Sustainable Water Management

Water is a fundamental element of life. It is integral to almost every process on Earth, from supporting the vast diversity of life, to driving climate systems, to being a crucial component in agriculture and daily human use. As the global population continues to grow, ensuring access to clean and abundant water for all has become a pressing challenge. Sustainable water management is pivotal in addressing this challenge. It encompasses a comprehensive approach to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, directly reflecting the ambitions of Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDGs, established by the United Nations in 2015, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. Goal 6, in particular, underscores the global need to prioritize water resources in policies and plans, emphasizing the importance of integrating holistic water management into broader strategies for sustainable development. But the relationship between water and the SDGs doesn’t stop with Goal 6.

Water intersects with several other goals as well. For instance, sustainable water management plays a role in achieving Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) as agriculture, which accounts for about 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, needs to adapt to the changing climate and growing demand without depleting water sources. Similarly, Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) is linked to water quality, as contaminated water leads to a host of diseases. Furthermore, the emphasis on clean water and sanitation can help to reduce the gender disparity in many regions, as women and girls often bear the disproportionate burden of collecting water, an issue highlighted in Goal 5 (Gender Equality).

Climate action (Goal 13) is also inextricably tied to water management, given the intensifying water-related challenges posed by global warming. Addressing the water crisis effectively is not only about securing water resources but also about creating ripple effects across various sectors and domains, ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth. Achieving optimal outcomes in sustainable water management requires collaborative approaches, harnessing the strengths of both public and private entities. Innovations in technology, financing mechanisms, and policy frameworks must be synchronized to address the intricacies of water challenges.

Leveraging indigenous knowledge, reinforcing local governance, and fostering community engagement can also enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of interventions. Sustainable water management is not only a standalone objective but a critical component interwoven throughout the tapestry of the SDGs. Addressing the multifaceted challenges of water sustainably is both an obligation and an opportunity to forge a more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous future.

Child washing hands under tap

Each year the RELX Environmental Challenge is awarded to projects that best demonstrate how they can provide sustainable access to safe water or sanitation. There is a $50,000 prize for the first place entry and a $25,000 prize for the second place entry. The winners also receive free access for one year to ScienceDirect, our Scientific, Technical & Medical business’ database of full text, scientific information. Projects must have clear practical applicability, address identified need and advance related issues such as health, education, or human rights.

Flyer image for the event

Water is essential for life and producing food, energy, minerals, and industrial goods. As planetary populations grow and a changing climate triggers floods, droughts, and other environmental extremes, access to clean water sources becomes increasingly competitive. Inadequate infrastructures, poor resource allocation, and outdated ecological restoration principles compound an already prescient problem. 

This chapter aligns with Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and Goal 13: Climate Action by exploring the potential of AI in facilitating agricultural water management in the context of climate change and water scarcity.
Elsevier,

Sustainable Resource Management, Modern Approaches and Contexts, 2021, Pages 289-315

This book chapter advances SDGs 9, 13, and 15 by using several economic indicators of sustainable resource management to help answer questions such as what extent is it possible to know whether the available resources are being managed in a sustainable way? Could it be said that current generations are using the resources to meet their needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own?
Elsevier,

Water Conservation and Wastewater Treatment in BRICS Nations, Technologies, Challenges, Strategies and Policies, 2020, Pages 321-328

Considering the significance of the indigenous knowledge systems toward addressing key environmental concerns, in this chapter, an attempt has been undertaken to address the indigenous knowledge system for water conservation and management.
Figure showing the institutional structure in water resources management in Azerbaijan.
In this paper, the objective is to analyze the water management in Azerbaijan to ensure the country's water safety by improving the efficiency of water management and consumption.
This chapter advances SDG 6, 11, and 12 by discussing the state-of-the-art of managing water supply and demand as a natural resource, and what indicators are being developed to identify water scarcity worldwide.