Water Delivery Sustainability in the Caribbean and Developing World

Introduction: Water Sustainability as a Political and Environmental Problem

Water sustainability has been of increasing concern in academia as both a political and an environmental problem. This dissertation will specifically focus on water sustainability in the Caribbean and how to improve methods of delivery. Water is a finite, not an infinite, resource and must be treated as such. Additional research is needed to determine how best to improve current quality and availability in the region. One useful method of doing so is reviewing how governments have tried — and in some cases failed — in the past to improve water sustainability in other areas of the developing world.

GIS and Remote Sensing for Groundwater Management

Technology provides many potential benefits for improving water quality, according to Jha et al. (2007). In their article "Groundwater Management and Development by Integrated Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems: Prospects and Constraints," the authors examine how the pollution and exploitation of groundwater is creating a critical problem for the environment in India. Remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) can work to circumvent some of these issues, although the technology is still in its nascent stages. The uses for RS and GIS include the assessment of current resources and damages; selecting artificial recharge sites; flow and pollution modeling; hazard assessment and protection; estimating natural recharge of groundwater; and other forms of data analysis and process monitoring (Jha 2007: 427). Groundwater is a critical natural resource because of its relatively low vulnerability even when the rest of a region faces drought, making its preservation vital to future survival.

Unfortunately, several logistical barriers exist to the use of RS and GIS technology in the nations where the need for it is deepest and most critical, such as India. A literature review reveals that current studies proving the utility of this technology in improving groundwater management in the region are limited and not scientifically rigorous. While the developed world is currently monitoring its groundwater using cutting-edge technology, developing-world governments often impose security restrictions that prevent the free dissemination of information, and there is a lack of funding for adequate facilities. The authors conclude with recommendations for improvement, including offering more affordable technology, facilitating greater data-sharing about groundwater, and providing training on how to use the technology. Improvements in infrastructure are also identified as critical (Jha 2007: 461).

IWRM in South Africa: Promise vs. Implementation

The Jha et al. (2007) article highlights how simply having high-quality technology is not enough — it must be used in an effective fashion. Moreover, government intransigence can result in a failure of proper training and delivery, as can financial constraints. According to Jonker (2007), in his article "Integrated Water Resources Management: The Theory–Praxis–Nexus, a South African Perspective," the use of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in South Africa has been a struggle despite the fact that the program seemed certain to work and was widely praised when initially implemented. South Africa was lauded for being a leader in the use of IWRM in Africa, but implementation has met a number of logistical barriers, including insufficient numbers of trained personnel, inadequate funding, and a lack of genuine follow-through by political leaders (Jonker 2007: 1257).

There was also a lack of what Jonker calls "conceptual clarity" in the use of the techniques by the South African government agencies charged with IWRM enforcement. Ideally, IWRM is supposed to promote the coordinated development and management of resources in order to improve economic and social welfare, but problems arose regarding the human element. The article highlights that no system, no matter how well-supported by prior evidence, can be more powerful than the human actors responsible for implementing it (Jonker 2007: 1262). A lack of integration among agencies produced an unsuccessful outcome because those in charge appeared to fail to understand the scope of the program and where their specific functions fit within its larger aims. Coordinating resources among affected parties can be organizationally challenging and can thwart even a well-structured program's implementation.

Conclusion: Water Delivery as a Political Problem

All three of these articles highlight the need to view sustainable water delivery as a political problem. Although environmental issues must be studied to determine the best way to provide safe and regular clean water to residents, without political will and logistical planning, even the most promising technical solutions will mean little. Equally, a program cannot be excessively theoretical and conceptual in nature if it is to succeed in practice.

References

Biswas, A. 2004. Integrated Water Resources Management: A reassessment. Water International, 29:2, 248–256. DOI: 10.1080/02508060408691775

Jha, M. et al. 2007. Groundwater management and development by integrated remote sensing and geographic information systems: prospects and constraints. Water Resource Management 21:427–467. DOI: 10.1007/s11269-006-9024-4

Jonker, L. 2007. Integrated water resources management: The theory–praxis–nexus, a South African perspective. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 32, 1257–1263.