Priorities for Fresh Water Use Purposes in Selected Countries with Policy Implications

Abstract

Priorities in water use purposes were studied by a two-phase questionnaire in 11 countries/regions on five continents with different water resources and use, socio-economic and cultural conditions. The first phase involved three regions: East Africa (1988), the Baltic region (1994) and Finland (1993, 2001). In the second phase (2001–02), water use purposes were to be viewed ‘as they are’ and ‘as they should be’. On average, community water supply was ranked first, nature conservation second and hydropower third. Priorities varied less than originally anticipated. Priorities should also be remembered in integrated water resources management.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Academy of Finland (no. 78594) for support. The paper is dedicated to the late TUT Professor Matti Viitasaari, who introduced this survey in the 1980s in his classes. The following experts kindly cooperated in organizing the survey at their universities or other locations: Professor N. S. Grigg (Fort Collins, CO, USA), Dr P. Juuti (Tampere, Finland), Ms A.-L. Tanskanen (Karelia, Russia), Dr E. N. Nyangeri (Kenya), Dr J. J. Hukka and Mr I. Rodiqi (Pristina, Kosovo), Professor M. L. Torregrosa (Latin America and Mexico), Mr P. E. Pietilä (Lithuania and Namibia), Professor D. A. Mashauri (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania), Mr Do Trong Nhan (Vietnam) and Professor F. Stolberg (Kharkov, Ukraine). The authors thank all of the above people as well as Mr W. Maurits, Dr O. Seppälä, the peer reviewers and the editors for valuable comments and feedback.