Workshop 1 (synthesis): steps towards increased effectiveness in water use- possibilities and replicability

Inevitable increases in human needs and wants leading to mounting water str ess necessitate that each unit of water is used as efficiently as possible. Excessive use of water cannot be accepted. Similarly, the least possible i mpact on water quality is a must. Yet, regional development and urgent soci al and environmental objectives may motivate an allocation of scarce water resources where the output is lower as compared to what could have been acc omplished with an alternative allocation. In essence, the effective use of water presumes a broad and lone-term perspective on societal development an d environmental sustainability. Presentations illuminated that technical an d institutional arrangements must be applied to reach an effective use. In practice, although not ncessarily in policy statements. technical arrangeme nts continue to have a pivotal position in this regard.