Definition
Water security falls under SDG 6, which is to “ensure availability and
sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” (http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation/).
Water security is not just about domestic use, but also about adequate supplies
for farming.
Why is water security a global issue?
There are growing concerns about water availability worldwide. It is estimated that nearly 40 countries are currently suffering extremely highlevels of water stress, with
the situation worsening in many countries.
SLM and water
There are four main dimensions to water security. The first is security
in terms of access to water for domestic use: according to the World Health
Organization, 20 litres/ person/ day is the absolute basic domestic minimum to
maintain health and hygiene. The second is conserving limited rainfall for dryland
cropping using SLM methods that increase water use efficiency (WUE). The third is
supply and effective use of water for irrigation. Finally, the fourth is
governance of rivers and large water bodies, often at national or international
levels. Domestic water security often has to be achieved through specific
project interventions in poor, arid areas by provision of the technology and
skills required to build water harvesting roof tanks and earth reservoirs.
Supply of irrigation water to farmland almost always requires sets of
agreements and the establishment of water user associations (WUA) for joint
decision-making. At national and international levels, there are various
complex sets of negotiations needed to address disputes and ensure equitable
water distribution. Rivers that flow through several countries are particularly
difficult to govern in terms of guaranteeing equitable water use and ensuring
sound river basin management by all parties. SLM can help improve WUE on
rainfed land through terraces, deep planting pits, and mulching: these ensure that
more water is available for cropping and less lost through runoff. Water
harvesting is a specific set of technologies which trap rainfall runoff (e.g. from
small catchments or rooftops) that can then directly be used for crops or
domestic purposes. More information can be found in the following publication: Studer Mekdaschi R., Liniger H. 2013. Water Harvesting: Guidelines to Good Practice. Bern, Switzerland: Centre forDevelopment and Environment
