Freshwater is both plentiful and renewable. Yet, freshwater resources at both the global and local levels are becoming increasingly scarce, partly due to population growth, increasing demands for energy and food, and climate change, and partly due to poor management and policies. We have failed to understand the complexity of water systems…so here we are — in the middle of day zeros, unavailability of safe drinking water, lack of access to sanitation, and increasing contaminants in our water bodies.

This course, therefore, will focus on water management and policy in the context of scarcity with special emphasis on science-based policies for sustainable aquatic ecosystems. In order to frame sound policies for future sustainability, we will navigate this course through the lens of four pillars that should support all water management strategies.

The first pillar is to integrate the strong spiritual and cultural connections we have with water especially learning from the indigenous cultures of the world. The second pillar is to invest in understanding the science of water and integrating with innovative technologies. The third pillar is to examine water as an economic good, in terms of demand, supply, and financing. Finally, the fourth pillar is to create and implement effective management and governance policies based on combination of demand side, soft path and integrated watershed management. In the absence of, or weakness in any of the pillars, water sector is vulnerable to continued inequity, depletion and contamination.