Water Resources and Environmental Assessment

Abstract

{IWRM} at the basin level requires managers to apply water resources assessment to study the condition of water and management measures needed. The process includes environmental assessment to determine if impacts on natural systems are impairing their ecological services. It measures water quantity and quality as well as ecosystem capacity. Assessing water quality establishes water's suitability to meet intended uses and classifications have been developed through water laws and guidance systems. The systems developed in the {USA} and the European Union are examples of different approaches. Assessing environmental resources requires an inventory of local and regional ecological systems. On the international level, leadership in water resources assessment is by the World Meteorological Organization, among other agencies.