1. What is Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)?

 IWRM is a coordinated approach to managing water, land, and related resources.

 The goal is to maximize social and economic welfare without compromising the
sustainability of vital ecosystems.
 It involves multiple sectors (agriculture, urban supply, industry, environment) and
stakeholders (communities, government, private sector).

2. What is WASH?

 WASH stands for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene.

 It’s a public health approach focusing on:
o Safe drinking water
o Adequate sanitation (toilets, wastewater management)
o Hygiene promotion (handwashing, safe food preparation, menstrual hygiene,
etc.)

3. Why Integrate IWRM into WASH?

 Water used for drinking and hygiene is part of the broader water resources system.
 Managing water at the source level (rivers, aquifers) directly impacts the availability
and quality of water for WASH services.
 Poorly managed water resources can lead to water scarcity, pollution, and public
health risks.

4. Key Elements of IWRM in WASH

Element Description WASH Link

Water Source Protecting watersheds, rivers, Ensures safe and sustainable
Protection aquifers drinking water supply
Stakeholder Involving local communities, NGOs, Ensures services match
Participation government in planning community needs
Balancing domestic, agriculture, and Guarantees priority to drinking
Water Allocation
industrial uses water and sanitation
Managing wastewater, industrial Prevents contamination of
Pollution Control
discharge drinking water
Planning for floods, droughts, and Reduces vulnerability of WASH
Climate Resilience
climate change systems

5. Benefits of Applying IWRM to WASH

 Sustainability of water supply for domestic use.

 Improved health outcomes by reducing water-borne diseases.
 Equity — fair access to water resources for all groups.
 Better investment efficiency — combining water, sanitation, and environmental
protection reduces costs.
6. Examples

 Community-led watershed management programs that ensure safe drinking water

sources.
 Integrated urban water management where sewage treatment plants prevent
contamination of rivers used for drinking.
 Rainwater harvesting & recharge to maintain groundwater for household water
supply.

7. Challenges

 Fragmented institutional responsibilities.

 Lack of community awareness or participation.
 Funding constraints for integrated projects.
 Data gaps in water resource availability and quality.

1. s – Community-owned piped water supply with household connections.

2. Sanitation & Hygiene – Promotion of household toilets, hygiene education, and
wastewater management.
3. Community Participation – Villagers formed Water and Sanitation Committees to
operate and maintain the systems.

🌍 Case Study: Swajal Project – India

Background

 In rural India, many villages lacked access to safe drinking water, leading to water-
borne diseases.
 Traditional schemes focused only on building handpumps or toilets, but not on
managing the water source itself.

Integrated Approach (IWRM + WASH)

 The Swajal Project (supported by the Government of India and the World Bank)
introduced community-managed water supply schemes.
 It integrated source sustainability (watershed protection, groundwater recharge,
rainwater harvesting) with WASH services (toilets, handwashing stations).

Key Actions

1. Water Source Protection – Watershed treatment, planting trees, constructing check

dams to recharge groundwater.
2. Water Supply Systems – Community-owned piped water supply with household
connections.
3. Sanitation & Hygiene – Promotion of household toilets, hygiene education, and
wastewater management.
4. Community Participation – Villagers formed Water and Sanitation Committees to
operate and maintain the systems.
Results

 Sustainable Water Supply: Villages reported year-round access to safe drinking

water.
 Improved Health: Drop in diarrheal and water-borne diseases.
 Ownership & Sustainability: Community managed funds and systems, reducing
dependence on government.
 Environmental Benefits: Groundwater levels stabilized due to recharge and
catchment treatment.

Why it’s a Good Example

 Shows IWRM in practice — protecting the source + managing supply + sanitation +

hygiene promotion.
 Demonstrates multi-sector coordination and community ownership, which are
central to both IWRM and WASH.
 💧 Water Budgeting – Theory

1. Definition

Water budgeting is the systematic estimation and allocation of water resources in a region
or system — like a financial budget, but for water.
It tracks how much water is available (inputs) and how much is used or lost (outputs).

The general water budgeting equation is Inputs - Outputs = Change in Storage,

which for a watershed or water system can be written as:

P + Q_in = ET + Q_out + ΔS

Where:

 P= Precipitation (inflow)
 Q_in= Surface water or groundwater inflow (inflow)
 ET= Evapotranspiration (combined evaporation and transpiration, an outflow)
 Q_out= Surface water or groundwater outflow (outflow)
 ΔS= Change in storage (storage)

2. Purpose

 To ensure sustainable use of water resources.

 To identify deficits or surpluses and plan accordingly.
 To guide policies for agriculture, drinking water, and industry.
 To plan for future demand under climate change and population growth.

3. Components of a Water Budget

Component Description

Inputs Rainfall, groundwater recharge, inflows from rivers, imported water

Outputs Evapotranspiration, groundwater extraction, surface runoff, outflows

Storage Groundwater levels, reservoirs, soil moisture

Balance Comparing input vs. output to find surplus/deficit

4. Steps in Water Budgeting

1. Assess available water resources (surface + groundwater).

2. Estimate current and future demand (domestic, agriculture, industry).
3. Calculate water balance (inputs – outputs).
4. Allocate water among sectors according to priorities.
5. Monitor and revise regularly.
5. Benefits

 Helps in decision-making for water allocation.

 Promotes water conservation.
 Reduces conflicts between sectors or regions.
 Informs investment in infrastructure like reservoirs or recharge structures.

📚 Case Study: Water Budgeting in Maharashtra, India

Background
Maharashtra faces frequent droughts and uneven rainfall. Agriculture uses over 70% of the
state’s water. Traditional supply-based planning led to over-extraction of groundwater.

Initiative – Village Water Budgeting (Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan)

The state government launched this program to promote water budgeting at the village
level.

Key Actions

1. Water Inventory: Villages measured all sources — rainfall, wells, check dams, tanks
— to calculate available water.
2. Demand Estimation: Farmers estimated irrigation needs based on crop patterns.
3. Water Balance Calculation: Determined if water available met crop and domestic
needs.
4. Planning: Villages developed water-use plans, prioritizing drinking water and
reducing water-intensive crops if needed.
5. Recharge Works: Construction of percolation tanks, desilting of canals, and check
dams to increase storage.

Results

 Increased Awareness: Villagers understood their water availability and adapted

cropping patterns.
 Improved Groundwater Levels: After 2–3 years of recharge efforts, water tables
rose.
 Reduced Water Conflicts: Clear allocation for drinking water first, then irrigation.
 Sustainability: Reduced over-extraction of groundwater.

Monitoring how funds are spent (equipment, salaries, medicines,

racking
outreach).

Performance Evaluating whether health outcomes (reduced disease, better access)

Monitoring match spending.

Community Involving local bodies, civil society, and health workers in budgeting
Participation decisions.

4. Steps in Health Budgeting

 1. Assess Needs: Collect health data (disease burden, population).
2. Set Priorities: Choose focus areas (maternal health, child health, water-borne disease
prevention).
3. Allocate Resources: Divide funds between preventive and curative services.
4. Monitor Spending: Track budget use and compare with planned activities.
5. Evaluate Outcomes: Measure health improvements and adjust future budgets
accordingly.

5. Benefits

 Better targeting of funds to high-need areas.

 Improved health equity.
 Transparent and accountable health system.
 Ability to link spending to measurable outcomes.

📚 Case Study: Health Budgeting in Kerala – People’s Plan Campaign

Background
Kerala’s decentralized governance gives Panchayats (local governments) responsibility for
planning and implementing health programs.
Earlier, budgets were allocated centrally, often ignoring local needs.

Integrated Approach
In the People’s Plan Campaign (1996 onward, scaled in 2018), Kerala enabled Panchayats
to plan and implement their own health budgets.

Key Actions

1. Decentralized Planning: Local governments prepared their own health plans based
on local data (disease prevalence, maternal/child health indicators).
2. Integrated Resource Allocation: Funds combined from state, central, and local
sources.
3. Community Participation: Village Health & Sanitation Committees included elected
reps, health workers, and community members.
4. Focus on Prevention: Funds directed toward sanitation, safe water, vaccination, and
health awareness campaigns.

Results

 Better Targeting: High-risk areas (with poor sanitation and high disease incidence)
got more funds.
 Improved Health Outcomes: Reduction in water-borne disease outbreaks and
maternal/child mortality.
 Increased Accountability: Panchayats had to show health improvements linked to
their budgets.
 Sustainability: Stronger link between WASH and health spending.
💧 Water Utility in WASH – Theory

1. Definition of Water Utility

A water utility is an organization (public, private, or community-based) that supplies and

manages water services — such as water supply, treatment, distribution, wastewater
collection, and sanitation — to households, industries, and public institutions.

In WASH, the water utility is the main service provider for water and sanitation
infrastructure, ensuring that people have reliable and safe access to water and hygiene
services.

2. Role of Water Utilities in WASH

Role Description

Treating and distributing safe drinking water to homes, schools, and

Water Supply
health facilities.

Managing sewerage, wastewater treatment, and sometimes on-site

Sanitation Services
sanitation support.

Water Quality Monitoring Testing water regularly to ensure it meets health standards.

Billing and Revenue

Ensuring cost recovery to sustain services.
Collection

Responding to consumer complaints, educating communities on water

Customer Engagement
use and hygiene.

Infrastructure Repairing pipelines, upgrading systems, expanding access to

Maintenance underserved areas.

3. Why Water Utilities Matter in WASH

 Health Protection: They provide the backbone for safe water, reducing water-borne
diseases.
 Reliability: Professional management ensures continuous supply and maintenance.
 Accountability: Utilities can be regulated to meet quality and service standards.
 Equity: Utilities can extend service to marginalized and rural communities under
WASH programs.
 Integrated Approach: Combining water supply with sanitation improves the
effectiveness of hygiene interventions.

4. Challenges for Water Utilities in WASH

 Limited financial resources and cost recovery.

 Aging infrastructure and high non-revenue water (leakages).
 Poor coverage in peri-urban and rural areas.
 Climate change impacts (droughts, floods).
  Coordination with public health and environmental agencies.

📚 Case Study: Delhi Jal Board (DJB), India

Background
Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is the main water utility serving India’s capital city. It supplies
drinking water and manages sewerage for over 19 million people. Delhi faces water scarcity,
groundwater depletion, and unequal access in informal settlements.

Key Actions under WASH

1. Water Supply Expansion

o DJB operates large water treatment plants (e.g., Sonia Vihar, Bhagirathi) and
distributes piped water to households.
o Focus on extending connections to slums and unauthorized colonies through
community taps and piped networks.
2. Sanitation and Sewerage
o Runs over 30 sewage treatment plants.
o Expands sewer networks and decentralized sewage treatment in underserved
areas.
o Links with Swachh Bharat Mission for sanitation improvements.
3. Water Quality & Health
o Regular testing of water quality to meet BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards)
norms.
o Chlorination at treatment plants and reservoirs to reduce disease risks.
4. Community Engagement
o Introduced grievance redressal and billing transparency.
o Public awareness campaigns on water conservation and hygiene.
5. Rainwater Harvesting & Recharge
o Mandatory rainwater harvesting structures in new buildings.
o Recharge initiatives to restore groundwater levels.

Results

 Improved Access: Increased number of piped water connections and community taps
in low-income areas.
 Better Sanitation: Treated sewage volume has increased, reducing contamination of
the Yamuna River.
 Health Benefits: Reduction in outbreaks of water-borne diseases in areas with
improved supply and treatment.
 Sustainability Initiatives: Rainwater harvesting and reuse programs implemented in
schools and public buildings.

Why it’s Significant

 Shows how a water utility in India integrates water supply, sanitation, and
hygiene under a WASH approach.
 Demonstrates large-scale urban management plus attention to informal settlements.
  Highlights community participation and source sustainability measures (rainwater
harvesting).

Other Examples in India

 Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB): Manages water supply
and sewerage in Bengaluru.
 Kerala Water Authority (KWA): Supplies water and sanitation services across
Kerala, including rural areas.
 Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC): Provides integrated urban water
supply and sanitation services.