Incorporating innovative water management science and technology into water management policy

Abstract

Water is a unique and limited resource. An ample supply of good quality water is a concern, and the potential for water shortages exist. Such shortages of good quality water are real and would likely have significant impacts on the economy and the environment. In the USA, the public expects water management science and technology to be incorporated into effective polices to help minimize or offset adverse impacts on water. Such integration takes time and challenges exist. Challenges to such integration include the need to educate decision makers, lack of needed incentives, limited benefit quantification methods, uncertainty in measurement or estimation of technology performance, the need for comprehensive guiding principles such as sustainability, and lack of broad-scale application of techniques such as adaptive management and environmental management systems. There is a compelling need to continuously make advances in the water management science and technology arena to meet these challenges; however, there is a commensurate need to educate decision makers and stakeholders about the potential benefits derived by the application of such advances. Such educational efforts are needed to better integrate science, technology and water policy in order to make better use of available water.