Herbert Thomas

1. Jamaica Institute of EngineersCaribbean Infrastructure Conference September 21-22, 2011“Developing Sustainable Infrastructure” “Exploring the State Of Development of Water Resources Management in Jamaica" Herbert Thomas

2. Jamaica’s Water Problems, Can we solve it?

3. Aim of Presentation To increase awareness of: • The current Water Resources Status; supply development Challenges and Opportunities • IWRM approach to sustainable water resource management and development • Current IWRM status • Gaps affecting implementation • Way forward

4. Environmental demand Current water resources status(National outlook) • The exploitable potential about 1100 times Mona reservoir’s capacity • The nationally exploitable water resources is sufficient to meet the current total demand of 1813 MCM/y (includes environmental demands) and the estimated demands for year 2025 of 1294 MCM/y • The surplus is more than 50% of the exploitable potential. • Over allocation of the resource for sector needs approx 290 MCM Based on the above there should be no water shortage or scarcity.

5. Current water resources status(Basin/WMU outlook) • southern demands exceed that of the northern basins • water shortage problem in the Kingston Basin • shortage in the Rio Cobre Basin by 2025 given demand. • Inter basin transfer between southern basins only redistribute the scarcity in the long run • exploitable surplus greater on the northern side. Those mainly groundwater fed rivers reliably yield approx 900 MCM This could augment supplies in the south to meet all current and future demands.

6. The supply development Challenges • Topographic constraints; North-south basin transfer affected by E-W mountain ridges. • Hydrogeologic constraints; groundwater aquifers cover 66% of island and hence high energy dependence for water supply development. • Energy Costs Constraints increasing energy cost over last 3 decades, 25% increase in oil price last year. • Climate Change Impacts reduction in quantity and quality of exploitable potential due to reduced rainfall and sea level rise with increased total demands due to temperature/evaporation increase.

7. Opportunities • The reliable surface flows in the north exceeds the national demands and requiring little storage. • There is hydropower potential from surface water sources to support reduced energy cost. • Inclusion of improved land zoning to minimize energy requirement be made into policy.

8. ……Ad-Hoc Crisis Management won’t solve it. ….. IWRM Approach Will

9. Integrated Water Resources Management Efficiency, given scarcity of resources - important to maximise the economic and social benefits IWRM is a means of achieving three key strategic objectives: • Equity in the allocation • reduce conflict • promote sustainable development. Environmental sustainability • water resources base and ecosystems are not infinitely robust • should not be put at risk

10. Integrated Water Resources Management Concept • -Fresh water is finite, vulnerable, essential to life, development and environment • -Participatory approach at all levels • -Central role of women • Water as an economic good • Dublin Statement (1992) Global Principles Integrated WRM “IWRM is the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximise economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of ecosystems and the environment” (Global Water Partnership, 2000).

11. A1 Policies A2 Legislative Framework B1 Creating organizational framework A3 Financing And Incentive Structures B2 Building Institutional Capacity IWRM Framework A set of “tools” organised under 3 fundamental elements: • The Enabling • Environment • Institutional • Role http://www.gwptoolbox.org

12. C1 WATER RESOURCES ASSESSMENT C2 PLANS FOR IWRM C3 EFFICIENCY IN WATER USE C4 SOCIAL CHANGE INSTRUMENT C5 CONFLICT RESOLUTION C6 REGULATORY INSTRUMENT C7 ECONOMIC INSTRUMENT C8 INFORMATION EXCHANGE C9 ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS IWRM Framework • Management • Instruments

13. What is the current IWRM Status?

14. Enabling Environment Source: Report; Cooperative Strengthening of National Institutions to enhance Integrated Water Resources Management, NATIONAL STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP, JAMAICA – MARCH 12, 2002

15. INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE

16. Management Instrument C8 C2 C5,C6 C4,C7 C1,C3

17. IWRM APPROACH • flood water control • abstraction, storage and treatment, • conveyance and distribution • sanitation, • reuse, recycling and disposal. • policy • plan • legal environment, • robust institutions • stakeholder participation.

18. Largest obstacle to IWRM adoption is the lack of the institutional structure to facilitate coordination Policy/legislation revision to ensure land/water developments compatible with IWRM. Inadequate investment in development aspect of IWRM (hard infrastructure) “IWRM is the coordinateddevelopment and managementof water, land and related resources in order to maximise economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of ecosystems and the environment” Gaps

19. The Way Forward • Fast tract establishment of Apex Body for IWRM coordination • Review/Upgrade V2030 water sector roadmap (ensure theory of change identifiable) • Assess/invest in appropriate water infrastructure (if we are to manage climate variability in time and space and to adapt to climate change). V2030 Water Sector Plan

20. END

22. Source: ‘Domestic Water Supply & Energy Cost the National Perspective’ Lewis A. Lakeman, Billy Meikle NWC 24 -25, 2010, power point presentation at IWRM Symposium