Water Security Improvement Toolkit #3 – Water Security Planning

Water Security Planning: This is the third in a series of six toolkits that present topics and strategies for addressing issues of water security.

A specific requirement for the water security plan is to be timely and pragmatic. This is about finding an “optimal balance” between producing a detailed exploration and review of possible water security options and defining and implementing tangible activities to address priority water risks. Stakeholder perceptions of the magnitude and urgency of current water risks and associated priorities are the deciding factor.

Adopting stakeholder participation is vital for successful water security planning. For years, water managers and engineers have used predictive methods to identify solutions and make top-down water management decisions. These technical methods are based on experience and scientific knowledge to predict outcomes based on existing and future conditions. But predictive methods often fail to deliver the expected results due to factors such as the complexity of water issues, the uncertainties around current information and future conditions, and the multiplicity of objectives.