World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002), Beijing Declaration Hydropower and Sustainable Development (2004), Dams and Hydropower for African Sustainable Development (2008), and the Ministerial Declarations of the Fifth and Sixth World Water Fora (2009/2012). Humanity is facing a more severe water situation than it has ever faced in the past. To face this century's greatest challenge - to manage water sustainably - we need to strengthen existing water systems and further develop new water storage infrastructure. This will require adequate legislation and funding. It must also include the optimization of the use of water by combining multiple purposes: Flood management and drought mitigation Irrigation for food production Energy production Drinking water and sanitation Industrial water supply Navigation Environmental services etc. There is need to improve the maintenance and operation of existing water storage infrastructure. Taking into account the aging process, improved knowledge, and the effects of climate change, there is a need to increase efforts to maintain the existing water storage infrastructure. For example, modern monitoring and engineering can improve the safety of structures against extreme earthquakes and floods. Climate change is likely to make reservoir regulation more difficult as hydrological patterns change. Reservoir regulation must be optimized to store more floodwater, while considering the requirements of both up stream and downstream areas. With the latest forecasting systems and real-time acquisition of data, dynamic operations to control water levels in reservoirs can achieve the best balance between infrastructure safety and the wise use of water resources. There is need to accelerate the development of new water storage infrastructure for multiple purposes. • Flood management and drought mitigation Floods and droughts are the greatest water management problem for many countries with insufficient water storage infrastructure. Every year, more than 200 million people are affected by flood damage. Due to climate change, floods and droughts will become fore frequent and severe . Water storage infrastructure is a key component of water disaster mitigation, especially in developing countries. • Irrigation for food production Irrigated agri culture covers about 277 million hectares, about 18% of the world's arable land. This makes this land remarkably more productive, providing about 40 per cent of the world's crop output. Irrigated lands also concentrate agricultural employment, with nearly 30 per cent of the rural population working in these areas. Much of the world's food production must be in regions with long dry seasons. Since arable land area is limited. the additional production will require efficient use of existing irrigation facilities and extending the area under irrigation through increased water storage facilities. It is estimated that 80 per cent of additional food production by 2025 will need to come from irrigated land. • Energy production Hydropower supplies about 16 per cent of the world's electricity today. Hydro supplies more than 50 per cent of national electricity in about 65 countries, more than 80 per cent in 32 countries and almost all of the electricity in 13 countries. The flexibility of this renewable resource is f undamental in matching electricity services with demand and contributes to the development of other intermittent sources of electricity production such as solar and wind, which are less flexibl e. Consequently, the energy stored in water, converted through pure hydropower and pumped storage, improves the reliability of power systems in a clean and efficient manner. Only 30 per cent of the world's identified hydropower potential has been developed. Transforming the undeveloped hydropower potential into reality would save extraordinary amounts of fossil fuel, reduce greenhouse gas emissions substantially and improve the management of water resources. • Drinking water and sanitation One in eight people in the world do not have access to safe water for drinking, cooking and sanitation. With the expected population growth, and without investment in storage, the number of people who could not have access to water will reach 4.2 billion by 2025. One of the Millennium Development Goals calls for 59