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Asian Water Development Outlook 2007
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Developing Asian countries should not experience a water crisis in the future—there is now enough knowledge, technology, and expertise available in the region to solve its existing and future water problems. However, if some Asian countries face a crisis in the future, inadequate or inappropriate water governance, not physical scarcity of water, will be the likely reason.
This is one of the key messages highlighted in the newly published Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) 2007. The report is ADB's recent contribution to the discussion among leaders on managing Asia and the Pacific's water resources for the future.
Download the full report.
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GETTING TO KNOW THE AWDO
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ADB commissioned the AWDO as part of its support to the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF), an indepedent, non-partisan, non-political network of institutions working to increase Asia-Pacific’s access to improved water supply and sanitation, protect and restore river basins, and reduce people’s vulnerability to water disasters
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AWDO experts and contributors
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A team of eminent experts, led by 2006 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate Professor Asit Biswas and supported by a panel of resource persons, prepared the AWDO report
- Expected to be the first in the series of analyses on future water situation, the 2007 AWDO focuses on urban water and wastewater management. It is a package of factual information, data, experiences, and solutions to problems in the region’s water and sanitation sector, presented from future-oriented, multidisciplinary, and multisectoral perspectives
- The AWDO targets Asian leaders and policy makers and those interested in understanding and addressing future water problems in policy terms
- The report is composed of:
- a succinct print publication that discusses the changing water sector management landscape in Asia and the ways to move forward
- a multimedia CD-ROM that contains country water sector profiles, discussion papers, video and audio files illustrating good practice solutions, and more
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KEY MESSAGES
 The AWDO is cautiously optimistic on Asia’s water future. With existing knowledge, experience, and technology, the region’s water problems are solvable.
But in solving these issues, the report highlights that:
- Worldwide competition for water is increasing. But any water crisis in the future will not be caused by physical scarcity of water, but more likely by inadequate or inappropriate water governance
- There is a need to address the inherent relationships between water and other development-related sectors, e.g. energy, food, environment, as interactions among them will determine the future of Asian countries
- Climate change is creating a new level of uncertainty in water planning and management processes, and accelerated research is needed if serious water-related stresses are to be avoided
- Limited access to water is a key determinant of poverty. Yet the poor causes a significant proportion of water problems, e.g. uncontrolled deforestation. Investing in poverty reduction counters further degradation of water resources and the environment
- Stable institutional frameworks, strong political will, accelerated demand from civil society to solve water issues, adequate financial and managerial support, and intensive capacity development efforts are among the common characteristics of successful water management practices in the region
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CONTENTS
Part 1- Print Publication
APWF Foreword
ADB Foreword
About AWDO
New Insights on Water Security in Asia
- The Changing Water Management Landscape in Asia
- Water-related Trends
- Urban Water Management
- Ways Forward
Appendix
IDWA: Index of Drinking Water Adequacy
Annexes
Annex 1: Country Papers Summary
Annex 2: Annotated List of Discussion Papers
Acknowledgments
Part 2- Enclosed CD-ROM
- Access to Drinking Water and Sanitation in Asia: Indicators and Implications
- Water Resources and Development in Changing Asia
- Recent Advances in Water Resources Development and Management in Developing Countries in Asia
- Water Supply and Sanitation Issues in Asia
- Integrated Water Resources Management: A Reassessment
- Country Papers
- Water Management in Singapore
- Social Perceptions of the Impacts of Colombo Water Supply Projects
- Water Management in Mexico City
- Water Resources in Korea 2007
- Japan’s Experience in Water Supply Sector After World War II
- Legal Framework, Finance and Institutional Arrangements of Japan’s Sewerage System (Summary Document)
- Good Practices and Lessons Learned
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RELATED LINKS
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NEWS RELEASES
CONTACTS
K.E. Seetharam
Principal Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist, ADB
E-mail: kseetharam@adb.org
Narciso Prudente
APWF Researcher, ADB
E-mail: nprudente@adb.org
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