Water Use Efficiency in Watersheds

Abstract

The demand for water increases with the growth of population and socio-economic activities, and poses the problem of using it efficiently. This goes far beyond water conservation as it involves the agreement of water uses a society considers the most beneficial, and that process takes place in the political arena. It also implies the appropriate application of water in each use, the administration of the institutional body that manages it, the appropriation of better technologies for planning, assignment, and management, and the assimilation of a new water culture. In this paper it is proposed a definition of water use efficiency in watersheds, and the conditions under which it can be established are explored. Considered are some physical, chemical, biological, technological, economical, political, social, institutional, and operational aspects that impact watershed management, integrated water resources planning, and the implementation of a water assignment system. It is concluded that water use efficiency is not an state to which one should arrive but rather a continuing and flexible activity to track the enhancement in social well-being as a function of water assignment.