IWRM7 has been identified as the over-all strategy for: (a) the effective protection and regulation of water for security and ecosystem health; (b) the provision of responsive services for present and future needs; (c) the improved effectiveness, accountability and synergy among water-related institutions and stakeholders; and (d) adaptive and proactive responses to emerging as well as future challenges, such as CCA and DRRM. While the concept is widely accepted, however, IWRM practices have not been mainstreamed in policies, plans and programs. Similarly, integrating the ecoefficient approach8 to the development of water infrastructure to support the desired transgenerational outcomes in the sector has yet to be realized. The experience of numerous recent instances of disasters, nonetheless, has raised awareness and increased the acknowledgement of the benefits of IWRM. Now is an opportune time, therefore, to implement coordinated activities to mainstream IWRM practices and promote the development of ecoefficient water infrastructure.
Because of the fragmented nature of the water sector, the establishment of a comprehensive and accessible information management system is necessary to ensure coordinated planning and implementation. Data collection methodologies have to be synchronized to support planning and budgeting of key programs and projects. Mechanisms that allow consistent updating and harmonization of raw data should be put in place alongside the sharing of such data among the relevant stakeholders, project developers, and key policy-makers.
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7 IWRM promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.
8 Ecoefficiency is having "more value with less impact on the environment"; it emphasizes monitoring of material and energy flows of stocks and life cycle assessment. While ecoefficiency has been successfully integrated in industrial and business processes, its application in water infrastructure development will require the establishment of both physical and nonphysical infrastructures (i.e., policies, institutional framework, financing, etc).