Background

One of the most original aspects of the World Water Development Report (WWDR), is its use of case studies as a testing ground for new methodologies. The idea is to take a snapshot of global conditions by including a selection of on-the-ground studies representing different geographic regions, different conditions of water-related stress, different socio-economic circumstance and different human needs.

WWAP pilot case studies
[Click on the river basins to learn more]

The first edition of the WWDR included seven pilot case studies:

 Chao Phraya River basin (Thailand)
 Greater Tokyo (Japan)
 Lake Peipsi/Chudskoe-Pskovskoe (Estonia, Russian Federation)
 Lake Titicaca basin (Bolivia, Peru)
 Ruhuna basins (Sri Lanka)
 Seine-Normandy basin (France)
 Senegal River basin (Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal)

In subsequent editions the number will be extended to other river basins, cities and countries, with the idea that, over time, global coverage could be achieved.

Each case study was examined in terms of the 11 challenge areas that form the basis of the first World Water Report Report (WWDR): governing water wisely, meeting basic needs, securing the food supply, protecting ecosystems, sharing water, managing risks, valuing water, improving the knowledge base, water and energy, water and industry, water and cities.

Using a set of basic indicators developed especially for WWAP, the studies measured how successfully these different elements have been integrated into a coherent whole. Is the system equitable? How well does it take account of competing needs and uses? Is water priced appropriately? Do all stakeholders have a voice in decision-making? Do water policies build in incentives for conserving water? Do they provide incentives for controlling pollution and recycling wastewater? How resilient is the resource management system? How well is it able to meet changing human needs and conditions?

The approach for selection of case-study regions for WWDR

While water is naturally organized within river basins or within aquifers and while many water assessment issues should be approached within the context of the hydrological unit, many statistics are collected and analyzed within national administrative units. This poses a basic dilemma regarding the most appropriate geographical unit within which to assess water needs, water availability, water-related stress and the ability of societies to cope with stress.

It was decided, at least for the first edition of the WWDR, that the case studies should consider the river basin as the basic unit for assessment. Some of the selected river basins are international, some national. Thus some of the case study areas are very large in size, some relatively small.

It also seemed appropriate within case study regions to treat some sub-regions more intensively and thoroughly in order to highlight the importance of detailed analyses at very local levels.

Another important concept is that of tracking change in conditions through time. Thus benchmark or sentinel case studies were identified in which a series of assessments through time were made. Sometimes, within a river basin or country, more detailed attention was paid to particular watersheds or sub-regions in order to address problems at the most appropriate scale of investigation.

As a strategy, some 15 to 20 case studies were accepted for initial consideration. But only seven of them were published in the first edition of the WWDR. Many of the other studies are now being considered for inclusion within the second and subsequent editions of the WWDR.

For pragmatic reasons, as the first WWDR had to be published within a short and strict time schedule, data and information relative to the case studies had to be readily available and accessible (prior agreement was sought from national agencies regarding the use of and inclusion of any data).

Each case study is different. Therefore, different approaches were adopted in order to meet the broad range of problems within country- and river basin-defined case studies. In each case, particular problems were emphasized, such as health issues, food security, environmental degradation including biodiversity loss, urbanization or upstream/downstream competition.

The scale of the studies also varied greatly. With this diversity in mind, therefore, some freedom was given to each study to address its unique characteristics. While recognizing the need to allow some flexibility in treating particular situations, a standard set of questions was nonetheless applied to allow inter-comparisons between studies where possible.

Case study reporting format in each basin/country

The general context of the case study	Location	- geographical boundaries - size
	Major physical characteristics	- topography - geology - climate - land types
	Major socioeconomic characteristics	- population characteristics - economic activities - cultural background - attitudes of people - political setup, etc.

Water resources	Hydrology	- surface water - groundwater - soil moisture - water quality - variation in time and space - extreme events - trends through time - other
	Human impacts on water resources	- through surface cover - through dams and diversions - pollutants - non-native species - over harvesting - other
	Data and information on water resources	Data evaluation: - accuracy - reliability - consistency - deficiencies

Needs, uses, demands	Water for basic needs (emphasis on health)
	Water for food
	Water and ecosystems
	Water and industry
	Water and energy
	Water for cities
	Other uses

Stewardship - the management setting
	Ownership/ responsibility
	Institutions
	Legislation
	Finances
	Management approaches
		The management of risk
		Valuing water
		Sharing the resource	- between uses and between users including upstream/downstream - between countries and between provincial jurisdictions
		Governing water wisely	- the integrated approach - demand management - stakeholder participation - people participation - public/private partnership - planning and development.
		Ensuring the knowledge base
		Policy and policy implementations	Examples of implementation including good approaches

Identification of critical problems
	Problems related to uncertainty and variability of the resource
	Problems associated with uses, needs and demands
	Problems related to management
	Problems affecting ecosystems
	Other

Achievements

Setting objectives within the case study area (Priority identification)

Assessment of the development of indicators

References (including references to additional studies)