Water supply and sanitation issues in Asia : Asian water development outlook 2007 : discussion paper

The Asian water development outlook is ADB’s first attempt to make a forward-looking assessment of the possible water future, in view of the increasing importance of water in the future development scenarios of the Asia and Pacific region, the most populous region of the world. The outlook is cautiously optimistic about the region’s water future. With existing knowledge, experience, and technology, Asia’s water problems are solvable. If a crisis occurs, this will be due to inadequate or inappropriate water governance, and not because of physical scarcity of water.
Issues highlighted in the report are : 1) the importance of addressing the relationships between water and other development-related sectors, e.g. energy, food, environment; 2) the need for accelerated research on climate change to avoid serious water-related stresses; 3) investment in poverty reduction to counter further degradation of water resources and the environment; 4) stable institutional frameworks, strong political will, accelerated demand from civil society to solve water issues, adequate financial and managerial support, and intensive capacity development efforts as a key to successful water management practices. Moreover, the poor have to be connected to piped water and open defecation practices have to be stopped.
This discussion paper aims at Asian and Pacific leaders and policy makers and those interested in understanding the complexities and dimensions of current and future water problems, and how these can be addressed successfully. Its main objective is to raise awareness of water-related issues and to stimulate an informed debate on how best to manage Asia’s water future.