IRWM (Integrated Water Resource Management) is a collaborative approach to water and Water Resources Management (WRM) that seeks to address water-related challenges at the regional level by integrating the management of water resources across various sectors and stakeholders.

IRWM involves the coordination and collaboration of government agencies, water districts, NGOs, community groups, and other stakeholders to develop and implement integrated water management plans that take into account the needs and priorities of all stakeholders. IRWM aims to achieve multiple benefits, including increased water supply reliability, improved water quality, enhanced environmental and ecosystem health, and increased resilience to climate change and other stressors. IRWM also fosters innovative and sustainable solutions that are tailored to the unique needs and characteristics of each region.

The IWRM category will constitute the following sub categories

❖  Regulatory framework: laws and policies on IWRM

⮚        Water Act 2016: WRMA mandate to “manage, regulate and conserve all water resources (will clarify on this) or policy gap review on WRM.

❖  Water availability and access

⮚        Surface water availability

⮚        Groundwater availability

❖  Water storage and distribution

⮚        Types of water storage systems (e.g. reservoirs, tanks, dams)

⮚        Water distribution networks and infrastructure

⮚        Water treatment technologies

⮚        Water quality monitoring and testing

⮚        Water loss and leak detection methods

❖  Watershed management.

⮚        Watershed characteristics and functions

⮚        Watershed degradation and restoration

⮚        Ecosystem services provided by watersheds

⮚        Stakeholder engagement and collaboration.

Products from the KEWASNET- IWaSP collaboration

⮚        Policy and regulatory frameworks for watershed management

❖  Irrigation management

⮚        Types of irrigation systems (e.g., drip, sprinkler, flood)

⮚        Crop water requirements and scheduling

⮚        Water sources for irrigation (e.g., surface water, groundwater, reclaimed water)

⮚        Irrigation efficiency and water conservation

⮚        Water quality management in irrigation systems

❖  Groundwater management

⮚        Groundwater management plans and strategies for regions or aquifers

⮚        Groundwater monitoring protocols and data analysis tools

⮚        Technical reports on groundwater modeling and simulation studies

⮚        Webinars and workshops on groundwater management policies and regulations

⮚        Research papers on innovative groundwater management practices and technologies