Experiences in Water Resources Management in Developed Regions

The science and engineering of water resources in developed countries has undergone profound changes in less than a professional lifetime. This has radically influenced education and research and essentially revolutionized water resource planning. Fundamental uses of water to fulfill society's needs continue. These include domestic and industrial supplies, waterways for transport, fire protection, waste carriage, recreation, irrigation, and in general, an adequate quantity and quality of water in the right place at the right time to fulfill human and aquatic needs. The complexities of water resources no longer may be measured largely in terms of science and engineering challenges alone, but must include economics sensitive to the political and social sciences. What has evolved is what is now best described as water management. This paper reviews the evolvement of water resources management in developed counties in terms of historical background, and national policies and institutions, particularly as this evolvement impacts scientific research and engineering application.